How to copy/backup & restore TurboTax online current tax year in-progress data

[r_1]

I can't find detail anywhere, and the UI is horrible and hides practically any/all functionally one actually needs, on how to do a simple thing: COPY a TT online return-in-progress, and/or back it up (and later potentially restore). With the desktop version it'd be easy, just copy/save/rename the .tax2020 file. With TT Online I understand that the in-progress current-year .tax2020 file can't be downloaded or uploaded, so there is no way to do copy/backup and restore with a local copy, so I presume it must be and can be only done TT Online server-side. But how? Where is this absolutely essential feature hidden?

Reason for needing this: to try married filing jointly after having married filing single completed and the tax calculated (for both, each in own TT Online account) , but be able to revert back to the earlier MFS basis how it was easily (as manually undoing all the countless changes and additions to MFJ is asking for trouble and has a high chance of missing to restore something to how it was before, esp. given the wonky UI).

Already, from what I understand, Intuit hasn't bothered (despite countless customer requests) to add the basic functionality to import one's spouse TT online (or even TT desktop?) previous year's carryforward data, so that has to be all entered manually by hand (any hints of where to at least get an output, all on one or a few pages, of all information that needs to be entered from a spouse's last year return that has to carry forward, and where, on what single page, vs. carefully hidden all over in the counter-intuitive UI, to find the page where to copy and paste or type in the spouse carryforward from last year data?).

At the very least there surely must be a copy/backup and restore feature for TT online, really just creating a second "save file" of the tax return, as that is such a commonly needed feature by many if not most TT customers I would think, not just for MFI/MFJ comparisons, but also just seeing how something theoretical may work out, but then reverting back to how it was beforehand easily, vs. having to undo all the changes one by one, that is an inherently high-risk proposition.

Any help and advice on where to find the copy/backup and revert to earlier version/copy of the current tax year data in TT Online will be much appreciated, as will be any advice of where (in one place) to get all the carryforward data that has to be entered from a spouse's last year TT Online return to "merge" it in for an MFJ basis.

[DanPaul02]

That does not exist online.  You do have those backup and restore copy functions in the desktop versions.

[r_1]

Wow. Hard to believe that Intuit has pushed out TurboTax as live, and has had it up out for so many years, without such most basic functionality. Revert back to previous timestamp version, or failing that at least a manual backup/restore, is an essential feature for anything to do with taxes or other serious matters. 

No way to force it to provide download the work-in-progress .tax2020 file, and no way to force to upload it back and restore it, is there?

[xmasbaby0]

Sorry what you want to do cannot be done with online software -- you want to do something that can be done with desktop software.

It is not easy to compare MFJ to MFS using online TT but you can do it.  Since you only get one return for each account and user ID, you have to use 3 accounts and user ID’s—one for MFJ and two for each of the MFS returns.  Compare, choose, and file—and pay—accordingly.

It is much easier to do this comparison using the desktop version of TT installed from a CD or downloaded to your own computer.  You pay once for the software and you can prepare multiple returns easily, and it has a “what if” feature that allows comparisons.

JOINT vs. SEPARATE RETURNS 2018 and beyond

If you were legally married at the end of 2020 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $24,800 (+$1300 for each spouse 65 or older)  You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return. Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-married-filing-jointly-vs-married-filing-separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901162-married-filing-separately-in-community-property-states

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894449-is-it-better-for-a-married-couple-to-file-jointly-or-separ...

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry Online is only 1 return per account.  If you change something you can't go back.  It automatically saves every entry you make.  You can download the .tax2020 file to your computer and open it in the Desktop CD/Download program.  Then you can copy it to do test returns, etc.  But you can not copy it back to the online version.  

You can only switch one way from Online to Desktop.  Not from Desktop to Online.

To compare Joint to MFS.  If you are using the Online version, do NOT change anything on your return.  You would have to start with a new account and do a test return.  You don't have to pay unless you want to print it out.  So you might need 3 accounts, one for Joint and two MFS, one for each spouse.

How to Compare Joint to Married Filing Separately

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/married/help/how-can-we-compare-married-filing-jointly-with-marrie...

How to start another return in the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-onli...

It would be better to use the Desktop CD/Download program.  It can do unlimited returns and has a What If worksheet to compare them and many other advantages over the online version.

You can buy the Desktop CD/Download program here

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