Desktop Turboxtax activation code not working (2019, 2020)

[unk1911]

i have the same exact issue and same exact error message 630.  i have a need to install 2019 turbotax and go into my 2019 taxes using that specific software and i'm unable to do so.  

[unk1911]

i am having the same exact issue as the op.  i have a need to go into turbotax 2019 (for which i paid) and i'm unable to do so.  why am i not able to do so?   i need to file an amended tax return for 2019 and i need this software to open my .2019 files....

[tksprabu]

I have not had situation like that. Have you tried calling their customer service? They are basically making the software unusable after couple of years. Your other option is to use their online version.

[MarilynG1]

You can only Amend for the last three years; 2021, 2022, 2023.  

You'll have to fill our a 1040X for 2019 manually, if you have a need to do so, using your PDF copy of your return.

Here's more info on How to Amend a Prior Year Return. 

@unk1911 

[tksprabu]

@MarilynG1  - you are incorrect.

One may need to file paper return - because IRS does not accept e-filing after October?? Example 2023 return may be e-filed only till Oct 2024.

But if you have Turbotax installed on computer, the tax return can be amended using TT, print and send paper return to IRS.

[jjn321]

OK, so I'm having the same issues as most of the people on this thread.  Bought a new computer, and trying to install and activate my older copies of Turbotax, from 2015 through 2023.  Everything works and is activated and loads my old tax forms, except 2019.  I spent 1.5 hours on the phone with customer service today.  Here's what I found out:

I asked customer service to check the activation codes (I actually have two), and he said both are fine to use, they are still in the system and "alive" to use.

They then claimed that they no longer support 2019 because it's out of date, which is just not right as they support back to 2015.  In fact, on their website they have 2019 listed for download, along with my license codes that I purchased back in 2019.  The downloaded software works fine up to the point of activation.  2015 through 2018 work fine, as well as 2020 through 2023.

2019 was the first year that they started using an activation codes and I suspect that there is some issue either with the backend verification on their end (like it no longer works)

The customer service rep said that there was a patch posted by Intuit to be able to use the software without the activation process at some point, but it was taken down by Intuit.

Additionally, there was a crack solution posted, but that whole website also has been taken down.

FYI, there's another thread on this exact topic with similarly angry people:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/i-need-to-activate-my-recently-purchased-2019-hom...

I suspect that unless a patch is sent out to eliminate the activation code process, or the technical crack solution is released, there's some technical issue on Intuit's back-end verification system that they're either unwilling or unable to fix.

[JohnB5677]

For installation and software issues you can contact the TurboTax Support Phone Number

[jjn321]

Thank you, John, I've spoken with 3 customer service reps for over 1.5 hours, and the only response I continually received was “we no longer support TurboTax 2019”.  This is nonsense, since 1) Turbotax 2019 continues to be available to download from Intuit's site under my account, 2) the activation code under my account from Intuit's site was confirmed by a customer service rep as open and valid, and 3) Turbotax for years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 that were also downloaded from Intuit's site can be activated and are completely functional.

There is a fundamental technical issue with the ability to activate TurboTax 2019.

Please speak with someone at Intuit who has a deep technical understanding of the issue with TurboTax's 2019 activation platform, and please provide a technical solution.  This is probably a patch to a file or a set of technical instructions, possibly involving the registry, to activate the software.  Customer service reps have demonstrated the only solution they provide is “TurboTax 2019 is no longer supported”, which means the activation platform is broken.

Thank you!

[unhappy7]

Like others I spent hours with tech support only to be told TurboTax2019 is no longer supported. I was unable to license on my new computer so fired up the old one so I could print out my 2019 tax return. Now the old installation that was working is asking for a license key. They obviously have a problem that they are not taking responsibility for. 

They say they only support TurboTax for three years so can I assume the previous years software that we purchased will be shut down like our 2019 versions? That's a pretty bad business model and completely irresponsible.

It seems I will need to find an alternative software as TurboTax has now put me in jeopardy if there's an audit. I will make sure I will be able to access my tax returns beyond the three year limit TurboTax has applied.  

[mesquitebean]

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@unhappy7 wrote:

Like others I spent hours with tech support only to be told TurboTax2019 is no longer supported. I was unable to license on my new computer so fired up the old one so I could print out my 2019 tax return. Now the old installation that was working is asking for a license key. They obviously have a problem that they are not taking responsibility for. 

They say they only support TurboTax for three years so can I assume the previous years software that we purchased will be shut down like our 2019 versions? That's a pretty bad business model and completely irresponsible.

It seems I will need to find an alternative software as TurboTax has now put me in jeopardy if there's an audit. I will make sure I will be able to access my tax returns beyond the three year limit TurboTax has applied.  

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You can complain directly to the liaison at the office of the president of Intuit using the form at the link below.  They say they will get back to you within 1 business day.   While they likely cannot do anything about it currently, they need to be aware of people's dissatisfaction and why many folks need access to their software longer than 3 years.   If enough people complain, maybe they will someday alter their policy.  It would be interesting to hear their explanation anyway.

https://www.intuit.com/company/contact/office-of-the-president/

IMO, even though they don't "support" it longer than 3 years, people should be able to "use" it as long as they want; i.e., TurboTax shouldn't inactivate it.

[Mike9241]

what's issues do you see if you have a PDF copy of the return and all worksheets. In other words, why do you think you'll need to access the actual tax file.

[unhappy7]

First, why does TurboTax need to disable software that was paid in full?

Second, a PDF cannot be printed out if the application has been disabled.

Third, possible tax audits and tax data retrieval.

It is disreputable to sell software and then disable it without notice or cause. It's nobody's business why I would want to keep using software that was paid for. The license agreement states the software can be installed one or more computers owned by me. The license agreement also has no 'kill date', only implies the software will continue to work as long as the license agreement is honored by the user. I have fully complied with the license agreement, TurboTax has not!!

[Mike9241]

why. $$$$$ it costs money to store and maintain an app.

as for PDF you are completely wrong about printing. any PDF app can open and print a pdf (PDF stands for portable document format) so you don't need Turbotax. even browsers can open pdfs and you can print from there. 

[unhappy7]

Pay attention, I'll teach you some basics about TurboTax.....  The TurboTax application creates and saves by default a proprietary file that can only be opened by the specific TurboTax application. At some point you have the option to print out the tax return from within the application. One of the options is to print to a PDF file, so now you know about the PDF file creation.

As for the application, it's my business what I choose to do with it. As it stands now, TurboTax has violated the license agreement by disabling the application proving itself a dishonorable company and not trustworthy.

[Climber1]

I am not re-installing 2019, since it is still installed from 2020 on. Not looking for support, don't want updates, don't want to amend. Just want to be able to do a more detailed save to PDF, since saving "tax return, all calculation worksheets" actually DOESN'T mean ALL forms and worksheets :( 

But since it re-checks the license regardless I am also stuck. I paid for lifetime use of this product and can't. It's bait and switch
My suspicion is that it might have something to do with the size of the activation key. 2019 had a 14 char key and all future years have a 16 char key. Yes, the dialog mentions 14 char, but the amount of X's in the license key box is 16. Maybe their license server only accepts 16.