topic Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another.... in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

I have bought a new computer and would like to copy TurboTax software for previous years from the old computer to the new computer. Please advise.

mshah111 — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:31:09 GMT

You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

rjs — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:31:10 GMT

You can't copy the software from one computer to another. You have to install it on the new computer from the CD or download for each year.

You can copy your tax return data files to the new computer. They have the file name extension .tax20yy, where yy is the year. For example, the file name extension is .tax2015 for your 2015 tax return, .tax2016 for your 2016 return, etc. The default location for the .tax20yy data files is My Documents/TurboTax, but you could have saved them in a different folder.

Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

VolvoGirl — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:31:13 GMT

Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax2016 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.

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.  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/questions/1901474-move-your-tax-return-to-a-different-computer

If you are moving to a Mac from Windows or to Windows from Mac you will need to install the right program.  If you have the CD it has both windows and Mac programs on it.  If you downloaded the program you might need to call in and ask for the other download. Unless you have both downloads in your account already.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

rocelp — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:20:52 GMT

I also have the same problem. My old laptop had a cd drive, which is now broken. The new one doesn't. I transferred all turbotax files to my new laptop. I am trying to find the folder to where the turbotax program was installed and perhaps execute that file to my new one? I looked under "Program Files", but I can't locate it. Or is this not possible?

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

VolvoGirl — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:26:45 GMT

Sorry, as I said the programs need to be installed from the CD or download. Maybe if you call in they can put the download in your account. Where did you buy the CD? If you are on the Turbo Tax Advantage plan you also have the download.

Contact Customer Service 5am-5pm Pacific M-F

https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

rocelp — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:55:59 GMT

I bought the CD at Costco.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

rocelp — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:58:48 GMT

I will just go ahead and run the CD at another laptop I have that has a cd-rom. I wanted to see what my taxes would have been if I added more income, to prep for next year. Just to confirm, it is not possible to execute program from explorer directory?

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

rjs — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 18:09:15 GMT

That's right. You cannot transfer the TurboTax program directories and run them on the new computer. You have to install the TurboTax software on the new computer from the CD or a download.

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

Rickconant — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:38:34 GMT

I saved my TurboTax file for 2019 into Documents in the Cloud.

Now when I turn on my new computer I can see the document in the Cloud but I cannot open it because I do not have TurboTax application installed on the new computer

When I go to TurboTax it wants me to purchase the download to the new computer but I already purchased the 2019 Premier on the old computer.

So do I have to buy the application again or just use the old computer for 2019 taxes?

Really would like to use the new computer as it is an Apple MacBookAir 2019 while my old one is a MacBook Air 2012.

Help

Thanks/Richard Conant

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

Rickconant — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:39:35 GMT

So I have to repurchase the application for the new computer?

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

VolvoGirl — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:59:14 GMT

No. If you bought the Desktop CD/Download program you can install it on 5 computers. Install it the same way as you did on the first computer. If you have the CD but don't have a CD drive you can download the program.

How to install Turbo Tax if you don't have a CD drive

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/i-bought-the-cd-but-my-computer-doesn-t-have-a-cd-drive/01/26450

You can copy the tax return data file that ends in .tax2019.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

ROBERTINSEATTLE — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 08:04:31 GMT

To transfer 2018 data to new computer I think you need to install 2018 software on new computer and then transfer the data. Make sure the transfer worked. Then install 2019 software. Then when you do your 2019 taxes the 2018 data should transfer over to make doing your taxes a bit easier. That isn't clear from most of the posts.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

rjs — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 14:51:12 GMT

@ROBERTINSEATTLE wrote:

To transfer 2018 data to new computer I think you need to install 2018 software on new computer and then transfer the data.

You do not have to install the 2018 software in order to transfer information from your 2018 tax return when you start your 2019 tax return. You just need the .tax2018 data file and the 2019 software.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

brigadoon02 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:38:57 GMT

when I copied turbo tax file from old computer to new computer windows 10 the PDF files were fine but the tax files are not readable. when I install turbo tax 2019 will they be readable. I have all the previous years cds.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

DoninGA — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:40:40 GMT

@brigadoon02 wrote:

when I copied turbo tax file from old computer to new computer windows 10 the PDF files were fine but the tax files are not readable. when I install turbo tax 2019 will they be readable. I have all the previous years cds.

Re: Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2014, .tax2015, .tax201...

VolvoGirl — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:48:01 GMT

You do need each year's program installed to open the .tax file. Like to open a .tax2018 return you need the 2018 program.

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.

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: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

isurft — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:13:30 GMT

I hit wrong button, that wasn’t my question.

i just purchased software to file my 2018 Taxes. My Dad paid for with his credit card. I put his name and billing address on my order and now it says his name on my order for 2018 software when it’s suppose to be me, Kimberle Naughten.

Do I need to speak with the billing Dept?

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

CatinaT1 — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:36:33 GMT

Please call TurboTax Customer service. Here is a link: Turbo Tax Customer Service

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

VolvoGirl — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 22:38:24 GMT

Does the name matter? It shouldn't affect anything. Can you download the program?

Contact Customer Service
5am-9pm Pacific Time Monday - Sunday
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

What is the Turbo Tax phone number
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

Re: You can't copy the software from one computer to another....

gzalatan — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:45:43 GMT

how do i copy my old file to a new computer