Interface CD and downloaded versions of Turbo Tax

[Anonymous]

I have purchased Turbo Tax 2019 on CD and installed it on our desktop computer. This is our main computer and has all the transferable information from the previous Turbo Tax. No problem. I have also downloaded it to my laptop. Now, how do I interface the information from one to the other, so that what I input on one is recognized by the other. If this can't be done, what is the purpose of the free downloads that come with the CD?

[xmasbaby0]

You cannot go back and forth from one computer to the other for the same tax return when you are using desktop software, like you can with online software.  If you want to use two computers to work on the same tax return (a recipe for confusion) you have to save the return to a device like a flash drive to put the changes into the other computer when you go back and forth.

When you use Online TurboTax, you get one return per fee.  Each return needs its own account and user ID.   If you use the same account and user ID for a second return, you overwrite the first one and lose it forever.

When you use Desktop TurboTax, which you install from a CD or download to your own hard drive, you can prepare and e-file multiple returns for the cost of the software.  You can e-file up to 5 Federal returns—more if you mail the additional ones.  If you have multiple returns to prepare for family members, Desktop is more cost effective.

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[VolvoGirl]

CD vs Download.   A lot of people prefer to download the program.  If you buy it directly from Turbo Tax you can download it right away without waiting for the CD to come in the mail.  And a lot of computers don't have CD drives anymore.  In the past we got a lot a questions from people that bought the CD but don't have a CD drive to install it.  Now you get both with your License Code.

[wellmant2]

I downloaded Turbotax 2020 but it does not find my Turbotax 2019 file (or any of my previous years which were installed from CD) to transfer the information.  How do I transfer previous years information?

[VolvoGirl]

How did you do 2019?  Also in the Desktop program or online?  Windows or Mac?

You need to have the file ending in .tax2019 to transfer in to 2020.  Are you on Windows?  It should be in your Documents then in a Turbo Tax folder.  Or search your whole computer for all files ending in .tax or .tax2019.  And check your Recycle Bin.  Are you on Windows 10?  That can move files to different spots like to One Drive.  Or to Drop Box.  Check your backups.  Could it be under a different user on your computer?   

If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like  "~your name.tax2019".  That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

Find your Tax file in Windows

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/...

Here's an idea.  Do you still have 2019 installed?  Try opening 2019 program and see if you can get your 2019 return to show up in it.  Go to FILE -  OPEN.  Then save it again with a name and place you can find.  Go to File - Save As.