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Level 2
posted Nov 11, 2021 5:00:38 PM

Importing 2020 return from turbo Tax in Turbo Tax 2021 doesn't work with PDF File.

Is anyone else having an issue importing prior year (2020) in Turbo Tax 2021?  I have the file but Turbo Tax does not import it when I browse or is searches on it's own.  Any help would be appreciated

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24 Replies
Level 15
Nov 11, 2021 5:05:46 PM

You can't transfer a TurboTax PDF. You have to use the .tax2020 data file.

 

Level 2
Nov 11, 2021 6:42:52 PM

Thanks, I thought it said it would accept a PDF file.

Level 15
Nov 11, 2021 7:48:21 PM

It will transfer information from PDFs created by certain other software. But only a very limited amount of information gets transferred - possibly no more than your name and address and a few other bits of information. It's nothing like the thorough year-to-year transfer that you get from the TurboTax data file.

 

New Member
Nov 25, 2021 10:19:37 AM

According to the Turbo Tax program it clearly states that it will import Turbo Tax data either from the .tax2020 or .pdf files created by Turbo Tax's 2020 version.   If this is incorrect as you suggest in your post then they need to fix the program to clearly state the limitations on importing information from a PDF file created by 2020 version of Turbo Tax.

Level 15
Nov 25, 2021 10:35:01 AM

@ajmartin11 

 

As @rjs indicated, transferring from a PDF results in only a limited amount of information being transferred, such as your personal information and, possibly, AGI. 

 

See https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-turbotax-online/00/25953

 

In order for all relevant information to be transferred, the transfer needs to be done from a (TurboTax) .taxXXXX file.

Level 15
Nov 25, 2021 10:59:27 AM

According to the FAQs you can transfer from a Turbo Tax PDF into the Windows Turbo Tax program but not into the Mac program.

 

Mac says if you used other software

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/can-i-transfer-from-a-pdf-to-turbotax-for-mac/00/27256 

 

Level 2
Nov 25, 2021 5:02:27 PM

It could be a miss print but what I can say is that it will not recognize a turbo tax pdf and will not import any portion of the previous years return.  So the statements that it does is incorrect. 

Level 2
Nov 25, 2021 5:07:28 PM

It does not transfer anything from a turbotax pdf as it does not recognize it as a turbotax file.  It only imports a "*.tax file" from turbo tax

  I am chalking it up to a miss print rather than say they are misrepresenting the product.

Level 15
Nov 25, 2021 5:26:25 PM

Do you have the .tax2020 file from last year?  If you used the Online version you can download it to transfer into 2021.

 

I assume you are on Windows?  

You need the file ending in .tax2020 on your computer.   If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like  "~your name.tax2020".  That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.  The .tax and pdf files should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder.  Or search your whole computer and Recycle Bin for all files ending in .tax or .tax2020.

 

Find your Tax file in Windows

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/25926

 

If you used the Desktop program last year.  Here's an idea.  Do you still have 2020 installed?  Try opening 2020 program and see if you can get your 2020 return to show up in it.  Go to FILE - OPEN.  Then save it again with a name and place you can find.  Go to File - Save As.

 

 

Level 2
Nov 25, 2021 5:31:30 PM

Appreciate the response.  I did locate the .tax2020 file from a backup of my old computer but I should not have had to do that according to the turbotax literature.  It never recognizes the pdf tax file.  Resolved now but turbotax needs to change their statements on importing pdf's or actually fix their product so that it does.

Level 15
Nov 25, 2021 5:45:16 PM

Did you get the .tax2020 file to transfer?  Even if you transferred from the pdf it only transfers very basic info like your name and address and ssn and AGI. Be just as easy to manually enter all your info.  

Level 2
Nov 26, 2021 3:34:50 AM

I found the .tax2020 file and transferred the information from there.  It transferred all the information I expected would transfer.  It did not transfer anything from the PDF file.

Level 2
Dec 11, 2021 9:45:14 PM

I am also having the same issue.

