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@ YT76  wrote:  "What I don't understand is why it keeps using an additional activation every time that I start the program, after I already used an activation following the internal data hard drive swap. And why does it count activations in the 2024 edition when I open the 2023 edition?"   I can't explain that.    But just thinking out loud:  Are you opening the 2023 program at the same time the 2024 program is open?  If so, perhaps that is somehow confusing TurboTax on the activations.

@ YT76  wrote:   "As I only have 2 activations left, I guess that my only option is to use one to open 2023 and take a few snapshots of the forms that I used"   You don't have to launch the 2023 program every time you want to look at 2023 forms, and you don't have to make screenshots.   The next time you have the 2023 program open, make a PDF that includes the return and all worksheets.   Then you can look at that 2023 PDF any time you want, or even print from it, without having to launch 2023 TurboTax.   To make the PDF, launch and open the 2023 return.   Once the return is open, in the top left corner of the TurboTax interface, in the TurboTax menubar, click on FILE, then in the dropdown menu choose  "Save to PDF."   Then a dialog box will pop up.   Choose  "Forms for your records: Tax Return and all calculation worksheets."  Then click the blue button "Save as PDF."   Every year I usually make 2 PDFs so I can view them at will without the program.  I make one PDF of the return "as filed", and another PDF with the return and all calculation worksheets.   This is especially important for archival purposes since after 3 tax years, the TurboTax program supposedly will no longer activate.   NOTE:  Remember all PDF tax documents and tax data files are very sensitive files, since they contain your personal ID info, financial data, and possibly bank account numbers, etc.  Be sure to store them safely and securely to guard against computer theft, hacking, etc.

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate it a lot!   That's so crazy that they capture so much information about our computers. Isn't the CPU serial number or some other aspect enough?    What I don't understand is why it keeps using an additional activation every time that I start the program, after I already used an activation following the internal data hard drive swap. And why does it count activations in the 2024 edition when I open the 2023 edition?   Thanks a lot for the links as well. I didn't know that they can be contacted via FB.

@YT76  Yes, any little change in configuration will require a new activation.  I know it's nuts.   For some people even having a USB drive plugged in can trigger it, or if a USB was present when it was installed, but is no longer present, that can trigger it, too.   If you run out of activations, another way to reach TurboTax Support from overseas is if you have social media, you can direct message a TurboTax support agent at X/Twitter or Facebook.   Direct message a Support agent: https://x.com/TeamTurboTax or https://www.facebook.com/turbotax    

You didn't pay twice. When you buy TurboTax from a retailer the federal return is e-Filed for free but if you want to e-File the state return there is a filing fee. You can always print and  mail the state return for no extra fee. l

It's good you didn't choose to pay the state efile fee out of the Federal refund.   That payment option has an additional $40 service fee ($45 for California filers).   That's what the disclosure form was about--it would have been permission to set up a temporary bank account at a third-party bank to receive your refund and subtract the fees, then send the rest to you.   So you actually avoided the $40/45 fee by paying upfront with credit/debit card.   However, I'm not sure why you still didn't get the $10 credit for using the product purchased at Costco.   If you're sure it charged you the full $25 and not $15, then if you wish, you can phone TurboTax Support and see if they will make good on that $10 credit that comes with your Costco purchase.   Support hours are 5AM-5PM Pacific, Mon-Fri this time of year. FAQ: What is the TurboTax phone number? https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632   You also wrote:  "Turbo tax chose the short form or standard deduction which would have been free if I didn't buy it at Costco!"   A lot of people in all the editions use standard deduction.  Since the amount was increased a few years ago, many people no longer have enough deductions to itemize.   The Free Edition, however, is only for very limited tax returns--essentially it can prepare only a basic Form 1040 and these possible entries: Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Student Loan Interest.   If your return required any additional form, you would have had to use a paid edition.

Hi, I didn't think of the time zone aspect but TurboTax has many overseas users... expats, military people, and many that simply live and work abroad. I haven't had issues with any other software or financial websites.   I've been using the digital download version (from Amazon) for several years now with no issue, but 2024 is the first year that I've experienced these activation issues. What's strange is that when I open the 2023 edition it counts this an an additional activation as well.   As I only have 2 activations left, I guess that my only option is to use one to open 2023 and take a few snapshots of the forms that I used and then use my last activation to open 2024 and fill my forms in one shot with no breaks. And then I'll never be able to open the file in the future.   For a company that employs over 18,000 people across 8 countries I'd expect Intuit to offer some official tech support and not just rely on their silly "AI" chat robot and the goodhearted people in the community. Even their website is complicated. It took me a long time and a few Google searches just to be able to find the fake "help chat" and to figure out how to post a question in this community.    Perhaps next year I'll look into tax software from another company.   Thanks again for your time and willingness to help.

