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Stu55
New Member

Can I transfer my acct to another computer?

Where do I go to get the download to install on my new computer?
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3 Replies

Can I transfer my acct to another computer?

Your TurboTax account is accessible from any computer that has a browser and an Internet connection.   So you don't have to transfer an account when getting a new computer.   Or did you mean move the *.tax2018 data file to a new computer?

If you purchased a software download from TurboTax, you should be able to re-download the installation file here:
https://shopping.turbotax.intuit.com/app/downloads/

If you don't find it there, you may have multiple accounts that we can help you troubleshoot.

Also see the info I left you in my comment below about the *.tax2018 data file.   Also see VolvoGirl's comment below about archiving ALL of your tax files (data files and PDFs) from prior years that may be on your old computer.

Can I transfer my acct to another computer?

Did you prepare your 2018 return in desktop software already on the old computer?   If so,  you will need the *.tax2018 data file from the old computer in order to open it on the new computer after you install TurboTax.  And you will need to safely save it so you can transfer it next year into the 2019 return.  You are the only one who will have a copy of the 2018 data file, so be sure to back it up.   

If the *.tax2018 data file has a state return in it, then you will need to download the state program into your software before opening the file, or it will display an error.   In order to download the state program on the new computer, you may have to start a new 2018 return just long enough to download it.

Can I transfer my acct to another computer?

Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2015, .tax2016, .tax2017 or .tax2018 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.  

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…….
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901474-move-your-tax-return-to-a-different-computer">https://ttlc...>

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