Last Year’s password doesn’t work

[pattytrouble23]

I can’t load my tax file (.2023) from last year into TT deluxe desktop version because the 2024 desktop program I just bought won’t recognize the password I assigned to last year’s return.   The only thing I can think of is that I have a new laptop, however I made sure to transfer last year’s tax file onto it.   This is the third year in a row that TT has failed to load my last year’s return.  Does that function even work?    Can anyone think of what’s going on?  Thanks in advance. 

[maglib]

@pattytrouble23 

How did you copy last years return to new laptop?

Here's how to securely move it to your new computer while minimizing the chances of data corruption:

1. Make sure your new computer has TurboTax installed on it.
2. Connect a thumb drive or other portable device to your old computer.
3. Copy or move your tax data file to the device. (We recommend copying instead of dragging and dropping.)
4. After copying, disconnect or eject the portable device and connect it to your new computer.
5. Browse to the portable device, select your tax return file, drag it to your desktop (or other easy-to-find location), then release the mouse key and copy (instead of moving) the file.
6. After copying, open TurboTax, browse to where you copied your tax file and open it to make sure it didn't get corrupted.
   • If your file somehow got corrupted, delete it from your device and your new computer and repeat these steps from the beginning.

You might want to delete the file from your portable device for security purposes.

Don't email it to yourself. Email isn't secure.

Now

1. Launch TurboTax 2024 and click Start a New Return (or go to File and select New Tax Return).
   • Don't select Continue, as transferring is only available on new, empty returns.
2. Select the Transfer Return button on the Good News! screen.
   • You can also select Browse and in the pop-up window, select All Files (*.*) from the dropdown menu. Then browse to wherever you stored your 2023 return and select Open.

Simply select Forgot Password in the password request pop-up screen to answer your security question—that should get you back into your account.

Once you're back in, you can select Password (Windows) or Encrypt (Mac) from the File menu if you want to update or remove your password altogether.

What if I forgot the answer to my security question?

To ensure the safety and security of your sensitive tax data, our experts are unable to help with forgotten security answers or passwords. Here are your options:

• If you need to view or print a return you already filed, search your computer for a PDF copy, assuming you saved one. If you can't find it, you can order a copy from the IRS.
• If you haven't filed the return yet, you can always start over. Choose New Tax Return from the TurboTax File menu and we'll get you going again.

Mac using Keychain

In some rare cases if you've given Keychain access to TurboTax, you can go to Applications > Other > Keychain access > Keychains > Login > Category > Passwords, then find Intuit or TurboTax. Right-click Get Info > Attributes > Show Password.

You will be prompted for your Mac password and it'll show you the password you used to encrypt your TurboTax file. This is may not work for all users.

Disclaimer

Password protection of TurboTax Desktop files is set by the user. TurboTax can't help unlock the file or remove the encryption. If these steps don't help, you'll need to start over in a new file.