How do I open all my old turbotax returns 1999-2016? Without having to install all my old versions of turbotax?

[DoninGA]

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@ltran9881 wrote:

I lost CD turbo tax 2016 ,how do I open turbotax file 2016

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Did you save the 2016 as a PDF?  If so, you can open the file with any compatible PDF viewer, such as Adobe Reader.

If you only saved the tax data file, with an file extension of .tax2016, that can only be opened by the TurboTax software for 2016.  TurboTax does not support tax year 2016.

You may be able to purchase the TurboTax CD from an online retailer such as Amazon.  However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to get any updates for the software or a state program for 2016.

[VolvoGirl]

OR you could try the TaxPrinter service to convert a .tax file to pdf at

http://www.taxprinter.com

They might be expensive and it is probably not safe to email tax returns back and forth.  They are not related to Turbo Tax.

[Anonymous]

I am using desktop and had to reload my computer.  Lost last years software and and have all the files but I saved the PDF incorrectly.  If I have 2021 installed, can I reinstall 2020?

[DoninGA]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I am using desktop and had to reload my computer.  Lost last years software and and have all the files but I saved the PDF incorrectly.  If I have 2021 installed, can I reinstall 2020?

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Each tax year is a separate TurboTax program.  To open the 2020 tax return you will need the 2020 TurboTax software.

TurboTax only supports the current tax year and the last three tax years, eg. 2021 thru 2018.

[Anonymous]

Thanks!!  One other question if you know....old files that start with a tilde (flat wavy line)...can they be deleted?

[DoninGA]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks!!  One other question if you know....old file that start with a tilde (flat wavy line)...can they be deleted?

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If you have the same tax data file available as the file with the ~ tilde, it can be deleted.  The file with the tilde is the back up tax data file in case the original data file is missing.

[rlmccann]

My tax files from 2000 - 2015 were not saved in pdf format.  I don't have any disk that far back.  Anyone have any ideas how to open the tax return?

[VolvoGirl]

If you have old .tax files you can try converting them to pdf files at  Www.Taxprinter.Com 

It might be expensive.  They are not connected with Turbo Tax.  Use it at your own risk.  Their Website says…….

We read most federal and state files (Windows and Macintosh) from years 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Known exceptions are TurboTax 1997, 1999 and TaxCut 2005 files which we can't read for technical reasons. TurboTax 1998 and 2002 files may show only the tax summary and the Form 1040.

[hljackso]

After paying $50 for the tax software years ago, who would want to pay more just to print a file.

Intuit should provide a FREE service to print old .tax files.

[hljackso]

You must work for those crooks.

$44 to get a file printed are you kidding me

[VolvoGirl]

Request a free transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Or for $43 you can get a copy of your tax return
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

[xmasbaby0]

The IRS saves tax returns for 7 years, then they are gone.   You can get a free transcript for about ten years back.   It will not be a copy of the Form 1040 but it will show the information that was entered.

[JJCC6391]

For the 2017 Tax Year I used TurboTax online. At the end I was given the option to save or print. I saved into the only file format they allowed which was .tax2017  and sadly I didn't print a paper copy. In 2022 I needed to view a copy of my 2017 but you can only open it with special Turbotax software that you must pay for twice just to get a copy of your old tax return. That is really a rip off that TT protected my data with their encryption. Anyway I stopped using Turbotax completely starting in 2020 and my new tax preparation service stores your tax return in the cloud for 7 years and prints in .pdf file format anytime you want. It's also 1/4th the price of Turbotax. Now you can create an account at IRS to access rough data about your returns. I use t__hawk . com and It's a no brainer really, I'll never go back to TT.

[xmasbaby0]

@JJCC6391 Sounds like you were confused a few years ago about how to save your tax return.   You should have saved it as a tax file and as a pdf----and that was certainly possible.   Also, if you used TT online for 2017 you can still access that return.  But you have to use exactly the same account and user ID in order to get to it.  You do not have to pay again to get to your tax return.

  You have to access your own account and/or  print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them.  Log out of the account you are in now.

Account recovery

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax?  If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900721-find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows

To get a copy of your previously filed returns prepared with online TurboTax https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900748-how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-a-return-i-filed-in-turbotax-online

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900748-how-do-i-get-a-copy-of-a-return-i-filed-this-year-in-turbo...

SAVE YOUR TAX RETURN !

EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records.  That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900937-why-should-i-save-a-pdf-copy-of-my-return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899779-what-s-the-difference-between-the-tax-data-file-and-the-pd...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912466-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-... •

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912533-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-...

[Joseriverasr61]

How do I get a copy of my old tax returns from 2000-2009