Mac OS Big Sur - When will Turbotax run under this OS?

[tilburn]

I have been watching this thread for the last few weeks as I am in the same situation.

That said: I just installed TT2020 and it worked fine.  Quick install, no problems.

I have MBP early 2015, always up to date.  Currently on Big Sur 11.1

Last year, installed TT2019 Premier - filed taxes, worked fine.

Downloaded TT2020 Premier from Amazon on January 10th, 2021.

Read this thread, and then decided to just install TT2020 anyway.

But here is the difference:

- opened up TT2019, and let the program perform two updates, each was about 233M

- once TT2019 was fully up to date, I installed TT2020 as normal.  

- It installed in less than a few minutes and I have my new return ready to start.

TT2020 reports as being version: 2020.r13.032

Checked TT2020 for updates and found none.

It's possible that different editions of TT (Deluxe vs Premier etc.) have an impact on this issue.  However, any substantial inplace upgrade of any software typically depends on the previous version being fully up to date - therefore in my view this is more likely the reason why (or why not) TT2020 upgrade/install did not function as expected.   (Realizing this is technically an "install" vs upgrade - if you kept all defaults it will try and install in the same local directory, and then it will find the old program, which really then becomes more of an update than an install.)

Try it.  If it works, your good to go.  If it doesn't, all you have to do is completely remove TT2019 (any any remnants of TT2020) as noted in this thread, and then do a fresh install of TT2020.

Hope this helps someone.

[tilburn]

Further to my reply:

It was an in-place check for updates (TurboTax -> Check for Updates...)

Also, I have opened up last years return, and it successfully imported everything into a new 2020 return, which is what you want it to do.

[macuser_22]

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@phl wrote:

Here's a valid question: If it's so easy to download a manual Windows patch, where is the same kind of link to download the Mac patch?

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The main problem is that the Amazon product is an exclusive Amazon only product complied just for Amazon so it is always the original released software - it is not interchangeable with the standard TurboTax download.   Amazon has mad no effort to get an updated custom product form TurboTax (I assume there are contracts and money involved but I am only guessing).

As far as the "manual update" -- that is because of the way Windows and Mac's apply updates.    Windows can do incremental updates (only change what needs to be changed) so the update without the underlying software installed is useless.    The Mac, on the other hand, can only update with an entire application replacement, so a manual update for Mac would be the same as a new install download.   In other words, any Mac update is the same as a new install.  (That is why Mac updates take so long and are so big - but that is how Apple designed the system.)

[tilburn]

I don't follow that.

Last year I ordered from Amazon and must have had 4 updates before I filed in April.  Even one year later, last year's version updated itself twice, which I believe was needed for a smooth install of TT2020.

It may well be a different build, but it is certainly updatable with new tables and bug fixes.

[macuser_22]

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@tilburn wrote:

I don't follow that.

Last year I ordered from Amazon and must have had 4 updates before I filed in April.  Even one year later, last year's version updated itself twice, which I believe was needed for a smooth install of TT2020.

It may well be a different build, but it is certainly updatable with new tables and bug fixes.

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That is not what I was referring to.   I was talking about the original download from Amazon, not updates (that come from TurboTax, not Amazon).   The current download from TurboTax is dated Jan 14, 2021 which runs fine with Big Sur, but the Amazon download is Oct 2020 that does not.

[jpaubin11]

Same problem here

[BigDog]

with all due respect, it would be illogical for Intuit to make an Amazon-only build.  Not only illogical, but dumb business as there is no value in the additional back office/server complexity.   What is much more likely is that Amazon (and the big box stores like Costco) receive an early release of T-Tax license codes, i.e., summer build.   That SW was released without testing for Big Sur which was released in mid-Nov; the beta was released in June.   Don't forget, that iOS is a small portion of the pc market, so the early release works fine on all non-iOS devices; it's only us Apple fans that are hindered.

