How to migrate Turbotax data to new computer?

[DoninGA]

See this TurboTax support FAQ for moving tax data from one computer to another - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/data-systems/move-tax-data-file-another-...

[Mike9241]

if you're going to continue to use online there's nothing to migrate since the only tax file that normally exists is on the Turbotax servers. However, if you saved a PDF and documents on your old computer save them to a flash drive and then move them to the new computer. as for online continue to us the same user ID and password.  

[VolvoGirl]

For Windows or Mac?  

Do you need to move all the programs or just your returns?  Your returns are not in the program but in separate files.

You only need the file ending in .tax2022 to transfer into 2023.

Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2020 or .tax2021 or .tax2022 etc.  They should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder.  You should also have the pdf files of each year.  Or search your computer for all files ending in .tax.  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 or print your return in the future like to get a mortgage or loan, etc.

What I would do is just copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents.  That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored.  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.

The programs need to be installed from the CD or download them again.  You don't need to install them unless you need to amend or open a return.  They only support the last 3 years so you might not be able to update older years or download any state programs you need.

After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to File-New Tax Return).

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

 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...

[t54vs9f]

I purchased a new computer after my 2023 return was completed on the old computer.  I reinstalled Turbo tax from the 2023 CD and activated on the new computer.   Now, there is not an option to "continue return", only option is to start a new return.  The only tax files allowed to select are those ending with suffix ... 2022.

How can I get back to where I was on the old computer before it crashed?

[VolvoGirl]

@t54vs9f  You need to have the tax return file from the old computer or a backup of it.  It ends in .tax2023.  Do you have that file?  That is the only way.   If you have the file ending in .tax2023 to continue you just OPEN it in the program, go up to File-Open.  But first as I said above,  After you get the program reinstalled the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW). Enter some basic information, then go to the state tab and download the state program. Then try to open your existing return, go to FILE - OPEN

[DoninGA]

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@t54vs9f wrote:

I purchased a new computer after my 2023 return was completed on the old computer.  I reinstalled Turbo tax from the 2023 CD and activated on the new computer.   Now, there is not an option to "continue return", only option is to start a new return.  The only tax files allowed to select are those ending with suffix ... 2022.

How can I get back to where I was on the old computer before it crashed?

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The 2023 tax data file has to be on the hard drive of the new computer.  Once the 2023 data file is on the new computer and you have started the 2023 TurboTax program, click on the File menu at the top left of the desktop program screen.  Click on Open Tax Return and browse to where you transferred the 2023 data file if it is not in the TurboTax folder in the Documents directory on the new computer.

[t54vs9f]

Solved, thank you.  The trick was to just create a dummy 2023 file.  After doing that all my 2023 files were there to select with continuing return.