Here's how you can transfer your 2017 Online data file into a 2018 desktop return (CD/download).
Have you located your 2017 return in your online account? Log in at Online TurboTax and at the Tax Home go to the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents." Expand that section and choose 2017 tax year. Choose to download the .tax file, which is actually a *.tax2017 data file. If you can't find the 2017 return online, then we can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.
If you try to download the 2017 data file, and it asks you to pay to access it, we can tell you what you need to do. You do NOT have to pay for access to it, since you bought the 2018 software which qualifies.
When you download the *.tax2017 data file, the best place to put it is in the \Documents\TurboTax folder, which is the default folder for TurboTax tax files in Windows 10.
I'll assume you have installed your 2018 software already, restarted your computer, and run the program updater.
Launch your 2018 TurboTax, and at the main screen choose "Begin" or it may say "Start a new return." If you don't have one of those, then at the top left corner of the TurboTax screen click on the FILE menu, and in the dropdown choose "NEW Tax Return."
TurboTax will churn a bit looking for the *.tax2017 data file. If it finds it, it will display the file name and there will be a "Transfer" button to click. If it doesn't find it, you can use the Browse link to popup a file directory where you can tell TurboTax where the 2017 data file you downloaded is located.
