topic Moving TTax to new computer. in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Moving TTax to new computer.

THPOC — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:41:32 GMT

Can't find the *.tax2023 file that TTax says to move to the new machine after you've installed the 23TTax program on the new machine. They mention that you can save the file as a .tax file but I see no option, only .pdf.

Re: Moving TTax to new computer.

VolvoGirl — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:47:21 GMT

Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2021 or .tax2022 or .tax2023 etc. They should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder. You should also have the pdf files of each year. Or search your computer for all files ending in .tax. Also if you haven't done it, I would open each year in the program and save it as a PDF file, go to File-Save to PDF so you don't need the program installed to view or print your return in the future like to get a mortgage or loan, etc.

What I would do is just copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents. That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored. Copy that folder to a flash drive or best yet is to burn it to a CD or DVD and then you will have a backup of them. Then on the new computer copy the folder (or files) from the flash drive to your Documents folder.

The programs need to be installed from the CD or download them again. You don't need to install them unless you need to amend or open a return. They only support the last 3 years so you might not be able to update older years or download any state programs you need.

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

Re: Moving TTax to new computer.

VolvoGirl — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:51:07 GMT

Did you search your whole computer for all files ending in .tax2023 etc?And check the recycle bin and your backups. Check in One Drive, Drop Box, etc. It should be in your Documents then in the Turbo Tax folder. Also if you have multiple Windows user accounts, log into each one and do the search for the *.tax2023 data file from within each one and checking the Recycle Bin in each one.

If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like "~your name.tax2023". That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

Don't know if this will help any Turbo Tax users but one Quicken user found them......

What I found was that my Quicken Data files ended up in the One-drive Recycle bin. Not sure how, but I found them there. I placed the files back onto the laptop and brought the files into Quicken and now have all my data back.

Do you still have 2023 installed on the old computer? Here's an idea. Try opening 2023program and see if you can get your 2023 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. Then you can copy it to the new computer.

Re: Moving TTax to new computer.

THPOC — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:51:18 GMT

Thank you for replying Volvo Girl.

THPOC

Re: Moving TTax to new computer.

THPOC — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:09:35 GMT

Thank you for your very thorough reply to my mid January question. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Most things are operating OK now.

Tom