TurboTax Desktop Download- Two Fed/State for 2 People

[user17707126232]

Helping family members (A) and (B) do their tax returns. Person A's returns were finished, submitted and received acceptance by both Fed and State.  Person B's returns are finished, but not submitted yet - because TurboTax Desktop Download info I can find online is not 100% clear to me that if Person B's returns are submitted that Person A's info/return will be able to transfer next tax year.  For the record, I have helped Person A with their returns for over a decade on TT, so very familiar with the product. 

When using TT Deluxe Download, both returns are on the same download under each of their names. So can Person B's get filed from the same Intuit.com log in? And, if so, this does this keep both A and B's 2025 returns so they can be transferred for 2026 returns? 

Thank you. 

[JohnB5677 · Accepted solution]

If I understand correctly, you want to insure that there are two separate files for both taxpayers on your computer.

When you start up your TurboTax program, there is a window labeled "Continue Your 2025 Tax Returns"

• There should be two options there, one for each taxpayer.
• Each return is new and separate.
• You can file each of them individually, and it will not change the other,

[VolvoGirl]

Have you never done 2 or more returns in the past?  You can do unlimited returns in the Desktop program.  

You have to be careful if your name is the same as another return. Turbo Tax saves the tax returns as 2024 Smith J Form 1040 Individual Tax Return.tax2024. So if you have two or more returns for people that have the same last name and first initial the second return will overwrite the first one. So you have to be sure to first save the returns with names completely different to keep them apart. Don't use the default name given by the program. You need to go to FILE - SAVE AS and give the return a unique name you can tell apart. At least add the full first name. You don't have to use or accept the name Turbo Tax gives it. I save all my returns with different names.

[user17707126232]

Yes, that is what I did. 

[user17707126232]

No, first time to do more than one.  This is a divorce situation (not mine LOL).  Different last names. I had saved under first names anyway. Thank you. 

[user17707126232]

Both Federal and State returns have been accepted, and can still access both on TT. So we will be able to access those to transfer when 2026 returns can begin, which was my only question.

Thanks for your time. 

[VolvoGirl]

Yes, no problem.  Next year just pick the right .tax2025 file to transfer.   If you transfer the wrong one just start a new return and transfer from the right file.  

[turb0wu]

Thank you for sharing. Please help me understand further as this is the first time I will file for 2 people in the same family using the desktop premier version. My main concern is about the override of information, and what will be transferred next year. 

Example, Jason Tax and Jenny Tax. Both first intial is J and last name is Tax because they we are siblings. When I file the first tax return, it should be fine. When I file the second return for Jenny, will all her information override mine (Jason) and the IRS will not have Jason's tax? Thank you for your time and consideration.

[VolvoGirl]

@turb0wu   Yes that could happen.  Are you on Windows?  When you save the second return the first time go to File-Save AS.  And even save the first return with different name.    Don't use the default name given by the program.   The default name should be something like.....2025 Tax J Form 1040 Individual Tax Return.  So you would want to save it as 2025 Tax Jason Form 1040...... and 2025 Tax Jenny Form 1040

You need to go to FILE - SAVE AS and give the return a unique name you can tell apart. At least add the full first name. You don't have to use or accept the name Turbo Tax gives it. I save all my returns with different names.  The file name doesn't have to be the same as the tax return.    The files will end in .tax2025 and should be in your Documents then in a Turbo Tax folder.  

Also before you start the second return I would make a backup of the .tax2025 file like copy it to a thumb drive   incase something goes wrong.  You should always be making backups frequently.  

Here's a screenshot I made several  years ago