Moving TT to a Desktop - Problem getting the tax file recognized

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 5, 2022
3 replies
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I have a new desktop Windows computer and am installing a 2021 version (for the 2021 tax year) of TT. I want to move my current datafile for 2021 tax year to perform some 2022 what-if calculations before the end of the year. From the new computer, it always wants to open a new tax return, it can't find any existing returns that I've placed in the appropriate folder. Basically, it's telling me to "start a new return" or it wants to import from a .2020 tax file. I don't want to do either of those, I want it to recognize the 2021 files in the folder to continue where I left off. Not sure what I need to do to make this happen.

DoninGA

Level 15

Click on File on the upper left of the desktop program screen. Click on Open Tax Return. Browse to the location where the 2021 tax data file is located.

PatFAuthor

Level 2

OK, I think I just figured out how to make this work, but it seems a bit kludgy. Let me know if you think this will have copied all data. I had to create a new dummy tax file. At that point it said that my federal forms were loaded. But then it told me to download the state forms. When I did that, it allowed the dummy file to come up ok. Once that was done, it let me select a new tax filename (it didn't find it automatically, so I selected the file from the other computer and then everything came up ok. Does that make sense? I haven't tested the results but the final numbers on the file on the new PC match the old PC, so I assume it's good.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Yes sounds like you figured it out.

After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to File-New Tax Return).

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-computer/00/26128

Mike9241

Level 15

there is another way to open the file. do not open the program. go to the folder where the file is stored and double-click on it. you should see the program icon and then a smaller box saying opening your return.