"This license code has already been associated with an account. Please check that account and look for it in Downloads."

[Critter-3]

If you installed from the CD it seems you can not download it from online now.  You can't do both CD and download.   See the new info on this FAQ

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/i-bought-the-cd-but-my-computer-doesn-t-have-a-cd-...

Contact Customer Service
5am-9pm Pacific Time
Monday-Friday
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

[bryanlogie]

So I got the same message.  Installed on a computer via the CD, but wanted to install on a computer without a CD drive so went to download it.  Called the TurboTax help line which was a waste of time.  She finally asked for the license code, but said it came up as invalid.  Here is what I found out:

1) if you buy the CD, DOWNLOAD it rather than installing from the CD if you can.  When you install from the CD it doesn't ask for any TurboTax account info so it doesn't associate it to you.  

2) If you only can install from a CD, you can install it on other computers (up to 5) with the license code, but you can NEVER download it if you installed from the CD first.

3) I successfully installed on a second computer with a CD, but couldn't use the download to do it.

I have to remember this next year as I always get a CD.

[VolvoGirl]

So #3 worked?  Was it the same kind of computer like Windows or Mac?   Because I tried to install the CD on my other Window laptop and it wouldn't work.  I had to ask for the download and I guess a new code.  Actually that was last year.   This year I knew better.  I bought the CD from Costco but did the download method instead so it worked on both computers.

[gcarsong]

I have changed iMac computers from last year (as required by intuit to be compatible with Turbotax 2021 software).  I do not want to download to the "old" computer.  How do I get started (downloaded) on new computer?

[VolvoGirl]

@gcarsong   Have you bought the program?  The CD or the download?   Are you having a problem downloading it to your Mac?

If you bought the download directly from Turbo Tax,

Access your downloads here

https://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/commerce/account/secure/login.jsp?pagecontext=download

How to download your software purchase

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/how-do-i-download-the-software-i-purchased-at-turb...

If you bought the CD but want to download it,

There should be a card in the CD case on on the CD envelope that says how to download it and you will need the 14 or 16 digit code from it to enter.

How to download Turbo Tax instead of using the CD

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/i-bought-the-cd-but-my-computer-doesn-t-have-a-cd-...

[mitibud1]

I am having the same issue. This is what was told to me by a Intuit Turbo Tax Support Representative. She said "If you purchased the cd/download from them or any thrid party retail store. You purchased the CD or The Download, not both. So if you purchased the cd and installed it onto your desktop using your disc drive, you CAN NOT also download it to another computer using the download method. Once you use the cd method, thats the method you are stuck with using. So if you have multiple other computers that do not have a disc drive. You CAN NOT use the download method to install it on other computers without a disc drive. So all your computers have to have a disc drive if you plan on using the disk out of the box. They fail to mention this to their customers though. But they sure draw you in by mentioning that you can install it on up to 5 computers. As long as you have an account. which isn't true either. Because when you install the cd, it does'nt ask you to set up any account. I have been a customer for years and have never encountered this issue. I feel I was ripped off because I chose to use the cd instead of the download. So now I have to carry my desktop computer to work if I want to finish my taxes I guess. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER THIS YEAR!

[VolvoGirl]

See this FAQ. It says....you can download your software directly from TurboTax. But, keep in mind, you can't use both the CD and the download — you must use or or the other.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/i-bought-the-cd-but-my-computer-doesn-t-have-a-cd-...

Another user posted this.  If you have a computer with a CD drive or know someone, you can try copying the CD to a USB flash drive and use that to install the program.  

Yes I had trouble installing from the  Costco CD last year for 2020.  I installed the CD on my Desktop computer then tried to install it on my new laptop with an external CD reader.  It didn't work.  I had to ask for the download and a new code.  They put it in my online account.  

Then for this year 2021 I knew what to do.  I bought the CD at Costco again but used the Download method to install it.  Then I could install it on both my computers.  

