How do I transfer 2021 tax return info, from a laptop with windows 8, to a laptop with windows 10 that supports 2022?

[ycwinter]

I have been using a laptop, with version 8 of Microsoft, that does not accommodate turbo tax 2022. I also have another laptop that as version 10 of microsoft, which I want to use to start filing my taxes, beginning with 2022.  I have not been able to transfer my 2021 information to new laptop by using email with attachment, and a USB port.  New laptop could not open 2021

[xmasbaby0]

Did you try putting the 2021 tax file on a flash drive?   You cannot use an email attachment and transfer it to 2022.    And you need the tax file --- not a pdf

The transfer of the 2021 tax file in to the 2022 return has to be done  before you enter any 2022 information into the 2022 software.

How to transfer last year’s return? https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900883

[DoninGA]

You will need to copy the 2021 tax data file from the old computer to the new computer that has the 2022 TurboTax software installed.

The 2021 tax data file has a file extension of .tax2021 and is located in the TurboTax folder in the Documents directory of the old computer.  Copy the tax data file a USB drive on the old computer and then copy the tax data file from the USB drive to the new computer.

When you start the 2022 program you can then transfer the 2021 tax data file to the 2022 tax return.  Click on Find a Tax File.

[rjs]

You have to copy the .tax2021 file from the old laptop to the hard drive on the new laptop.

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@ycwinter wrote:
New laptop could not open 2021

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You can't open the .tax2021 file in 2022 TurboTax. You have to transfer it. Start a new 2022 tax return. Click "Start a New Return," not "Find a Tax File." On the very first screen TurboTax looks for 2021 returns, but it will not automatically find the one that you copied from the old laptop. Click the Browse button, navigate to where you saved the .tax2021 file, select it and click Open. Then it will transfer.

[VolvoGirl]

What I would do on the old computer, is copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents. That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored. Also if you haven't done it, I would open each year in the program and save it as a pdf file, go to FILE - SAVE TO PDF so you don't need the program installed to view your return. Copy that folder to a flash drive or best yet is to burn it to a CD or DVD and then you will have a backup of them. Then on the new computer copy the folder (or files) from the flash drive to your Documents folder.

You only need the tax return data file ending in .tax2021 to transfer into 2022 or .tax2022 to transfer into next year. You don't need to install older programs unless you need to amend or you didn't save the pdf file.

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...

Then to Transfer 2021 into 2022 you do not open the .tax2021 file.  You start a new 2022 return, go up to File-New and it should find the .tax2021 file and show it in a box so  you can transfer it.  

By the way, did you get the 2022 program installed ok and activated on the laptop?  I had to do  exactly the same thing this year and use my Windows 10 laptop and switch from Windows 8.1.