Two Desktop Licenses Required for Married Couples Filing Together - Can Tax Data Files Still Be Shared?

[Max Dog]

Intuit now requires married couples to each have their own separately paid copies and licenses of Turbo Tax if each person is entering tax data even if they are going to file jointly at the end. The question, can the tax files still be transferred and shared between two different licenses copies?

In the past, one partner started the annual tax forms by entering their data. Then we copied the files to the other partner's computer and finished the data entry. Then filed through Trubo Tax.  We have very complicated 1040 with lots of schedules. The data cannot be entered and tax forms be prepared by one person alone. This is NOT about online files or Turbo Tax Online. This is about the desktop tax files.

Sadly we learned that each of us is now required to have separate Intuit accounts and separately licensed copies of Turbo Tax. Will our method of separately data entry still work? Does Intuit lock the files to just one Inuit account so there is no longer sharing of data entry duty? 

[xmasbaby0]

What?  You have misunderstood how using the CD/download works.   You do not each need your own license key or separate programs.   All you need is one copy of the program and you use it to prepare your joint return.   You can put that one copy under one of your TT accounts, but your joint return is ONE tax return, with the combined information from each of you.   You will not be able to use two programs and merge the data onto one tax return.   

The CD/download works the same way it has always worked--and you say you have used it in the past.  The only difference this year is that TT has become more strict in the way it is enforcing the use of the software and linking it to one account to prevent users from giving out the license code to distant family members, friends, acquaintances, etc.

For further help, contact customer support---you may need a real-time conversation with someone who can make all of this clear to you.  

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time

[Max Dog]

It does not work the same way now. Two different people (regardless of the single return) working on one tax return requires two licenses and two separate Intuit accounts if using two computers. This is explicit in the agreement - one license - one person - one Intuit account. There is no confusion on this. Even if one incorrectly assumed Intuit didn't intend to block couples from working on different computers and they can jointly share one copy and install on two computers using one Intuit account, the 2-factor process will make this approach hard to use. 2-factor means the account holder has to be near by to provide authentication access. This impractical.

I never said I used two programs and wanted to merge tax files. And, I do not want to Turbo Tax on a single computer and we switch off entering data. I said I copy the files to the second computer and then complete the tax return there. This was the question which has not been answered. Can a one Intuit account licenses of the desktop software open and work on another tax file from another licenses Intuit account?

I have been doing it this way for 30 years. Did Intuit block or otherwise inhibit copying/using tax files from different Intuit accounts?

[taxlady28]

You need to install both programs using a shared account.  Two different accounts cannot be merged.

[VolvoGirl]

You can still install the same 1 program on both computers.  You just need to log into the same online account to install it.  The license has always been  you can install it on 5 computers you own.  They are only enforcing it now.  If your spouse is installing on another computer that is ok.  You only have to log in to install it at the the beginning.  You can still move the tax return data file back and forth.  But that is not recommended.  You can get messed up doing that.