You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
The TurboTax desktop editions for tax year 2021 are available now at this website - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/
The TurboTax online editions for tax year 2021 should be available in early December.
Thanks for the quick and clear reply!
Although the downloaded program becomes available every year sometime in November with the online following sometime in December they are NOT fully operational programs ... they are only beta versions. The final program and the state programs are never fully operational until late January at the earliest.
http://taxpreparationsoftware.com/
ANY tax software released by any company prior to about January 15 is only released for marketing and market share. No program is complete and ready to file until the IRS approves their final forms and then individually reviews each program's implementation of the form. And some tax situations aren't able to be filed until February or March, again mostly due to IRS delays.
Thanks for the clarification! I realize things won’t be finalized, but will I be able to get a head start on entering things like deductions? Or do I need to wait until the program is final before entering any data?
Just be aware that the results you are getting is not accurate but you can make entries if you wish.
Be careful if you have Windows 11. Downloaded 2021 Premier today and it won't install. Starts the process, but closes after it asks if you want to allow TurboTax installer make changes to your hard drive. A fix is needed, but not sure how to convey this to the proper folks.
If WIN 11 is anything like 10 ... make sure you have all the updates installed and reboot the computer at least 2 times then delete the TT install file and try again with a fresh download. Also make sure you have administrator rights in the user you are in.
Thanks for the suggestions, but no luck. I'll try the download on another computer that still has 10 and hope someone at Intuit and/or Microsoft addresses soon. It's bound to rise as a major issue as users recognize they can now get TT 2021.
Beta version of TT + new WIN OS = recipe for disaster
I am sure it will eventually be worked out ... you are the first person to post on this forum about this issue.
Speaking of 2021 program: How in the world do I enter stock sales in the new version (Home & Business)? If I try to pull up form 8949 it says that it's created from Sch D and I can't make a new one myself. There's nowhere to input anything other than a few checkboxes on Sch D. Last year Sch D had a "quickzoom to 8949" button on it; this year it doesn't. I would think this would be one of the easiest things to carry over year to year. The tax computation on the back end may change but the entry of the data should be consistent, unless I missed something changing this year.
Thanks.
One again the 2021 program is not yet fully functional and broker statements will not come out until mid February at the earliest so I would wait until you can import the information instead of trying to enter them manually.
And direct entries in the FORMS mode is not wise ... all data should be enter in the step by step mode.
To enter an investment sale from a brokerage account (1099-B), follow the steps below.
Thanks, I'll take a look at the Q&A method. Always forget I can switch back to that if I need to.
I do direct input because I'm a CPA, and I'm trying to do tax planning because it's a weird year and need to check my estimated payments beyond the spreadsheet I use to compute them.
I still don't understand why there can't be one easy-to-find entry form for stock sales, rather than having to go through multiple links to get there. I realize that the rules have gotten complicated for the day traders and crypto folks, but for the vast majority of us the transactions are few and simple.
Well you must be a CPA that doesn't do taxes of you would have a professional program since you must use a professional program if you charge for income tax prep services. The DIY programs really should be completed thru the interview screens not the FORMS mode.
If you did not already know ...
This is my mini version of a tutorial that should be in the downloaded program:
Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."
If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.
Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.
If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….
It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:
If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.
AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :
AND protect the files :
"I still don't understand why there can't be one easy-to-find entry form for stock sales, "
There is a such a form -- easy to find? not so much.
Warning : TurboTax 2020 has taken to suppressing, i.e. not printing, certain transactions that you entered explicitly.
This causes consternation.
This will probably continue in 2021 unless they fix it.
Still have questions?
Make a postAsk questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.
Mlocken
New Member
Don Clark
New Member
rayoh
New Member
edgarbenjamin01
New Member
obeteta
New Member
Did the information on this page answer your question?
You have clicked a link to a site outside of the TurboTax Community. By clicking "Continue", you will leave the Community and be taken to that site instead.