I already exceeded the maximum allowed of 5 E-File , can i purchase another turbo tax desktop to e-file a 6th return ?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

No.   The five e-file limit is an IRS limit, not a TurboTax limit.  The IRS will not accept a sixth e-file from you.   Purchasing another CD/download will not help you.  Your sixth return will have to be filed by mail.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

[SteamTrain]

....and whenever a family is in a situation where you are filing for multiple members (perhaps parents + a couple working teens or college students).......always e-file your own (parent's) tax return(s ) first. 

 That avoids all kinds of complications, aaaaaaaaand makes sure your own gets e-filed and not forced to the long...slow processing done if forced to filed by mail.

[NCperson]

@uservalc0214 AND, it is more likely that the teenager's tax return is just a few sheets of paper!

[fanfare]

for your family members with simple returns you should be using the IRS Free File service.

@uservalc0214 

[NCperson]

@fanfare not necessarily.  that is the crazy thing about TT's pricing policy for desktop. 

The first return is the purchase price of the software - the remaining tax return are free which is the same as Free File.  Further, Free File only provides the state tax return for 20 states.

In this situation, the inconvience of using TT is that the tax return has to be mailed.  the inconvenience of Free File (assuming there is a State Tax return outside the 20 provided ), is figuring out how to file the State Tax return.  

[fanfare]

I assume the goal is to e-File more than 5 returns.

If free file doesn't support a required state return, that won't work.

replace the word "should" with "could"

[fanfare]

OLT.com and FreeTaxUSA support State tax returns, without the word "some".

@NCperson @uservalc0214 

[uservalc0214]

I found a solution to my problem , you can Purchase another copy of Turbo Tax but make sure you install in another computer and you can e file another 5 returns.

[NCperson]

@uservalc0214 yes and that is an expensive way to go.  Paper filing is always available on the first copy - and there is no limit to the number of returns you can complete for friends and family. 

[fanfare]

If your second computer is on the same home network as the first, I don't think your trick is going to work.

@uservalc0214 

[uservalc0214]

@fanfare  I e-filed 2 more  returns from my 2nd computer from my home network and it worked . I believe its the user or email that is important. Make sure you activate the 2nd one in a different email. I read somewhere here in Turbo Tax that IRS does not allow you to efile from the same emaul

[mkr12]

Purchased and attempting from my home computer.  However, had already entered all the data using the original software so I tried to open the file on my home computer and efile it since it was from a new download with new user and ip address - but still getting the same message.  How do I move the info already entered from one computer to the other to efile without having to reenter everything?

[VolvoGirl]

@mkr12   What message do you get?  If you can’t open the .tax2023 try this…..

After you get the program installed or reinstalled the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to File-New Tax Return).

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-compu...

After you get the state program downloaded you can close the fake return and open the real .tax file.  Just go up to File-Open and try to open your return.   It will either show up in the box to Continue or you can browse to where it is.  

[mkr12]

I have new software license, new download on a different computer at a different street address and internet.  I tried to efile the return - clicked on the file and it auto opened TT then tried to efile and got same error.