I’ve used TurboTax for twenty straight years and even after an hour on the phone, this is the first time I was unable to transfer last year’s return to the current year?

[themuirz-aol-com]

CD-based Premier version.  Signed in to account.

[DoninGA]

If you are using the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions for tax year 2021 and used the desktop editions for completing a 2020 tax return, you do NOT sign onto an online account.

The 2020 tax data file on your computer has a file extension of .tax2020 and is stored, by default, in the TurboTax folder in the Documents directory,  When you start a New Tax Return the program looks for the prior year tax data file in the TurboTax folder.  If it is not stored in the folder then you need to Search of the data file on your computer, local drives, network drives and/or on USB drives.

[themuirz-aol-com]

Thanks, but that did not work.

[jtax]

Can you tell us how it doesn't work? E.g. what is the error message? Can you post a screenshot of the error?

[mesquitebean]

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@themuirz-aol-com  wrote:
CD-based Premier version.  Signed in to account.

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Some things are not clear.

If you are using the CD version, why are you even mentioning an online account?   It has nothing to do with Online TurboTax.     Or did you use Online TurboTax last year for your 2020 return?   If so, you can download the *.tax2020 data file and then transfer it into a new 2021 desktop return.

In any case, all you need is the *.tax2020 data file from last year and your desktop 2021 software installed on your computer.

Otherwise you need to outline specifically what you used last year, what all you are doing this year, and what/where the roadblock is when you try to transfer your *.tax2020 data file into a new 2021 desktop return.

[themuirz-aol-com]

The person I spoke to from Intuit told me to login to the online.  I did download the return from online with the extension . tax2020 and the program said " This tax return does not contain any transferrable information."

[themuirz-aol-com]

The 2021 program appears to be transferring the prior return, but when finished, it shows all blank data fields and fails in transfer any of last year's return.  I am then required to enter all of my personal data, SSNs, and address.  

[VolvoGirl]

There are still a lot of unanswered questions.

Where/how did you do 2020?   If you used the Desktop CD/Download program it would not be in an online account.  

If you did use Online then you must have another account.  

[themuirz-aol-com]

Never really used online account.  Always CD.  The online does keep copies of your returns, so I tried both prior returns from my iMac and from online.  No go.

[VolvoGirl]

No the Online version does not keep your returns even if you efiled through Turbo Tax .

Do you have the .tax2020 file on your computer from last year? Not the one you downloaded from online.

Could you have transferred from the wrong file?  See if you have another .tax2020 file on your computer, probably in Documents.

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 or Duplicate.

[themuirz-aol-com]

Did not have a .tax2020 file on my computer. Only a .pdf file.  I opened TT 2020 but it seems I can only save a .pdf file.

[TiffanyL]

Since you have already spoken with an agent over the phone, can you walk through the help article below to see if it resolves your issue? If, after going through the article, you still have the same issue, please reach back out here and let us know:

Troubleshoot transferring from a prior year return

@themuirz-aol-com

[VolvoGirl]

@themuirz-aol-com   When you opened Turbo Tax 2020 did your return show up in it?  

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.

Do you make backups?  The tax files (and PDF files) should be in your Documents then in a Turbo Tax subfolder.  If you can't find them do a search for all files ending in .tax or .tax2021 or .tax2020 etc.  And check the Recycle Bin.  For Windows 10 check the One Drive.   One user found the file in the One Drive recycle bin.

[VolvoGirl]

Oh you said you are on Mac?  I think that buries the tax files in another folder and doesn't show the ending .tax2020 etc.    Maybe @macuser_22  can help.

[macuser_22]

Unless you deleted the .tax2020 file it should be on your computer.  If it does not show up automatically after the "Begin" screen then use the blue "find my tax return" link and point TurboTax to the file.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac/00/26206

You can also use the Finder search box and search for "tax2020" on the entire computer.

If you cannot find it then you either deleted it (or the folder that it was in) by mistake so unless you have a backup copy, it is gone.