 

I have used TurboTax as a download to my Mac for 2019 and 2020. Last year, despite having the filing on my computer, I was unable to import any data (and we have 7 kids) from the previous year. Now, same thing is happening. I open TT2021 and it cannot find any TT files. 

It's super frustrating because you would think a program would be able to locate its own file type? I will try saving...but I too have a .pdf saved. It does not bring up any .tax files automatically. 

 

I've read what people have written to help OP and will try the same. 

Level 2
Dec 12, 2021 5:39:49 AM

As  Champ indicated in the first response, TT DOES NOT import PDF's that were created by TT, it only imports ".tax" files created by their software.  However, TT states it imports PDFs from other applications with limited information but does not say it will NOT import PDFs created by TT which it needs to clarify.  It is frustrating.

Level 15
Dec 12, 2021 8:32:18 AM

@sweettimber  How to Transfer into the Mac Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-the-turbotax-for-mac-software/00/26062

 

Here's an idea. Do you still have 2020 installed? Try opening 2020 program and see if you can get your 2020 return to show up in it. Go to FILE - OPEN. And see if that is the right one.

 

Then in the 2020 program do a File-Save AS or Duplicate and give it a easy name you can find or search for. And note where it saves it or select where to save it so you can find it again. The file will end in .tax2020. Then close the 2020 program. Then start a new 2021 return and transfer from the 2020 file.

 

@macuser_22  Any Mac help?

Level 15
Dec 12, 2021 12:13:25 PM

1) Use the Finder search box for  tax2020 to locate the file.

2)

New Member
Dec 31, 2021 10:22:10 AM

I must say I am very mad at Turbotax in regards to this. I have wasted hours on this ( and will waste more hours due to the fact I now have to add all of last years info) due to the fact that when launching TurboTax it states: "Browse for your return, Select Browse to find your return on your computer. We support files from TurboTax (tax2020 & .pdf),...
My computer hard drive crashed but I did what I was supposed to do, back it up on an external harddrive, just as recommended. BUT all that that the 2021 TurboTax will read is the very easy info, basically name, address Soc Sec number...NONE OF LAST YEARS tax info (Yes I am yelling)! It clearly states " .pdf " but that is BS!

I do thank other members for posting the same information as above so that I am not wasting more time trying to figure out why it is not reading the pdf....Get your act together Intuit!!!

Level 15
Dec 31, 2021 10:23:15 AM

The only thing you can import from a PDF file is the personal information. You can't import any numbers or other data. To get everything, you have to import from the .tax2020 file.

 

Level 1
Jan 24, 2022 8:15:06 PM

Same problem on my Mac; TurboTax 2021 does not offer TurboTax 2020 as a source for populating data. 

 

Intuit Alumni
Jan 25, 2022 7:33:14 AM

ad judged12 If you saved your .tax file to your computer (or an external drive), you can import that file into your 2021 tax return.  Please see the post above from @VolvoGirl and this one from @macuser_22 if you're using a Mac computer.  You can also find additional information in the following Help Article:  How do I transfer last year's return into the 2021 ...

 

Additional ResourceTroubleshoot transferring from a prior year return

Level 2
Jan 28, 2022 3:55:37 PM

I forgot how I did it, but I was able to import my files. 🙂 

New Member
Jan 31, 2022 5:25:00 PM

I'm trying to import my .tax2020 file into Turbo Tax 2021. The 2021 program asks for a txt file. When I go to documents, the tax2020 file name is light gray & will not transfer. I'm on a Mac. Any suggestions?

Level 15
Jan 31, 2022 5:29:39 PM


@ljallasia wrote:

I'm trying to import my .tax2020 file into Turbo Tax 2021. The 2021 program asks for a txt file. When I go to documents, the tax2020 file name is light gray & will not transfer. I'm on a Mac. Any suggestions?


I am not a Mac user but there may be someone who can help @macuser_22 

New Member
Jan 31, 2022 5:32:45 PM

On a MAC: I ended up starting a new tax return. There it asks if you want to transfer file from your computer or continue without import. At this point I checked to transfer from my computer. Here it would let me transfer the .tax2020 file. Rather irritating that if you don't do this at this point, it is a different screen only accepting a .txt file!