topic password protected tax file in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

password protected tax file

user17685179882 — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:13:31 GMT

Turbotax premier 2025 wants me to enter a pasword to transfer data from my 2024 tax file.

I DID NOT ADDD A PASSWORD TO THE 2024 FILE WHEN IT WAS SAVED LAST YEAR.

That said, you might say just uses the "forgot password" button and answer the security question to recover the password.

Problem is that no security question shows. IT IS BLANK!! How can you answer a security question when it does not exist? It does not exist because that security question and its answer is input when password protection is added to the file by the user - which never happened! I can't believe that I'm the only one with this problem.

Can I be more clear with the description of my issue??

Re: password protected tax file

VolvoGirl — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:17:43 GMT

On windows or Mac? Can you open the file in the 2024 program and delete the password? And see if you have any other .tax2024 files on your computer.

Re: password protected tax file

user17685179882 — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:21:40 GMT

Can delete the password protection if you can't open the file.

Re: password protected tax file

user17685179882 — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:22:38 GMT

windows 11 turbotax premier

Re: password protected tax file

user17685179882 — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 23:23:47 GMT

Can not delete the password if you can not open the file to access.

Re: password protected tax file

Mike9241 — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 01:33:25 GMT

Since 2024 is somehow password-protected, the bad news is that no one can help you, not even support. You'll have to start 2025 as if 2024 didn't exist. In the futire save a complete PDF of the return. That way, if problems occur, you can retrieve the info. It's also a good idea to save both the PDF and .tax2xxx to a thumb drive. Hard drives do crash, and TurboTax does not have copies of returns done on desktops.

if you use a password to sign into W11 you might try that.

Re: password protected tax file

user17685179882 — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:37:25 GMT

Obvious bug in Turbo tax that could be fixed.

Re: password protected tax file

KAGrinde — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:59:21 GMT

I have the same problem! I spent a lot of time with TurboTax support, no help.

Re: password protected tax file

KAGrinde — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:00:22 GMT

How? I can't get in to the file to do so....

Re: password protected tax file

MarilynG1 — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:25:19 GMT

Look for a back-up copy of your 2024 tax file in Documents > TurboTax where TurboTax saves files automatically, even if you directed a 'save as' copy elsewhere. It may have a 'tilde' sign in front of the file name.

If you can open that file, transfer it to 2025. Go to File > Password > Remove Password.

@KAGrinde

Re: password protected tax file

user17752491225 — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:49:44 GMT

Unfortunately, there is no such TurboTax folder in my Documents. As such there is no access to that back up file.

Additionally, when I try to import the 2024 file into my 2025 program, it immediately asks for a password which I have tried to use as it was recorded and it does not work, nor does the answer to the security question. Hence, I cannot go in and choose to remove the password protection option!

Re: password protected tax file

MarilynG1 — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:32:39 GMT

Sometimes its the folder that the file was in that's password protected. Try right-clicking on the folder where you found your 2024 tax file. Here's how to Contact TurboTax Support.

@user17752491225