How do I open all my old turbotax returns 1999-2016? Without having to install all my old versions of turbotax?

[macuser_22]

TurboTax files can only be read with the TurboTax software for each tax year.

[VolvoGirl]

And if you do get the versions older than 2014 installed again you may not be able to update them or download any state programs you need.  If you can't download the state you may not be able to open your return.  Do you just have the .tax files for them?  Or did you save them a pdf files also?  You don't need the program installed to view a pdf file.

OR you could try the TaxPrinter service at  http://www.taxprinter.com

They might be expensive and it is probably not safe to email tax returns back and forth  Their Website says…….
We read most federal and state files (Windows and Macintosh) from years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013... Known exceptions are TurboTax 1997 and TaxCut 2005 files which we can't read for technical reasons.

OR get a copy from the IRS -
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[burnsthe]

I want to view my 2016 tax return online

[burnsthe]

How do I get 2016 tax return software

[DoninGA]

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@burnsthe wrote:

How do I get 2016 tax return software

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Go to this TurboTax website for the 2016 desktop software - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

[DoninGA]

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@burnsthe wrote:

I want to view my 2016 tax return online

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To access your current or prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For a fee of $50 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

[mesquitebean]

@ burnsthe 

In one comment you said "I want to view my 2016 tax return online."

Then you said in your next comment "How do I get 2016 tax return software?"

So that's confusing.   How was the 2016 prepared?  If prepared online, we can tell you how you can likely view/download the PDF file.   What is your situation, and what exactly do you need to do?

ADDENDUM:

I see DoninGA has addressed both of those issues while I was typing this.  🙂

[BillM223]

@ajn267

Do you have a question that was not answered above?

[ajn267]

Re: How do I open all my old turbotax returns 1999-2016? Without having to install all my old versions of turbotax?

[BillM223]

As mac_user said above, you can open TurboTax tax files (like *.tax2019) only with the software for that year.

See DoninGA's answer for how to get that software if you no longer have it.

@ajn267

[VolvoGirl]

You should have been saving each year as a pdf file when you were done.  Then you don't need the program installed.

If you can’t find or install the program to open a .tax file you can use www.taxprinter.com to convert a .tax file to pdf.  No connection to Turbo Tax .  They might be expensive.

[hi4509]

I have all mine saved as PDF files on an external hard drive... but Adobe says it can't be opened … any suggestions???

[VolvoGirl]

Maybe you need to update Adobe reader.  Did you try first copying the pdf file to your computer hard drive?

[tlavely]

I hope it's not too much of a surprise when I say, this sucks.

Thanks anyway