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Level 3
posted Jan 26, 2021 5:08:58 PM

Transfer (import) last year's Turbo Tax return file from Home & Business 2019 to this year Turbo Tax Premier 2020?

Can I transfer (import) last year's Turbo Tax return file (.tax2019 from Turbo Tax Home & Business 2019) into this year Turbo Tax Premier 2020?

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2021 5:32:08 PM

Yes, you can import your 2019 .tax data file from Home & business to 2020 Premier.  See the following TurboTax Help article for information on how to do so:

 

Transfer last year's return to 2020 TurboTax for Windows 

24 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jan 26, 2021 5:32:08 PM

Yes, you can import your 2019 .tax data file from Home & business to 2020 Premier.  See the following TurboTax Help article for information on how to do so:

 

Transfer last year's return to 2020 TurboTax for Windows 

New Member
Feb 16, 2021 12:45:43 PM

When I load the turbo tax 2020 it failed to find my last years taxes on Turbo tax 2019 

Intuit Alumni
Feb 16, 2021 1:48:31 PM

@no61 Are you receiving an error message when you try to transfer your 2019 information to your 2020 tax return?

 

Please click the following links for further assistance:

Transfer last year's return to 2020 TurboTax for Windows

Troubleshoot transferring from a prior year return

Level 2
Feb 20, 2021 9:36:03 AM

The 2020 Turbo Tax for business does not recognize the 2019 pdf return. There is no .tax file on my computer.

Level 15
Feb 20, 2021 9:46:34 AM

@QuestionBox   Are you asking about Turbo Tax Business or the personal Home & Business program?  Did you use the Desktop program last year?  I don't know if the Business program transfers from pdf files.

 

If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like  "~your name.tax2019".  That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

 

Find your Tax file in Windows

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/25926

 

Here's an idea.  Do you still have 2019 installed?  Try opening 2019 program and see if you can get your 2019 return to show up in it.  Go to FILE - OPEN. 

 

Then save it again with a name and place you can find.  Go to File - Save As.  Then start a new 2020 return and transfer from the 2019 file.

Level 2
Feb 21, 2021 10:21:20 AM

I am not using Home & Business. That's a separate product. I am using the Business program to file an 1120S.

There is no .tax file on my hard drive for previous years, only pdf. The IRS accepts pdf files so that's what is saved.

The TurboTax website pitches that it will accept pdf returns and returns from other providers such as Tax Act.

I spent an hour on the phone with Intuit/turbo tax tech support today alone trying to solve the problem, to no avail.

 

The file is not corrupted. I did not have the problem last year with the Business program or with the personal return program.

 

If Turbo Tax offered an online version of the Business program, maybe I could upload the pdf, convert to a .tax and then download to my new program for 2020.

 

I'll have to start all over from the beginning and do it manually.

Level 15
Feb 21, 2021 10:27:50 AM

The answer provided by @VolvoGirl gives excellent information on how to find the tax data file on your computer.  The tax data file is used to transfer the 2019 tax data to the 2020 tax return.  The procedure is true for both the personal TurboTax editions and the Business Edition.

By default the tax data file is in the TurboTax folder in the Documents directory.  If the 2019 tax data file is not in the TurboTax folder, then do a hard drive search for .tax2019

Level 2
Feb 23, 2021 8:53:12 AM

Hi:

You are right!

 

I did the hard drive search as you suggested. This launched the 2019 return in the turbo Tax program where I can see the return. What I cannot find, however, is a way to get the .tax file to transfer to the 2020 Turbo Tax program. I do not see an actual .tax file. There's only a button to print or save a pdf. How do I find the .tax file and transfer it into the 2020 Turbo Tax program?

 

Thanks again. So far you're the most knowledgeable.

Level 15
Feb 23, 2021 9:03:23 AM

@QuestionBox When you start a New Tax Return using the 2020 desktop editions, the program searches in the TurboTax folder for any 2019 tax data files.  If no 2019 files are found then you need to click on the blue

Browse

button and go to the location where you found the 2019 tax data file so the 2019 data can transfer to the new 2020 tax return.

Level 15
Feb 23, 2021 9:17:41 AM

In the 2019 program do a File-Save AS and give it a easy name you can find or search for.  And note where it saves it or select where to save it so you can find it again.  The file will end in .tax2019.  Then close the 2019 program.  If you see your 2019 return in the 2019 program you have the .tax2019 file somewhere.  

 

Are you on Windows 10?  That can move files to different spots like to One Drive.  Or to Drop Box.  Could it be under a different user on your computer?   

 

Can you see the file extensions in your Windows explorer or library?  You might need to turn that on to show extensions so you can see the .tax2019 at the end.

Level 2
Feb 23, 2021 9:39:44 AM

WooHoo! I found it. Thanks!!!

New Member
Feb 24, 2021 1:57:00 PM

I am in need of my tax returns from last year. Chtistele Courtney

Level 2
Feb 25, 2021 12:03:12 PM

Follow the instructions from the two people in this thread. It worked for me. 

New Member
Mar 23, 2021 5:13:25 PM

I need to transfer 2019 deluxe Turbotax into 2020. Both on a Mac.

Level 15
Mar 23, 2021 5:17:24 PM

Yes should be no problem.  The version doesn't matter.  Do you still have your .tax2019 file on your Mac?  Just start a new 2020 return and it should transfer.

 

How to transfer into Mac Desktop

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-the-turbotax-for-mac-software/00/26062

 

New Member
Mar 26, 2021 1:55:49 PM

I want to buy 2019 Home and business

New Member
Mar 26, 2021 1:57:25 PM

I Haven' prepared 2019 taxes and want to purchase the 2019 CD

 

 

 

 

 

Level 15
Mar 26, 2021 2:02:25 PM


@jbaity01 wrote:

I Haven' prepared 2019 taxes and want to purchase the 2019 CD


To complete and file a 2019 tax return using TurboTax you would need to purchase, download and install on a personal computer one of the 2019 desktop editions from this website - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

 

A 2019 tax return can only be printed and mailed, it cannot be e-filed.

Level 15
Mar 26, 2021 2:02:54 PM

I think you can only buy the download not a CD.

You can buy the last 3 years of Turbo Tax here,

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

You will need a full Windows or Mac to install it on.

New Member
Apr 1, 2021 1:38:31 PM

How do we import our tax returns from last year to this year on a Mac?

Level 15
Apr 1, 2021 1:41:26 PM

Did you use the Mac last year too?  Did you use the CD/Download desktop program?  You need to have last year's file ending in .tax2019 on your Mac to transfer into 2020.  It should be in your Documents.  But I think on my friend's Mac I had to use Finder to find it.

 

How to Transfer into the Mac Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-the-turbotax-for-mac-software/00/26062

 

 

New Member
Apr 7, 2021 1:46:03 PM

How do I do it, getting last years to transfer for this years 2020

Level 15
Apr 7, 2021 1:50:14 PM
Returning Member
Apr 17, 2021 7:13:18 AM

Turbo Tax 2020 Deluxe cannot find and transfer 2019 tax return data into 2020 return.  I have used Turbo Tax on this computer to fill out and file all my taxes for the last 10 years. Why is Turbo Tax 2020 Deluxe reporting that it can find no prior year tax returns on this computer?