Old TurboTax files

[hntrust]

My laptop has TurboTax files from 2017 to 2022. I use the desktop version which I download each year from the TurboTax CD. The hard drive on the laptop crashed a few months ago and I had to have it replaced. All the TurboTax files were recovered and were installed on the new hard drive but the original download for TurboTax  from 2017-2022 could not be recovered. When I install TurboTax 2023 will all the data from previous years migrate over to TurboTax? There are carry forward losses that I need to transfer to the 2023 version. If the data won't migrate, do I need to reinstall the 2017-2022 TurboTax CDs? I still have them.

[Texas Roger · Accepted solution]

If you have the .tax file for each year on your computer, you would not need the download software for the information to be brought into your tax return for this year. 

[rjs · Accepted solution]

You don't need the tax files for all the previous years. When you start your 2023 tax return, information is transferred only from the 2022 file. Information is carried from year to year, so the 2022 file includes any losses that were carried over from earlier years. The only file you need is the .tax2022 file. You do not need the 2022 program or CD, just the .tax2022 tax return file.

Since you are using a new computer, TurboTax for 2023 will not automatically find the 2022 file. On the screen that looks for the previous year's tax return you will have to click the Browse button, find the .tax2022 file, then click Open.