How to upload 8949 file in csv format

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I have a 8949 file in csv format. How do I import it into TurboTax 2025? I don't want to enter every transaction manually. I am using the desktop version of turbotax.

ReneV4

Level 8

Although TurboTax does not support importing a csv formatted file for Form 8949, here are two possible alternatives:

1. The easiest way to input this information is to sort it by summarizing the sales section totals instead of entering each trade.

To do this, separate the section totals into their respective categories, for example:

Short-Term Covered: (Box A) Basis was reported to the IRS
Short-Term Non-Covered: (Box B) Basis was NOT reported to the IRS
Long-Term Covered: (Box D) Basis was reported to the IRS
Long-Term Non-Covered: (Box E) Basis was NOT reported to the IRS

You only need to make one entry for each category that has totals. If you have all 4 categories, you make 4 entries. If you only have Long-Term and Short-Term "Covered," you only make 2 entries.

Click on Wages & Income
Select Add more income
Scroll down to Investments and Savings and click down arrow
Select Stock, Crypto...(1099-B...)
Select Add investments, Add a different way
Select Stock, Bonds, Mutual Funds (1099-B)
Enter brokerage information, then Continue
In the "Tell us about the sales..." section, answer those questions, then Continue
In the "Now choose how to enter your sales", select Sales section totals, Continue
Note: If you need to adjust the basis, click on the box below the sales section, I need to adjust my total cost basis

If you choose to summarize, you will need to mail in a copy of Form 8453 to the IRS after you e-file so that they have documentation of your summary.

If you are dealing with Cryptocurrency, many crypto platforms generate a specific TurboTax file that is already formatted for uploading.

2. Another solution is to import directly from your financial institution. If your csv came from a mjor brokerage, you can sign into your account within TurboTax to upload the file.

Click on Wages & Income
Select Add more income
Scroll down to Investments and Savings and click down arrow
Select Stock, Crypto...(1099-B...)
On the next screen, you can search for your financial institution and click Import now

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chag2020Author

Level 4

Thank you for your very informative answer. Do I not need to provide the list of all the individual trades? Somewhere in TurboTax, after entering the totals, I was prompted to mail in the 8949 listing all individual trades.

baldietax

Level 12

@chag2020 generally if you have any adjustments to the sale summary (wash sales, AMD etc) or noncovered categories where cost basis is not reported to the IRS, that will trigger the need to send in the details using Form 8453. What's asked for on that form is "Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets (or a statement with the same information), if you elect not to report your transactions electronically on Form 8949"

note also the full 1099B is not required, you don't need to include unadjusted Box A or Box D transactions.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/printers-printing/need-fill-mail-form-8949/L5F3HsRJd_US_en_US

you can avoid the mailing by splitting up your 1099B and input these items as "one by one" with the details, and input the balance of your 1099B as summary level, and then check the combined totals on Schedule D line up with your original 1099B. Whether this is feasible depends how many of these items you have, I've done 50 or so to have a clean e-file and avoid the mailing, it doesn't take long to do.

as well as the on-screen messages, if you are using Desktop you can see the status at the bottom of the Capital Asset Sales Worksheet whether the mailing is required or not.

if you are using Online, you can also attach the details electronically as an upload (attachment, not an import) to satisfy this mail-in requirement.

more here

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-b/need-include-1099-b-return/L0ygGdIiE_US_en_US

Mike9241

Level 15

currently importing a CSV for stock trades is not possible. even importing CSV for digital assets is on hold.

if your broker partner's with Turbotax a direct import of the 1099-B is possible (at least for some. There have been numerous threads reporting import failure)

there is an alternative

You can enter summary totals for each category on the 8949 with code M. then you need a copy of that CSV printed out or a copy of the 1099-B sent from the broker. You mail it with Form 8453 following the form's instructions

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8453.pdf

Mike9241