Reinstall older turbotax software to new computer

[user17580675688]

Hi,

I would like to install my previous year turbotax software, from 2019 to 2024, onto my new computer. I have a CD for the 2019 version and I had download links for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024. I also have the license code for all of these. 

Unfortunately, the 2019 CD keeps saying there's a problem with my license code (there isn't, I retyped it three times and it is exactly what is marked on the package), and I am unable to download any of the other years onto my new computer. 

Please help me

1. download the previous years' software from 2020 to 2024

2. figure out why the 2019 version is not accepting the correct license code

3. hopefully the license codes I have for versions 2020-2024 will still work!!! 

The new computer has windows 11 and the old one had windows 10, but I am not sure if that is what's causing all these issues.

Thanks.

[rjs]

You can no longer install TurboTax software older than 2021. The license codes are only supported for the current year and three previous years. Your license codes for 2021 and later should work on the new computer, but support for 2021 will be dropped sometime after October 15, 2025.

[VolvoGirl]

Even if you install or reinstall  2018 or prior from a CD you will not be able to update the program or download any state programs you need.  So you might not be able to even open a .tax2018 tax file.  And since you can’t update the program your return might not be the same as you filed.

For 2019 and going forward,  you will never be able to install and activate the 2019 or 2020 program with the License Code.   The License Code started in 2019.  So 2019 needs to connect to Turbo Tax to verify the License Code.  But they have stopped supporting 2019.  So don’t uninstall 2019 etc.  They only support the last 3 years.  Then this fall when 2025 comes out they will put 2024 in the past years section and discontinue 2021.

[user17709421828]

After reading several of the other posts of people trying to transfer their old TurboTax years to new computers, it's apparent, I’m screwed. Personally, TurboTax should be ashamed! I read all the documentation pertaining to each year, CD or download type, not one F’n word about (4) year window and than, you’re F’d concerning transferring years to new equipment.

total bull**bleep**!

[Mike9241]

Always save PDF copies of your tax returns,  and even an additional copy offline, should your computer fail to work. While older years can no longer be opened by the TurboTax app, there is a web-based service where you email them your tax file, and they will email back a PDF. They are not affiliated with TurboTax. You would have to assess the risks if you decided to use this service 

https://www.taxprinter.com/ 

however, I agree with your complaint about no warning of the 4-year life span. 

[KJGartner]

Absolutely!  Many people are *forced* this year to start with a new machine because TT will no longer support Windows 10 and older machines cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.  I never saw the 4 year limit on reopening tax forms, so am equally miffed.  It is not necessary to have new updates  as if I was going to file them again -- I just want to download the appropriate 'state' file that I already paid for in the past and I would like to open up the prior tax data I have.  Is there a place in the old machine where the ancient State installs are kept so we can manually install them, at least.

[Mike9241]

if you used online, you can't get them. If you used desktop, they would be wherever you downloaded them. Whether they'll install is the question.  On my w10 machine with the federal and state already installed and last updated when i did the return in 2022, the file wouldn't open because the update server was no longer available.

I agree with you that it is bull that TurboTax says nothing about this. On the first screen, when you install it, you should see a warning that says this year's app will no longer be functional after xx/xx/20xx. 

something like this should be available for online users.

there is an online service, NOT AFFILIATED WITH TURBOTAX,  that you can email most tax files to, and for a fee they will e-mail you a PDF of the return.

Because of this limitation, I strongly recommend that desktop users save a PDF of the return on their computer and a second copy somewhere else. You'd be surprised how many desktop users have their box go bad making the file and PDF unrecoverable 

[Futuregrade]

This is unacceptable.  We purchased a product to use.  It shouldn't stop after a certain date. Maybe we should do a class action lawsuit?

[nrmeyer]

I have wrestled with this demon for weeks.  I found 2019 desktop version is permanently dead, even if you have a complete, disk-image backup of your old machine to restore to your new machine.  Even if 2019 worked on your old machine.  TurboTax 2019 triggers a need to activate whenever it is installed on a new machine -- but Intuit has killed the 2019 servers, so it can not ever, will not ever, activate ever again. 😠

Anyone reading this have TurboTax 2019 desktop still working if you still have your old, machine it was originally installed and activated on? (I'd be surprised if it does still work now, but lucky you if it does).  If you do, that machine is golden and the only way 2019 will run for you in the future.

For those with advanced experience with Windows machines, you can create a VM in Windows 11 Pro and install 2020-2024 on that VM, activate them (if you still have any of the 5 license uses left), and then remove the NIC from the VM and save the VM for future use -- never allowing it to connect to the Internet again (and clicking close or cancel if ever prompted to update).  My hope is that this will keep 2020-2024 working in perpetuity for me as long as I have the VM.  But who knows, maybe Intuit has a time-bomb that will insist on phoning home at some point in the future and then those versions will be dead in the water, too.  

We may have thought we were buying desktop software with a perpetual license that would run indefinitely, but we were misled or the fine print was obscured enough that we didn't see this coming.