Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Returning Member
posted Mar 20, 2020 6:53:54 PM

Cannot open previous Turbo Tax file

For some reason when I try to open my Turbo Tax 2018 file with a .tax2018 file extension it looks like it is going to open/transfer to my new 2019 Turbo Tax software, but it does not work.  It just stays on the screen that states - "Good News we found your tax info..."  Every time I click Transfer Return, which I have done multiple times and it doesn't work. It says, "Reading Your Return" and then just goes away with no message and staying on the same screen.  I did my 2018 taxes with Turbo Tax on a Mac and now I am using on a Windows 10 PC for Turbo Tax 2019.  Is that why it is not working and transferring?  Please help with transferring my 2018 Turbo Tax return file from my Mac to 2019 Turbo Tax on PC.  Thank you.

0 7 1840
7 Replies
Level 15
Mar 20, 2020 7:14:01 PM

@ toddschreiner 

Did you happen to password protect/encrypt your data file when using the Mac for 2018 return, either with the Mac keychain access or without?

 

If you did, see this FAQ on how to remove it in either of those cases using your Mac and 2018 program.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-access-my-password-protected-turbotax-desktop-file-if-i-forgot-the-password/00/27068

Returning Member
Mar 20, 2020 7:26:33 PM

Yes... I think I did put a password on the 2018 TurboTax 2018 file when I used a mac. However, I do not get prompted to put in a password when I try to transfer the 2018 tax file on my TurboTax for windows PC. How can I put in the password?

Level 15
Mar 20, 2020 7:28:30 PM


@ toddschreiner

 wrote:

Yes... I think I did put a password on the 2018 TurboTax 2018 file when I used a mac. However, I do not get prompted to put in a password when I try to transfer the 2018 tax file on my TurboTax for windows PC. How can I put in the password?



Well, the Windows version probably can't realize what all is going on.   You'll need to open the 2018 data file in the 2018 Mac program and use one of the 2 methods to remove the password I mentioned in that FAQ I provided in my comment above.  Do you still have the Mac and software?

 

I don't use a Mac, so if you need additional help beyond reversing the instructions in that FAQ, I can ask a Mac person to help you remove any Mac password/encryption from the 2018 data file.

Returning Member
Mar 20, 2020 7:37:26 PM

Ok... I actually know what the password is for my Mac 2018 TurboTax file.  So if I open it in the 2018 TurboTax file on my old Mac computer can I then remove the password so it will transfer to my TurboTax 2019 for windows pc?  

Well... I answered my question. I can remove the password and then it opened up fine on my Windows 10 PC. Thanks for the insight!

Level 15
Mar 20, 2020 8:47:13 PM


@toddschreiner wrote:

Ok... I actually know what the password is for my Mac 2018 TurboTax file.  So if I open it in the 2018 TurboTax file on my old Mac computer can I then remove the password so it will transfer to my TurboTax 2019 for windows pc?



All I can say is that IF it was a Mac password/encryption problem causing it not to transfer, then hopefully getting rid of the password and then saving the file on your Mac without a password or encryption will let it transfer when you try to do it on the Windows computer.   I can't guarantee there's not some additional problem.

 

If you know the password, you should be able to get into the 2018 program OK.   Then you should be able to remove the password/encryption by reversing the instructions in that FAQ I provided.   I can't give you the exact instructions, since I don't use a Mac.   Again, if you have a problem, I can ask a Mac person to join in.

New Member
Mar 22, 2021 10:38:44 AM

I am having same problem with Windows prgram

Level 15
Mar 22, 2021 3:22:03 PM


@ ashleyandhaley

 wrote:

I am having same problem with Windows program


I don't know with certainty what that means.   This is an old Mac thread about a password-protected file prepared on a Mac computer, then the user later tried to transfer the Mac-protected file into a Windows version of TurboTax.

 

Can you please start at square one and describe your issue in detail?   And what Windows version?

Please describe what you are doing.

 

Are you trying to transfer a *.tax2019 data file prepared in a 2019 TurboTax personal tax product into a new 2020 personal tax return?   If so, please describe what happens.    Is your *.tax2019 data file password-protected like the threadowner's was?