nable to upload my 2020 pdf return

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
February 1, 2022
1 reply
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This year, I want to use the TT online feature that enables me to get expert help. When I start to work the process one of the first things I am asked to do is upload a pdf copy of my 2020 return. When I do so, it will not upload. I get a message stating that the taxayer name is incomplete. I feel that there is a need to link to last year's because there will be some carried forward losses. I have been in phone and chat contact but they are not getting there! A young man this morning recommended I got a copy of my last years transcript from the IRS. I got lost in their ID process! When your people ask me to share my screen by selecting Shift + enter, I get a screen that asks me to share the code but there is never any code! A number of your people have given up and tried to connect me to a tax expert. On this morning's occasion, the so called expert joined the chat and the chat immediately ended! I dont think I need a tax expert tto get over this hurdle, I do probably need a IT expert. I am so frustrated - can anyone help???

DoninGA

Level 15

If you used one of the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions for tax year 2020 then you need to transfer the tax data file to the 2021 online edition. The tax data file has a file extension of .tax2020 and is stored by default in the Documents directory and in the TurboTax folder.

You cannot transfer a PDF of the 2020 return to the 2021 online editions if you used the TurboTax desktop editions for tax year 2020.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for transferring a 2020 tax return to a 2021 tax return using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-turbotax-online/00/25953

briandsmithAuthor

Level 5

Thank you for this info. The link you sent was partially helpful but I could not open the link to "if you did your taxes using the cd version"

As I go through the process do I just skip the "upload pdf and will I get the opportunity to use the .tax file later on?

DoninGA

Level 15

@briandsmith wrote:

Thank you for this info. The link you sent was partially helpful but I could not open the link to "if you did your taxes using the cd version"

As I go through the process do I just skip the "upload pdf and will I get the opportunity to use the .tax file later on?

You need to transfer the 2020 tax data when you start the 2021, not at a later time after having entered tax data on the 2021 return.

Here is the section from the FAQ if the CD/Download editions were used -

If you used the TurboTax CD/Download software last year

You can transfer last year's tax data file (with a filename extension .tax2020) if you're preparing your 2021 return online in TurboTax Live Basic, TurboTax Deluxe, TurboTax Live Deluxe, TurboTax Premier, TurboTax Live Premier, TurboTax Self-Employed, or TurboTax Live Self-Employed. (Free Edition, with or without MAX, doesn't support transferring last year's .tax file.)

You won't be able to transfer a PDF, it must be a tax data file with a filename extension .tax2020
Remove any password protection from the data file before transferring

Note: If you already started your 2021 return in TurboTax Online, transferring will clear any info you have already entered. Please keep in mind, a .tax file from a previous year won't transfer if the file is password protected.

Here's how to transfer:

You have to use TurboTax Online on your computer to do this transfer (it won't work from a mobile device/mobile web, or in the mobile app).

Sign in to TurboTax Online and start a new return, or open or continue a return you already started
After the screen has loaded, select the Tax Tools drop-down menu in the left menu and then select Tools
In the pop-up window, select the Transfer last year's TurboTax return from your computer link. (If you don’t see this option, you may need to clear and start over.)

Follow the instructions to finish transferring your file.