Where do I submit my activation key if it's asking me to purchase turbotax again. I am already signed in as well

[bballshortstop03]

purchased turbotax deluxe from costco and when i use their download link for the software the program is unable to find previous tax returns

[VolvoGirl]

Did you accidentally get into the Online version instead of the Desktop program you bought?  If you see a black menu bar on the left side that is Online.  Have you installed the program you got from Costco?  Did you buy the CD or the Download?

IF YOU HAVE THE CD

For 2021 I bought the CD from the Costco store (Jan 4, 2022).  I have a Windows 8.1 PC and a Windows 10 laptop. This year I did the download option listed on the CD holder case.

I first turned off (paused) my AntiVirus program and closed all the other programs running.  Then I went to installturbotax.com and entered my License Code.  It put the download into my online account.   

Then I was able to download it.  And then I logged into my online account and download it the same way to my laptop.  I had no problems installing on both computers.

When you see the downloads listed in your account it will say Copy Code by the License Code.  Click on that.  Then download the program and install it.  I had to go to my Download folder and double click on the exe file to install it.  After it installs it will launch the program.  It will ask for the License Code to Activate it.  You can paste the code you copied, do Ctrl+V.

IF YOU BOUGHT THE DOWNLOAD FROM COSTCO

For 2020 I helped my friend buy the Mac program download from Costco online.  It went very well. You first get a confirmation email that says…..

"You will receive the redemption code, normally within the hour, via e-mail. To ensure delivery of your redemption code emails to you inbox, please add CostcoEDelivery@esd.synnex.com to your Email Address book or Safe list."

The 2nd email with the activation key came in 20 minutes. Make sure to write down or print out the 16 digit Key on the email. It is right above the Download Link. Then click on "Click Here" in the email to download the program and follow the install instructions. 

[bballshortstop03]

Thank you for that. So I guess if you purchased the software from costco via email delivery the only way to activate it is by clicking that download link and installing that .exe file but the issue I was having like that was that .exe program was not finding my previous tax returns even though I was signed in and everything. (PDF tax returns were not acceptable only the .tax files were)

After getting lost in the online app software like you had presumed lol I finally was able to access my previous returns in the online thing, downloaded and saved my 2020 tax return in the .tax format to my harddrive.

Logged back into the costco's provided software where my activation was already registered and proceeded with the installation just fine because I had 2020 tax return on my harddrive.

Im not sure if im the only one who had trouble with that but I'm guessing everybody had copies of their previous tax returns in the .tax format saved already. anyway thnx though. be safe

[VolvoGirl]

Are you ok now?  I couldn't follow what you did.  So you used the Online web version last year?  And you downloaded the .tax2020 file from online to transfer into  2021 Desktop program   Yes the Desktop program is completely separate from online and can't see your online account or returns?