Hello,
I am trying to install TurboTax Desktop (USA) on a new computer after a hardware replacement. I already own valid license/installation keys for prior years, but I no longer have the original CDs or installer files—only the saved tax data files (.tax/.tax20, etc.) and the product keys.
Specifically, I need the download installers for the following U.S. TurboTax Desktop years:
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
I found that TurboTax Canada provides official download links for past Desktop versions when a customer has a valid key (example below), but I cannot find an equivalent option or article for TurboTax USA:
Canada reference:
https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/turbotax-support/en-ca/help-article/download-products/download-...
Can someone from TurboTax confirm:
Whether official U.S. Desktop installer downloads for prior years are available, and
Where I can obtain those download links using my existing license keys?
This is critical to access and maintain historical client tax records on the new system.
Thank you for your assistance.
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for software downloads and license keys check your Intuit account under Products and Billing
Intuit only supports the current tax year and prior 3 years (now 2022-5) so you will likely be unable to activate 2020 and 2021. Make sure you have PDF with all forms and worksheets for all prior year returns - and backups - that's your official record without depending on the s/w and .tax files.
Thank you for the response, but I believe my original question was misunderstood.
To clarify:
I did not say that I purchased the past years online.
I stated that I do not have the CDs, meaning these were physical (boxed) purchases, and the discs are no longer available.
I do have the license/installation keys and the saved .tax files.
I am not asking about activation support or whether Intuit “supports” prior years.
I am specifically asking for the official download area for prior-year TurboTax Desktop installers, similar to what is available on the TurboTax Canada site.
Please review this official TurboTax Canada link before responding further:
https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/turbotax-support/en-ca/help-article/download-products/download-...
Canada clearly provides a download page for prior-year Desktop software when the customer has a valid key but no CD. I am trying to determine whether an equivalent download location exists for TurboTax USA, and if so, where it can be accessed.
Again, this question is about where to download prior-year installers, not about:
Online purchases
Product support windows
Activation guarantees
PDF backups (which I already have)
I would appreciate a response from someone familiar with TurboTax Desktop installer availability or a moderator who can confirm whether such a U.S. download repository exists.
Thank you.
@gameonbusiness This is the TurboTax US user community website.
Go to this TurboTax Canada website for assistance with a Canadian tax return or the TurboTax Canada editions - https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/turbotax-support/en-ca
Please read my entire message carefully before responding.
I am not asking for TurboTax Canada support, and I am not being redirected there for help. I already stated—clearly—that the Canada link is an example showing that a prior-year Desktop download repository exists in Canada.
That is precisely why I am asking this question.
My question is, and has always been:
Does an equivalent official download repository exist for TurboTax USA Desktop prior-year installers (similar to Canada), and if so, where is it?
I am showing the Canada link as a precedent, not because I need to use it. The Canada site is obviously Canada-only, which I already acknowledged. Telling me to “go to TurboTax Canada” does not answer the question and misses the point entirely.
I explicitly stated:
I am looking for a USA download location
I am not asking about purchases
I am not asking about support windows
I am not asking about activation guarantees
I already have PDF backups
This question is about installer availability, nothing else.
If you do not know whether a TurboTax USA prior-year Desktop download repository exists, please allow a moderator or someone with accurate information to respond rather than posting an unrelated or redirecting answer simply to reply.
Many users here are also searching for legitimate past-year software downloads, and an accurate answer would benefit the community.
Thank you.
Since you now have to log into an Intuit Account when you first install it, all your downloads and licenses are listed there (even if you bought it from somewhere else) so if you need to install it again or install on another computer, even on the other operating system (Windows, Mac) you can download it again. And the download will have all the updates. Sign onto your account here to download the program and to get the license code
https://accounts.intuit.com/app/account-manager/productsBilling/turbotax
But they only support the last 3 years. So you can not activate 2021 and prior.
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-compu...
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.
You only need the tax return data file ending in .tax2024 to transfer into 2025. You don't need to install older programs unless you need to amend or you didn't save the pdf file.
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