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New Member
posted Oct 23, 2024 2:06:41 PM

My 2020 Tax File is too large to upload to do my 2021 return

Can you upload a 2020 PDF into the Home & Business Desktop Software for PC for the purpose of completing your 2021 return, when it asks for you to browse your computer for last year's return (2020)?

 

Also, 2020 PDF (original) is file size: 2.32 mb

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5 Replies
Level 15
Oct 23, 2024 2:18:37 PM

No and even if you could it only would transfer basic info like name, address, ssn, and AGI.  You really need the data file ending in .tax2020.   Was the .tax2020 file too large?   How did you do 2020 return?   Online or in the Desktop program?  Do you still have the 2020 program installed?

Here's an idea.   Try opening 2020 program and see if you can get your 2020 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.  Then start a new 2021 return and transfer from the 2020 file.

New Member
Oct 23, 2024 2:20:15 PM

thats what i did try, but file size is too large. thanks for responding so quickly.

New Member
Oct 23, 2024 2:22:50 PM

i don't have a data files for 2020. all i have is a pdf since it was done by our cpa / accountant

Level 15
Oct 23, 2024 2:32:54 PM

Oh ok.  You can try to transfer from the pdf if you have a digital pdf file from the accountant,  not just a 2020 return scanned into a pdf.   This says 2023 but it should be the same for prior years too,

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/transfer-last-year-pdf-2021-turbotax-windows-cd/L3EOuaOAL_US_en_US 

Level 15
Oct 23, 2024 2:34:18 PM

@mjerel If you do not have a tax file then you have to start the new return from scratch without transferring the prior year.   You cannot transfer the "too big" pdf. given to you by the accountant.    Sorry----and usually even if you can transfer a pdf it will only give you some personal information that only takes a few minutes to enter manually.