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Level 2

Question

TurboTax 2024 keeps asking for Activation Code on SAME EXACT PC

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
December 18, 2024
11 replies
31 views

TurboTax 2024 keeps asking for Activation Code on the SAME EXACT PC. Every time I launch the product on the same computer, I get prompted to re-active the product and consume a license. The tax season has not even started, and since I downloaded the product a week ago, I have consumed 3 of 5 licenses already. It appears there an issue with the way Intuit developers are trying to ID the computer. The product thinks is on a new PC when it is not. I am using a standard Win 10 PC with Norton 360 AV. I do not have a USB storage device plugged and nothing is changing on my PC H/W wise. Only standard windows security and AV updates. My tax files are stored on OneDrive. None of the recommend "fixes" from past year work. IP addresses change and AV/Firewall are not something that should ever be disabled! Although I tried disabling both and it made no difference. Please fix your product or remove the license requirement until you do. Thank you.

DoninGA

Level 15

You will have to contact TurboTax support for assistance with this problem.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for contacting support - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/turbotax-phone-number/L0Od33nMQ_US_en_US?uid=lfgviwbm

Support can also be reached by messaging them on these pages https://www.facebook.com/turbotax/ and https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax

Tidal_Wave_One

Level 2

Norton is almost like a virus in itself (as are many other anti-virus programs these days). Dump it with a complete and total uninstall and just use the free Microsoft stuff. My guess is that Norton is blocking stuff that is preventing TurboTax from properly functioning.

I'm a software developer and run into stuff like this a lot when people try to use my software. All you really need is to be smart and use the free Microsoft antimalware stuff included in Windows 10 and 11.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Almost sounds like you are clicking on the installation file not the program shortcut.

DC441Author

Level 2

I am 100% running the installed app, not the installation program. For some reason the app thinks it's on a different device from previous launch. They're relying on something to identify the computer, but whatever that may be changes. However, that's not accurate since I'm running it on the exact same Windows 10 PC. The kicker is I just ran it and no activation request this time. So still holding at 3 of 5 licenses used on same PC. If this does not hold, I will have to give them a call as noted in previous post. This is not a new issue as this has been reported in previous years. The older fixes do not work.

Bobdean1

Level 2

You're not running on a virtual machine are you? Just a thought.

dmh123456

Level 3

I've been dealing with this exact same product on my Mac for at least the past 2 years. I have to keep contacting Intuit support and explaining what's going on to get another license sent to me and get into past and current tax forms with the different turbotax versions. It's frustrating and a huge waste of time.

There's something really off with how they're doing machine identification, because there's no reason this computer should be looking like a new install every 3rd or 4th time I run the application. I don't have that issue with any other software, and I have a lot of limited seat software installed. I also don't have Norton installed.

ML678

Level 2

What I have found that cause TurboTax to ask for activation again despite being the same PC (likely other inconsequential changes; really incompetencey of Intuit engineering)

Any difference between activation (typically after initial installation) and re-launch of TurboTax

if you installed as Administrator that is a different user in Windows and continue with activation as Administrator user (which is natural), restarting TurboTax as different, non-admin user on the same computer.
If you have different drives attached or even mapped to the computer (USB drive, network drives, OneDrive, (drive letter changes) , that differs between activation and when you run TurboTax again.

FortuneCookies

Level 4

Same issue is happening on me.

I have 2 user logons (admin, guest) on the same PC. Installed TT with admin acct. Switched it to guest acct and is required to activate TT again.

I made the guest logon with admin access but still no go.

We should not need to be asked to activate the same product on the same PC again. Please advise how we can resolve it.

DC441Author

Level 2

Issue just reoccurred for me as well. It was not happening for a few weeks, but today when I launched turbo tax I was forced to logon to my Intuit account and then my 3rd of 5 license was activated ON THE EXACT SAME PC. I did not switch users and made no changes to my PC.

Intuit support, what is being done to resolve this issue? Whatever you are using to ID the PC is not reliable.

Thank you.

Forrest Gump

Level 2

This same issue is happening to me. Turbotax, please post a fix.

CatinaT1

Level 15

Here are several troubleshooting steps that you can try:

Make sure your Windows Software is up to date.
If you are using a downloaded version, uninstall and reinstall the program from your MyDownloads folder. How do I find my TurboTax for Windows software download?
If that doesn't help, try a manual update. What is a manual update?
Turning off your VPN and anti-virus software during the update can help as well.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

ML678

Level 2

Uninstalling and/or reinstalling is not really a solution - the only guarantee is consumption a new license activation. Once activated again, as long as the conditions for identification won't change, it likely will not ask for reactivation again but would already consume one more license.

Repeating an earlier post, the key solution to avoid reactivation again is to try to mimic the same "identification of the same pc" condition in which activated originally occured. i.e.,

Start TurborTax as same user as during original activation (if installed as Administrator but you restarting turbotax as a different user, not administrator, it will ask for activation again)
Ensure mapped network drives, USB Drives, Mapped Backup drives (Google Drives, OneDrive, etc) are the same as during original activation
other non-software changes on the PC

Tidal_Wave_One

Level 2

I suggest people leave bad reviews at Amazon and elsewhere warning other users of this problem... if there are enough bad reviews about this, then Intuit might notice, figure out the problem, and provide a solution.

user17612808814

Level 2

I have the same problem that I had backup the activated Turbo Tax Deluxe 2024 with the whole windows 10 system to my computer. Today, I restore the the whole windows 10 system which included the activated Turbo Tax Deluxe 2024 to the same computer. When restore completed, I click on the Turbo Tax Deluxe 2024 icon, it first run update and then ask me to activate it . I don't understand why it asks me again for the activate.

OakvilleGazer

Level 2

I face this issue of having to use one of my activations everytime I start Turbotax. What is particularly galling is that after logging into my account, Turbo Tax tells me I have aready used this device, with the last time in September 2025. The *very* next screen is asking me to pick a key code to use one of the authorizations I still have left to activate. I have two key codes as I have gone through this problem before and had to call Intuit for a new code.

So the software knows that I've used Turbo Tax on this PC, knows when I used it, but still wants me to activate like it is a new PC.

With their complete disinterest in even addressing the issue, I would think this is intentional. I just can't figure out why.

My1stkitty

Level 2

I had to turn off my Bite Defender (anti virus, firewall, etc). Then Turbo Tax would continue to load.

Forrest Gump

Level 2

I fixed it! ... by deleting TurboTax and using FreeTaxUSA instead. This activation problem is unacceptable. And this year the desktop version of TurboTax requires Windows 11, which millions of users don't have or don't want. After 20 years of dealing with issues like this with TurboTax, I'm firing them. Sayonara. Idiots.

Ginawild

Level 2

due to some complicated transactions, I can't use some of the other free products. I'll keep searching for a solution. In the meantime I can file extensions by paper. No other options with time ticking away. I did ask for a refund through the link given to me by TT support, but so far nothing. Bought through Amazon so they have to verify everthing in order to give me the refund. ThenI can only hope a new code will work!!