Computer Compatibilityt

[FalconRob]

I have a 2017 iMac using Ventura.  I'm informed I need Sonoma or above for the 2025 software.  My iMac operating system is maxxed out for higher IOS.  So to continue using TT on an iMac, I need to buy a new computer.  NOT happy about that.

What about if I go to a PC (cheaper than an iMac)?  Will I have the same potential operating system problem?  If I do go to PC, how do I get the TT files in the Apple over to the PC so I don't have to start over inputting all my base info?  But also, I have capital loss carryovers AND passive loss carryovers.

What do you suggest?

[VolvoGirl]

For PC you will need Windows 11 to install 2025.   Yes you can transfer your Mac 2024 return into the Windows  program.   Turbo Tax uses the same data file for Windows and Mac.   You need to copy the file ending in .tax2024 to the PC.  One thing, I don’t think Mac shows the whole file extension.  

How to find tax files on Mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac/00/26206

See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-compu...

[baldietax]

Intuit does not support software on unsupported OS versions, Apple is stopping support for Ventura this November, same is happening with Windows 10.  8 years is a good run for a machine, I went thru the same thing 2 years ago on a 2015 iMac with OS 11 so this is about the same lifespan.  I kept mine running for a year and did taxes on an old MacBook running OS 12 as a stop-gap for a year (til OS 12 was dropped).  Your iMac will survive for a while but obviously you'll stop getting updates from Apple and other third parties like Microsoft/Excel, Adobe etc will stop getting updates if you use anything like that, not just Intuit, your experience and security protection will start to degrade.

I replaced my iMac with an M4 Mac Mini and 2 external Dell monitors it's a much better setup for less cost and more flexibility than getting a new iMac.

Moving to PC entirely is a lot of work and a big shift, unless you're done with Apple and really want to move back to Windows 11 regardless of how you do your taxes.  Just for Turbotax you need to carry over to a new machine the .tax2024 file to start your 2025 return.  (If you did buy a new machine it would be Windows 11 which is fully supported - Windows 10 will not be supported by Intuit going forward).

[Opus 17]

Mac hardware lasts longer than their software -- Apple is fairly aggressive about dropping support for older machines.  Still, 8 years is a good run.  Software developers who want to use the latest features have to use the latest Apple Software Developers Kit (SDK), and if Apple drops support for older hardware, the developer has to choose between using an out of date, unsupported SDK, or using the new SDK and leaving some users behind.

As noted, your 2024 tax data file can be imported into Turbotax 2025 for Windows 11.  However, you can't open, change or print your 2024 (or older) data files without having the Windows 2024, 2023, 2022 etc versions installed as well (at substantial cost).  The 2025 program can't open and print a 2024 return, it can only import from it to start your 2025 return.  So if you are dropping the Mac, you should print or save PDFs of all your old tax returns. 

You can also switch to Turbotax online, you can upload your 2024 tax data file into the "cloud" to use Turbotax online.  TT online will work on older computers as long as the web browser is up to date.