I purchased T-Tax at Costco in Jan and had the same open issue with Big Sur, as it was an early release.  (see earlier post:  I called and the Rep tried a few things over the next 10 minutes or so and she finally just asked for my license number from the Costco purchase and then loaded a newer license into my account that I downloaded, installed and work great.)

As an aside, I have had no trouble loading 2019 or 2018 versions of T-Tax in Big Sur.

[macuser_22]

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@BigDog wrote:

with all due respect, it would be illogical for Intuit to make an Amazon-only build.  Not only illogical, but dumb business as there is no value in the additional back office/server complexity.  

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But they do.     Amazon has an "exclusive offer" that is built into the specialized Amazon only product, that is not in any other produce that TurboTax sells.

The "Quicken" offer embedded within TurboTax and the link to it are ONLY in the special Amazon only product.   Amazon even advertises this as an "Amazon Exclusive".

I am sure that there are valid business reasons to make a special product just for Amazon.

[jpaubin11]

With all due respect, I was online with a ttax rep for about 45 minutes, with no solution offered, except to call Apple and ask them what was going on.  I haven’t gotten to that yet, but it’s encouraging to know that it worked at least for you.  Thanks!

[tilburn]

I realize the builds are different.  I pointed that out. 

But since I also downloaded the Amazon version a few weeks ago, and had no trouble installing it without removing TT2019, I don't see any problems here.

All you have to do is update the TT2019 software completely before you install TT2020.

If you don't want to do that, it's up to you.  I'm just pointing out that this is how I resolved the issue.

That's all I have time for now.  I have to get back to by TT 2020 return on my early 2015 MBP with Big Sur.

[BigDog]

call them back and ask them to push a more updated version to you.    They do this routinely.   A couple of years ago I bought T-Tax but then my powerbook crashed, so I purchased a new mac.   Called the 800 number, and they set me up with a new license (by adding it t my account) so I could download T-Tax to my new computer without paying a new fee.

[macuser_22]

2020 has no interaction whatsoever with the 2019 software - there are totally separate and do not share any files.

The problem that some users have with the Amazon download is that it is the Oct 2020 build that does not contain the latest updates.    I understand that there was a bug in the Apple supplied C++ compiler that mangled a certain instruction that is causing extremely slow operation on some Macs that make it near impossible to apply the update that fixes the problem.     Current downloads from TurboTax (not Amazon) contain the fix.   If you are not affected then it makes no difference to you.

[dhjaffe]

I had purchased the Amazon disk but, because it was taking so long to install, I cancelled the installation & instead went to the TurboTax website. There I downloaded TT2020 & was able to activate it with the Activation Code that was in the Amazon disk box. Does that mean I have the Amazon version or the TurboTax version - I'm not sure I know. When the program does open normally, it prompts me to update it if an update is available. So I am now running version 2020.r13.032 which I believe is the latest update. Yet today the program would not open again. It still doesn't open on about every 4th or 5th attempt (so 4 out of 5 times it does open normally). That's definitely better than a few updates ago when it would rarely open but I don't believe the incompatibility with Big Sur has been completely fixed yet.

[tilburn]

I did not see or realize that the problem Amazon install package was from *Oct*.  Installing a TT2020 more than two months before year end seems problematic to me just on general principle.

I think I see enough info in this thread for most people to get past the issue.  That's the important thing here.

Many happy returns,

Bill

[phl]

dhjaffe wrote:

", I cancelled the installation & instead went to the TurboTax website. There I downloaded TT2020 & was able to activate it with the Activation Code that was in the Amazon disk box."

Can you tell me where you went on turbotax site to download a copy without buying it first?  Or am I misunderstanding something?  I have fully cleaned my Mac of any remnants of TurboTax in the ~Library directory and anywhere else.  Still same problem - launching it from the installation media provided by Amazon - fails.  I'm on the latest Mac OS (11.1).  I I can get a copy of the latest and greatest direct from Intuit, and use my Amazon provided license key - that would be great.   I went into my Intuit account and tried to add my license key to my owned products and it didn't work.