You cannot upgrade from Home & Business to Business. They are two completely separate products. You have to purchase TurboTax Business separately. But you still need Home & Business to do your personal Form 1040 tax return. TurboTax Business is available only for Windows, not for Mac or online.  

If the IRS changed something or if you owe back taxes or child support, the IRS does not share that information with TurboTax.   The IRS will send you a letter to explain why you owe.   It is also possible that the IRS discovered a mistake you made, so wait for the letter.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refunds/help/what-is-a-refund-offset/00/26301   Reduced Refund      https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203      NOTE: You can contact the IRS Treasury Offset Program Call Center at 1-800-304-3107 to ask if they have an offset for you on file. TurboTax would not have that information.   https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-payments/who-can-garnish-an-income-tax-refund/L7cPPzDyc     TurboTax does not receive feedback from the IRS regarding money that was offset from your refund.  If you owed back taxes or child support, you will receive a letter of explanation from the IRS in several weeks.  The WMR site will contain a message regarding your offset.  It is also possible that the IRS caught a mistake you made and reduced your refund.  

I didn't know I was going to owe. I did not have the full amount on hand, so I couldn't pay.  I followed all the other directions on the IRS website, set up a payment plan etc. I am confused why there is no balance showing. I do not want to get into a situation where I pay and it ends up in no man's land because I didn't have a balance...... Told that the balance would show up shortly and to wait until it did before I made payment.   So you're telling me to go on to the IRS website and just make a payment for the amount I owe, without there being a balance?  

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for individuals who have a qualifying work history and have paid into the Social Security system, while SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs-based program for those with limited income and resources, regardless of work history. (AI generated summary)   So if you are asking about SSDI, your wife earned that from her work history and filing a joint return will not reduce the benefit, although it will likely be partly taxable based on your total combined income.  (However, the benefit will also be taxable if you file as married filing separately, because if you file MFS then she must file MFS and the benefit is automatically taxable.)   But, if you are asking about SSI, that is need-based, and her need would likely be reduced now that you are married.  In fact, if this is SSI, she was supposed to notify the social security administration that you were supporting her once you got married.  So her benefit should be reduced based on her marriage, regardless of how you both file your tax returns.  Failing to tell the social security administration that her financial situation has changed, could be considered benefits fraud.  

Most importantly, you should first make sure your return was successfully filed.    How did you file? Did you efile, or did you choose to print, sign, date, and mail a paper return?    If you chose to mail a paper return, did you physically mail it yourself? TurboTax does not mail it for you.   If you efiled, double-check to be sure the return was efiled successfully and accepted. After efiling, did you get any email saying it was submitted, and a later one saying it was accepted?          Confirm the status.   If you used Online TurboTax, sign into your Online Account and check the efile status at the Tax Home.   If you prepared it online, what is shown there?  Does it show the status of the return as accepted, rejected, printed, started, ready to mail, or something else? If you used desktop software, you can check from within the software. If that showed that your efiled return was accepted, (or if you printed and mailed a paper return), you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to monitor the status of your Federal refund.  https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund   Here are some tips when using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool if it's not finding your information:   Be sure you enter the correct tax year, SSN and filing status. Be sure you are using only the Federal refund amount.   Do not include any state refund or any total refund or net refund (Fed and State) that TurboTax may have provided on a summary screen.   Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.   FAQ:  How do I track my state refund? https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/how-do-i-track-my-state-refund/00/25571

Yes for some things.  Your closing statement will list a property tax adjustment and daily interest to the end of the month in which you closed.  The property taxes and interest are deductible even though they are not on a 1098.  For example, if you closed November 25, you paid 5 days of interest.  You would not get a 1098 since your regular payments didn't start until January 1.  But that daily interest is deductible.  (If you closed June 25, your closing statement would list 5 days of interest, that is also deductible.  But for the interest from August 1-December 31, you need your 1098 from the lender.)   Property taxes are deductible for the period you own the home.  For example, suppose that in your state, property taxes are due January 15 for the Jan 1-Dec 31 year, and you closed on November 25.  You would have given the seller a credit for 36 days of taxes (from Nov 25-Dec 31) because the seller paid those taxes in advance and you are reimbursing the seller for the days you own the home.  You can deduct those taxes as if you paid them directly to the county.   You can't deduct amounts put in escrow, since that is still your money until it is used to pay a bill that you owe.   If you closed in November or December, your only interest and taxes for the year are probably on your closing statement.  But if you closed earlier, your lender probably has a 1098 that you need to get.  You can add interest and taxes from your closing statement if they are not also included in the 1098.