Disk and Online use for 2024

[Priceok2]

I purchased 2023 TurboTax deluxe CD. In the future am I able to use the online version instead? I foresee a time when I won’t have a CD drive in my computer technology. I have already opened the package but have not loaded it yet. Thank you. 

[ee-ea]

You can change.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/product-delivery/bought-cd-computer-cd-d...

[Priceok2]

If I buy the online TurboTax Deluxe, can I download the software to other machines in the future without additional costs?

[VolvoGirl]

You can install it on 5 computers you own.

The CD/Download Desktop you buy and install the program, which can do unlimited returns. The returns are only saved on your computer and can not be accessed from anywhere else. And not saved at Turbo Tax. So Be sure to save Frequently and make backups. You get 5 federal efile for free. In Deluxe and above you get 1 state PROGRAM download to prepare unlimited state returns (in that state). Each state return including the first one is $20 early or $25 to efile or you can print and mail the state for free. The Desktop programs do not have the expert help that is available to add to Online versions.

Desktop also has many other features and advantages over the Online version. You can do more than 1 return. You can see and enter into the actual forms. It has a What-If worksheet. And you can use a lower version because all the Desktop versions have ALL the same forms. You just get more help in the higher versions. In online you have to upgrade to enter certain kinds of income. Like Premium for investments.

And the Desktop program is always available even after the year ends. Which is good if you ever need to amend your return after online website is closed or get audited and need your tax records.

You can buy the Desktop CD/Download program here,

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/

[Priceok2]

I wasn’t clear in my question. I want to know, if I buy TurboTax Deluxe 2023 Online edition, in future years if I need to open my 2023 return, can I download the software to other machines? This happened a couple of years ago when I needed an older return and had the CD. I was able to load it on my new computer, download my old return from a thumb drive, and get to my old return. 
Will I be able to get to and download old TurboTax software if I buy the online version and use a backup of my return from my cloud storage or thumb drive? Thanks!

[xmasbaby0]

Many people do not have disk drives now, so they download the software instead.   As long as your computer meets the system requirements for the CD/download, you will be able to just download the software instead of putting that plastic disk into a slot on your computer.  The software will be the same.

If your computer no longer meets the system requirements, then you can use online software instead.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes I answered that.  But it's not called the Online version.  It is the download program, same as the CD.   Or are you asking about using the Online web version?  That is different than the Desktop CD/download program.  

If you use Online version it is only on Turbo Tax servers and you can access it from any computer.  You should save both the pdf and .tax2023 files to your computer in case you need to amend or get a copy in the future.  You shouldn't rely on getting a copy from Turbo Tax.  Or if you want to use the Desktop program next year so you can transfer from this year.

[rjs]

I think you're confused about the terminology for the TurboTax products, and it's confusing the people who are trying to answer your question. If you use TurboTax Online you access it in a web browser. You do not download or install anything.

The TurboTax software that you install on your own computer is called the CD/download software or the desktop software. You can buy it on a CD or as a download. You install it on your computer from the CD or download. You run the software on your computer. You do not use it online.

TurboTax Online and the CD/download desktop software are completely separate products.

TurboTax Online, that you use in a web browser, is only available for the current year. TurboTax Online cannot open a .tax20yy file that was created by the CD/download desktop software, and it cannot open tax returns from previous years. You cannot download the TurboTax Online software. If you need to open a .tax20yy file you need the CD/download desktop software for the corresponding year.

If you buy a download of the desktop software from TurboTax.com the download will remain available in your account for 4 years, so you can download it again if necessary. You could also just save the download along with your tax return files on your computer. The download is just one file.

[Priceok2]

Just to be clear, can I purchase, the physical CD, and in the future, use the download if my computer hardware changes? Is there any additional cost to switching to the download at a later date? Can I continue to load past versions of the download without a charge, if I need to access the 2023 tax returns and have them backed up in the cloud or on a thumb drive? Thank you for your help. 

[rjs]

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@Priceok2 wrote:

Just to be clear, can I purchase, the physical CD, and in the future, use the download if my computer hardware changes? Is there any additional cost to switching to the download at a later date?

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Do you mean the CD and the download for the same year? Yes, you can do that. If you purchased the CD directly from TurboTax you might be able to get a download from customer service. Otherwise you would have to purchase the download separately. The license code for the CD probably would not work for the download once the CD has been installed. You would get a new license code with the purchase of the download.

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@Priceok2 wrote:

Can I continue to load past versions of the download without a charge, if I need to access the 2023 tax returns and have them backed up in the cloud or on a thumb drive? Thank you for your help. 

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It's not clear what you mean by "load." Do you mean install? And what do you mean by "past versions" if you are talking about accessing your 2023 tax return? If you have a download for 2023 you can install that same download on up to 5 computers that you own.

TurboTax supports only the current tax year and three previous years. Right now you could install downloads for 2020 through 2023. You would not be able to install a download (or a CD) for 2019 or earlier.

[VolvoGirl]

Even if you buy the CD you should use the download method to install the program.  Then you can for sure download it again like to reinstall or to install on another computer.  You might have trouble installing the CD again or getting the download after using the CD.  

How to install with a License Code

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-topics/help/activating-turbotax-cd-download-software/00/852971

There should be instructions with the CD on how to download it instead.  In fact this link says you can't use both the CD and download.

How to download Turbo Tax instead of using the CD

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

[Elaineverna]

So I do not get a CD now for my TurboTax desktop so am I able to do my daughters tax return on my computer which I did do last year please let me know  Verna Getts

[NCperson]

@Elaineverna TT announced that they are discontinuing CDs for the 2024 tax season.  Everything will be a download via the internet if you are using the Desktop version. 

does that answer your question - it was hard to decipher. 

[rjs]

@Elaineverna 

Your question is unclear because "I do not get a CD" could mean that you use the downloaded software or it could mean that you use TurboTax Online.

If you use the downloaded software, which is sometimes called the desktop software, you install the software on your own Windows or Mac computer. You can use it to do both your own tax return and your daughter's tax return.

If you use TurboTax Online you can do both your own tax return and your daughter's tax return on your computer, but you have to use a separate TurboTax Online account for each person. You need one account for yourself and a different account for your daughter.