[mesquitebean]

---

@mitibud1 wrote:

I am having the same issue. This is what was told to me by a Intuit Turbo Tax Support Representative. She said "If you purchased the cd/download from them or any thrid party retail store. You purchased the CD or The Download, not both. So if you purchased the cd and installed it onto your desktop using your disc drive, you CAN NOT also download it to another computer using the download method. Once you use the cd method, thats the method you are stuck with using. So if you have multiple other computers that do not have a disc drive. You CAN NOT use the download method to install it on other computers without a disc drive. So all your computers have to have a disc drive if you plan on using the disk out of the box. They fail to mention this to their customers though. But they sure draw you in by mentioning that you can install it on up to 5 computers. As long as you have an account. which isn't true either. Because when you install the cd, it does'nt ask you to set up any account. I have been a customer for years and have never encountered this issue. I feel I was ripped off because I chose to use the cd instead of the download. So now I have to carry my desktop computer to work if I want to finish my taxes I guess. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER THIS YEAR!

---

Yeah, that restriction is nuts in my opinion.  "5 computers" means 5 computers.  The install method shouldn't make such a difference.  A lot of people might want it on their desktop computer and a laptop, and household family members may have different computers.

  If you wish, you can send a comment to Intuit corporate as I outline below and explain your experience.  It goes to a dedicated person in the office of the president of Intuit, and they are pretty good about looking into things.  If enough people complain, maybe they'll change something.

If you want to do that, you can go to the page below. Just below the page's large title, you'll see a screen-wide blue banner that prominently says:

"Do you have a question, concern, or feedback about an Intuit product or service?"

There is a "Send an email" link with an arrow.  It goes to a designated person in the office of the president of Intuit, and they supposedly will assign it to the right team for review.

NOTE:  Do NOT send any sensitive personal data since that is regular email--not secure email.

https://www.intuit.com/company/executives/

[jean5608]

I sent a message to the email as you suggested, as nothing else seems to get through to the people at TurboTax.  Thank you.

[monkeylingo]

Same TT problem for the 2021 tax year software.  I called TT and got a person that was nice but unknowledgeable and disconnected the call after saying she was going to ask tier 2 for help...

TT, why are you presenting yourself as dishonest, incompetent, and ripping off customers?  

[mesquitebean]

---

@monkeylingo wrote:

Same TT problem for the 2021 tax year software.  I called TT and got a person that was nice but unknowledgeable and disconnected the call after saying she was going to ask tier 2 for help...

TT, why are you presenting yourself as dishonest, incompetent, and ripping off customers?  

---

I'm sorry you got disconnected, but this is mainly a user community forum, not a direct route to TurboTax Support.  You can phone TurboTax Support back, tell the answering agent you were disconnected while being transferred to Tier 2, and ask for Tier 2 or Supervisor help.   Or scroll up a bit in this thread, and you'll see one of my answers on how you can reach Intuit Corporate if you want to enlist aid at that level and/or submit a complaint about the license code situation.

[jdhenrichs]

OK, great.  How do I convince TT support (CSR, most of which seem barely competent) that I actually own the product that I am trying to get support for when my license code has become associated with some mysterious "dummy" account that I have no way to identify, much less access.  First thing that the CSR's ask for is my TT account so that they can check, but as I stated my license code is not associated with my TT account.  And, I cannot get my license properly associated as I get the same "already associated" error when I try to do so.  I really don't want to do multiple computer installs, I just want my license code properly associated so that I can get product support.

[jdhenrichs]

I tried that (giving the CSR my license code) when I called in and was told by the CSR that they couldn't pull anything up by that.  How pathetic!  Totally incompetent customer support from TT.

[bryanlogie]

That is exactly what happened with me.  When you use the CD first it doesn't ask for any TurboTax ID so it doesn't associate the disk with a person.  They should just add a step to register the disk.

[bryanlogie]

I ended up using a program to save off everything on the CD as a ZIP file and emailed it to myself.  Then unzipped it and ran the SETUP fine.  Pain in the butt though.