How to remove installed State on Mac from Turbo tax?

[jackkgan]

I bought 2 copies of Turbotax premier desk top mac - one for me living in California, and another for my son who is staying in New York since end of 2023 for work. (We filed his 2023 return in California State. We provided his State of residence for 2024 as New York and his mailing address is still California as he will return to CA in few months.)

1. I worked on my tax return first.. renamed moved the downloaded app in my applications folder to another location
2. I then downloaded my son's Turbotax and am working  on his return.

Now when I reached State tax return with his turbotax application, it thinks that I already installed California and is charging $45 to choose New York for his return. I noticed that TurboTax shows California installed. Is there any way I can uninstall CA for his return and install New York? Then do the other way by choosing when I get back to complete my return later?

I want to remove California for him. Also curious: Why is it showing California as installed? Is it because we gave his mailing address as CA or is it because mine is CA on the same mac or is it because his previous tax return of 2023 was CA?

I want to install New York for him.

Below is what's shown in State Taxes

I went to File and chose "Remove State Data" which now shows disabled. But it shows "Prepare California" enabled.

I believe the 1st state is free.  I think Turbo Tax considers New York as a second state and hence charges $45 as shown below.

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry that won’t work.  Buying another program won’t get you another free state.  So you didn’t need to buy 2 programs at all.  Even if you install it on a different computer it probably keeps track in your account.   I would try to get a refund for the second program.  

There is a way to have 2 licenses. Under Help - Switch Product - Activate new product.  Don't know what that will do or what benefit you will get.  Don't think it will allow you to efile more than 5 or download another free state.

It’s showing California installed because you installed it.  It’s not specific to which return you are doing.  

[jackkgan]

Thanks VolvoGirl.

Just to clarify: I thought  allows 1 free state per each Turbo Tax license  or account. 

Our Turbo Tax accounts and license numbers are different. 

So, I got California State free for my download of TurboTax version. 

My son does not need California, I was hoping we can select New York as the 1st state  for him.

I was not expecting 2nd free state for a TurboTax license.  

I tried Switch Product -> Activate product, but that still did not help.  I wish I could remove California for him and only use New York. Not sure why it is getting mixed up with the state I had installed for my Tax return

[VolvoGirl]

No sorry.  And it might have been cheaper just to buy 1 program and buy the second state for $45.  At least it is free to efile New York.  NY is the only free efile.  All other states are $25 each (including the first one) to efile.

[jackkgan]

Thanks VolvoGirl  

It is really surprising (disappointing) that TurboTax is getting mixed up between our states chosen as my son and I have different TurboTax accounts and different Turbo Tax licenses.

Please confirm if the only path forward now is to pay $45 for New York for my son as it is not letting me choose his first state for free. 

I had got discounted Turbo Tax for $15 via my previous team member as I am ex-Intuit employee. So I was hoping getting another TurboTax product would be cheaper than paying another $45 for an additional state. 

Thanks again.