First, many thanks to those of you that have posted their difficulty with this Turbo Tax failure and thanks to those that have posted useful insights. If you cannot download despite having purchased a CD w/a download option, please post and/or contact Turbo Tax so they get the message (maybe simply opt to notify Turbo Tax and use the workaround noted below).
The PROBLEM: Since there is no official word from Turbo Tax we are left to guess. When I view this thread, page 2 has postings by @rickkel and @macuser_22 that seem to have the best information/theory (phantom or fake accounts established with CD installs). I'm a little hesitant to write this because of @macuser_22's comment (seems very knowledgeable!), but I fail to see why this cannot be corrected. It seems like the key is what happens when the CD installation reaches out to the Turbo Tax server. What the server does can be altered independent of what is on the CD. Perhaps Turbo Tax could give the installer the option to associate the license code with their account (create one if needed). Notify the user that there is no download option unless the license code is associated with their account. Even if there is a flaw in this approach, these types of problems are generally solvable IF you want to solve them. @macuser_22, if you read this, what is “MODS”?
WORK AROUND: @tomlamiam noted that if you use something like Dropbox to send the installation files off of the CD from the computer with the CD drive to the other computer, then you don’t need to go through the download process. I had to use a similar method to get the files to a family member away from home (sorry for not posting – I was afraid Turbo Tax would see it as a loophole and somehow close it). Turbo Tax would not allow the download to be accessed from their location.
WORK AROUND for the future (that’s because if you are reading this, you probably already have a problem and you cannot go backwards in time): @NCS note that the CD can be used for downloads and CD installations if and only if you do all the downloads first. Then do your installations from the CD.
"SOLUTION" through Turbo Tax: Call Turbo Tax and hope to get a competent customer service representative that will supply you with a new license code that can be used for downloads (NOTE: they will likely void the license code that came with the CD).
Disappointing that Turbo Tax hasn’t solved this issue. It has been a documented problem for weeks, but users are still spending significant time on the phone with customer service (some with unsatisfactory service). Posts by users and even some Turbo Tax employees reflect a Turbo Tax organization that appears to be either oblivious to the problems this error has caused or callous to them. Turbo Tax appears to have no regard for user’s time with respect to this issue. There is no official post here from Turbo Tax admitting a problem, no apology for the frustration and wasted time, and judging by some recent posts, there are no clear instructions to Turbo Tax customer support staff . . . some employees are still suggesting the problem is not with Turbo Tax.
Side note, I have no idea what the requirements are to become level 15 poster, but it might be worth reviewing the standards. There are a few level 15 posts that simply add to the frustration of those seeking answers to their current problem.
