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I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

i am trying to access 2018 data saved on a thumb drive. we no longer have the laptop from which the data was saved. I am preparing taxes for 2019 on an ipad. i am using this laptop hoping to be able to get data from last year here. i have the disc from Turbo Tax for last year, but this laptop has no cd-rom drive. any suggestions?

BillM223
Expert Alumni

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

Get a friend to help you transfer the content of the CD to a thumb drive, then install the 2018 software from the thumb drive. Then open the software and read the tax file from the thumb drive (you might start out by making lots of copies of everything).

 

 

@steveorheather

 

 

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I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

if i purchase an online version for tax year 2019, will i be able to access data currently saved on a thumbdrive with data from 2018 prepared on a different laptop?

Also will i be able to access 2020 online data prepared on this laptop from an ipad next year?

 

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

I think you need to log into online from a real computer at least to transfer from your .tax2018 return.  All you need is the .tax2018 file.  You can use any full computer like a friends or family.

 

If you used the Desktop program last year here’s How to transfer into the Online version.  You need to have the prior year .taxyyyy file on the computer.  Go to Tax Tools > Tools > Transfer from your computer > Continue >

 

Expand the link if you used the CD/download last year........

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-...

 

If you used the Desktop program before you may not like the online version.  It has less features and no Forms Mode.  You can only do 1 return.  Your return is only saved online so be sure to save both the .tax2019 data file and the pdf file to your computer when you are done.  In case you need to amend in the future or if you need a copy to get a loan or something.  You might not be able to access your online return when you need a copy.

 

 

 

 

 

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

I filed my 2018 taxes with you guys and evidently did not send the right papers in to the IRS. I need the complete file. I have already paid them, they just need the complete file so they can credit my account.

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?


@overandunder2 wrote:

I filed my 2018 taxes with you guys and evidently did not send the right papers in to the IRS. I need the complete file. I have already paid them, they just need the complete file so they can credit my account.

Your story is incomplete without any details.  You didn't say what product version you used--i.e., whether you used Online TurboTax or the 2018 desktop software (CD/download).   Since you don't have a copy of your return, I'll assume you used Online TurboTax, so this answer is in that regard. 

 

You said "they just need the complete file."   There can be a lot of extra pages in a complete PDF.  The IRS does not need the worksheets, summary pages, etc.  They only need the actual return (normally the forms in a return have an attachment sequence in the upper right corner.)   If you got an IRS letter,  perhaps they told you what they need.

 

I'm also not sure why you are posting in a thread titled "I have a *.tax2018 file; how do I open it?"

The file you need in order to print a copy of your return is the 2018 PDF if you used Online TurboTax.  Here's how to get it.   If the following is is not your situation, then please provide enough details so we don't have to keep guessing.

 

If your 2018 returns were prepared in Online TurboTax, log into your account and at the Tax Home scroll down and expand the section "Your Tax  Returns & Documents".  Choose tax year 2018, and then click "Download/print the PDF" or if you just need the 2018 AGI, there is a link "View adjusted gross income (AGI.)"  If you can't find your 2018 return there, then you likely have multiple accounts and signed into the wrong one.   Many people end up with multiple accounts without realizing it.   Here's how to troubleshoot for multiple accounts (User IDs) :

 

You can have up to 5 accounts that use the same email address for notification purposes.  A User ID may be an email address, but it doesn't have to be.  It might be only part of an email address, or it can be anything at all.

 

To get a list of your User IDs and recover account access, you can use the tool at the link below.  When using the Account Recovery tool, try using your phone number first.   After that, if necessary, then run the tool on your email address(es) you can access.

NOTE: Before running the account recovery tool below, log out of all Intuit accounts including this user forum, or you might end up in a loop.  Then clear your browser Internet cache, close your browser, then reopen it, and go to the link below.  You may wish to copy this link so you can paste it into the new browser session.

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If still no luck after running that on your phone number and email address(es) that you can access,  here's another method:

Go back to the tool again, but this time leave the data field blank, and choose the small blue link that says "Try something else", and it will look you up by SSN and other parameters.

Cameo1974
New Member

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

I would like a copy of my 2018 tax file can you all send it to me by way of my yahoo email?

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

NO ... only you can access your account and save the PDF ...

 

To access your current or prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

 

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

            

See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

 

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

                         

Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

 

For a fee of $50 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

jmacgreg56
Returning Member

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

B I U-

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

@jmacgreg56   Do you have a question?  

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

The online software can import your previous years tax files stored on your computer and convert them for use on the web.

audben20
New Member

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

When I replaced my old computer the original files were removed but the returns were saved to my document  files. How do I get those files open?

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

What files are they?  Do they end in .tax2019 etc?  Do you have them on the new computer?  

 

The programs need to be installed from the CD or download them again.  You don't need to install them unless you need to amend or open a return.

 

After you get the program installed 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...

 

 

zaratejohn
Returning Member

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?

tax2018

 

I have a ".tax2018" file. How do I open it?


@zaratejohn wrote:

tax2018


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