Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Level 3
posted Mar 18, 2020 12:03:39 PM

How to share TurboTax 2019 with daughter?

I purchased TurboTax Premier 2019 and used a digital download to my laptop. I shared my license code with my daughter so that she could use one of the 5 e-files and the state e-file. When she tried to download the program to her laptop, she got this message:  "This license code has already been associated with an account. Please check that account and look for it in Downloads." How do we download the program to her computer?

0 19 17412
19 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 12:21:34 PM

Your daughter can access the TurboTax account  that you created when you downloaded the program to your laptop. She can then download the program on her computer and install it.

Level 3
Mar 18, 2020 12:44:54 PM

Thank you for your answer! So, will my daughter need to log into my TurboTax account in order to e-file her returns?

Also, is my tax return uploaded to my TurboTax account? If so, will my daughter be able to see my return and vice versa?

Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 12:55:54 PM

"Your daughter can access the TurboTax account  that you created when you downloaded the program to your laptop."

 

This account is different (in your case) from using the Online TurboTax product.

 

To download the software, she will need to log in to your TurboTax account.

 

However, when you use the CD/download software, the tax return is saved on the computer that you are running the software on, not on a TurboTax server.

 

Thus, you and your daughter will not be able to see each other's returns, because they will be saved on different computers.

 

NOTE: it is important that neither one of you start to use the TurboTax Online software, because this will be stored on a TurboTax server and will be visible to anyone with the login credentials.

 

Once you download and install the CD/download software, you can log off the TurboTax account unless you need to ask questions here in the Community.

Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 12:55:54 PM

No, your daughter will only access the downloaded file to install the TurboTax program.

Your tax return is not saved online. It is saved locally on your laptop. Likewise, your daughter's return will be saved on her computer. She does not see your return and vice versa.

Level 3
Mar 18, 2020 4:43:25 PM

To confirm, downloading TurboTax online using the license key code is not the same as using TurboTax Online, which will store any tax returns online? Using the license key code and downloading TurboTax *plus any updates* will only install the TurboTax program on my computer and my tax return will reside only on my computer and will not be uploaded online with Intuit/TurboTax?

Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2020 4:47:35 PM

Yes, you are correct. You are downloading a program which is then installed on your computer. Your tax return is saved locally and is not stored or uploaded online.

Level 1
Nov 30, 2020 7:22:05 PM

An additional question on this thread, regarding OS versions.  

My daughter has a Mac Book , and I have a Win10 desk top.   So with purchase of deluxe turbo tax can I login to the Turbo tax account and down load the win 10 version and then can my daughter log in with the same account and will she be able to down load the Mac Book version? 

Level 15
Nov 30, 2020 7:37:19 PM

No. If you purchase TurboTax as a digital download, you will get the Windows version, or the Mac version, but not both.  If you buy the physical CD, it contains both Mac and PC installers.  You may be able to use a file sharing service to transfer the installer to your daughter if you do not live close enough to share the CD, or you can copy the installer onto a flash drive if one of you does not have a CD reader.

Or, if you subscribe to the TurboTax  Advantage program, you will receive a CD in the mail and both Mac and PC digital downloads as a courtesy. TurboTax Advantage is the most expensive way of buying TurboTax but you get the earliest access each year and you get access to a priority customer support phone number.

 

Just a note: although the filesharing procedure was encouraged by the previous expert, I believe it is technically a violation of the TurboTax license. I believe that the license for the desktop version allows you to install the program only on your own computer, although you are then permitted to prepare as many family and personal tax returns as you want, as long as you do not act as a paid preparer.  TurboTax will probably not come after you, and the use of a license code cuts down on abuse, but just to let you know that this is a technical violation of the end user license.

Level 15
Dec 1, 2020 6:31:55 AM

@Opus 17 -  you are correct.  this is copy / pasted from the license agreement

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/license/desktop.jsp

 

Supplemental License Grant and Restrictions.

In addition to the General License Grant you may: (i) install and use a copy of the Software on up to five (5) computers

owned by you

(at home or at work); (ii) use the Software only to prepare, print and/or electronically file your federal 2020 tax year returns and related state tax returns as described below; (iii) make one backup copy of the Software for your personal use as permitted under this license grant. 

Returning Member
Feb 18, 2021 11:57:23 AM

I purchased the desktop version of Turbotax and installed it on my laptop.  With my permission, Daughter #1 downloaded using the license key and it prompted for my Turbotax account, which i gave her.  Daughter #2 is now trying to download using the license key, and it also prompted her for my Turbotax account, which i gave her.  It says that the account is in use, and she is able to see her sister's tax info, and not do her own?  My questions are:  1)  why are we able to see Daughter #1's return info?  2)  How can Daughter #2 download the software using my license key and do her own taxes on her laptop?

Intuit Alumni
Feb 19, 2021 12:03:51 PM

The process of installing TurboTax on multiple computers is the same as installing it on one computer. For more information, please see the FAQ provided below. Please let us know if this works:

 

How do I install the same copy of TurboTax on multiple computers?

Level 15
Feb 19, 2021 12:12:21 PM

@Julie30   If she can see her sister's tax info she must be logging into an online account (not the Desktop program) that the sister's return was in.   She needs to download the program from your downloads.  Did you install from the CD or by downloading the program?  There is a problem if you first installed from the CD then you can not download it and have to call in to get the download and a new License Code.

 

Access your downloads here

https://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/commerce/account/secure/login.jsp?pagecontext=download

 

How to download your software purchase

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/how-do-i-download-the-software-i-purchased-at-turbotax-com/00/26075

New Member
Apr 5, 2021 10:25:18 AM

How do I share TurboTax 2020 with another computer?

Intuit Alumni
Apr 5, 2021 10:34:19 AM

Please see the below TurboTax Help Article to assist with installing your software on multiple computers:

How do I install the same copy of TurboTax on multiple computers?

New Member
Mar 8, 2022 7:45:32 PM

How is this not a security risk? It is 2022 and you can't send out a link to five different accounts? This is beyond ridiculous. Let me just give out my password to my TAX INFORMATION. Genius.

Intuit Alumni
Mar 9, 2022 2:30:47 PM

The software allows it to be completed and installed on up to 5 computers, and use the license code to install and use. it does not require you to share your password to your tax information. @SovietFrontier

Returning Member
Jan 17, 2023 8:47:48 PM

This thread is confusing. 

question: when someone buys the disk/download, it allows 5 people to use it. The main person downloads then uses the code from their purchase. But what about the second person? The original poster said his daughter couldn’t use his code. So what should she do? She’s on a different computer. It sounds like she should be logging into her Dad’s TT account…then downloading from there…? She needs to access his info in order to get a copy? Just sharing the code doesn’t work?

thanks 

Intuit Alumni
Jan 18, 2023 9:50:09 AM

@markmc5447 The software allows it to be completed and installed on up to 5 computers, and use the license code to install and use it does not require you to share your password to your tax information. 

 

This link will help you with installation.

Can I install TurboTax on more than one computer? 

Level 15
Jan 18, 2023 9:56:33 AM

@markmc5447   You can install it on 5 computers  YOU OWN.  And the Desktop program can do unlimited returns and efile 5 for free.  The data files end in .tax2022 and are only saved on the computer you did it on.  They are not saved or stored online and nobody else has access to them.  To install on another computer  you install it the same way as the first time, either with the CD or downloading from your account.