Why are you not allowing us to import information from the previous year's return like you have in the past?

[wmutter]

I have been doing this for years in my Turbo Tax Returns. Why the change?

[Mike9241]

you do not import. you open your 2024 return and select start a new return to transfer the data from 2023. for this to be possible you must be in the same account you used for 2023.

[VolvoGirl]

How to Transfer into the Online version
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-...

How to Transfer into the Windows Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/transfer-last-year-s-return-to-turbotax-fo...

How to Transfer into the Mac Desktop program
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-the-t...

If you used the Desktop program, you need the data file ending in .tax2023 to transfer. It should be in your Documents then in a Turbo Tax folder. Or search your whole computer for all files ending in .tax or .tax2023.

[RRyles]

I have the same problem this year. Been using TurboTax for years and this is the first time I was not able to make my entries for 2024 while viewing entries for 2023. Nothing changed

[DougHCPA]

I have the same issue.  I started a new return.  I opened the prior year return.  The only things that transferred were summary information (name, rank and serial number) and a few pieces of other information.  I am self employed and file a Schedule C.  When I tried to enter income from two different 1099-NECs TurboTax wanted to start two new businesses.  Really?  None of my automobile information came over.  Really?

This is just a scam to get people to pay for TurboTax assistance.  I'm a former CPA and can do the forms myself but the program will not work properly unless you go through the Step-By-Step process. Total BS.  I would rather pay a CPA using ProSystemFX or UltraTax to do my return and just cancel my subscription.

[mesquitebean]

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@DougHCPA wrote:

I have the same issue.  I started a new return.  I opened the prior year return.  The only things that transferred were summary information (name, rank and serial number) and a few pieces of other information. 

That little amount of info sounds what one would get from transferring from a PDF instead of a data file.  I assume you're using desktop software.    When you launched TurboTax and started a new 2024 return (at least in the Windows version), it should search your computer for your 2023 tax files and display the filenames.  Then you can select which one to transfer in from 2023 to 2024.  You have to be careful to transfer from a *.tax2023 data file and not the 2023 PDF.   A 2023 PDF will only transfer minimal info into a 2024 return.   The most complete transfer occurs from a *.tax2023 data file.   Do you recall what type of file you were transferring?    If it was indeed a *.tax2023 data file, it should have brought in everything.  

If you DID transfer from a *.tax2023 data file, look to see if you have multiple *.tax2023 data files, and be sure you are transferring in the correct one from the final 2023 return.  Many people end up with more than one data file if last year they had instances of starting over with new returns, creating one for experimentation, etc.

[MarilynG1]

Are you transferring a 2023 tax file that you have on your computer, or transferring from a PDF file?  

Once you 'start a new return', you don't 'open the prior year return'; you 'transfer' the prior year return into your 2024 return.

Both TurboTax and your tax files should reside on your C drive.  If you're trying to transfer a tax file saved on a cloud storage, it may become corrupted. 

Here's info on Transferring a Prior Year Return. 

If you're entering a 1099-NEC for Business Income, go to the Self-Employment topic, and EDIT your Business.  Under 'add income for this business' is where you enter your 1099's.

If your Business is not set up, TurboTax will think you want to start a new business, if you just enter a 1099-NEC without linking it to your business.  

You may want to 'Start a New Return' and transfer your 2023 info from a .tax2023 file again.  If you used TurboTax Desktop last year, you probably have several saved .tax2023 files on your computer.   Here's info on Finding a Tax File on Your Computer.

Actually, most people complete their returns without paid assistance.  You can enter/edit data directly on the forms in most cases, but there are some areas where you need to answer questions in the interview to populate the forms correctly (1099-R being one of them).  Even then, you can edit data on the form once it has been prepared.

Here's info on Troubleshooting TurboTax Desktop Issues.

@DougHCPA 

[Mixie444]

I must have imported the 2023 pdf version, as minimal information is displayed. Unfortunately, I'm more than half way through my 2024 when I noticed. Is there a way to transfer the correct file after the 2024 version already contains the 2023 pdf version and 2024 information and has been saved?

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry no.  You can only transfer in to a new blank 2024 return.  So if you need the 2023 info you will have to start over in a new return, go up to File -NEW to transfer from the .tax2023 file.  

[gamix]

Requiring desktop users to start over, if they imported a .pdf (instead of .tax) and did not begin with transferring another tax data file for 2024, is how Intuit evidently operates.  "Too bad", if you hand entered Schedule D information or spend gobs of time doing your return.  That missing loss-carry forward, etc., can no longer be brought over.  If you manually enter it, you risk error, or other omission.  Import should be allowed after a return has been started.  Be kind, Intuit, instead of the only game in town.    

[VolvoGirl]

You can manually enter the Capital Loss Carryover manually.  You only enter 1 amount so there should be no error.  Even if you used the Online version you would have to clear and start over to Transfer from 2023.  I doubt any other tax company can transfer the prior year into an existing return.  

Enter a Capital Loss Carryover under

Federal Taxes or Personal (Home & Business)

Wages and Income

Then scroll down to Investment Income

Capital Loss Carryovers - Click Start or Revisit

[gamix]

The concern spans any other data being carried over, which users may be unaware of.  I may manually enter the carry forward, but feel it now necessary to review every form of each year's filing to be sure 2024 is complete.  In short, I don't know what I am not doing if I do not import.  Beyond that, how many TTax users are going to over-pay taxes in 2024, because their .pdf import dropped a loss carryforward, etc.?  I already consider myself lucky, to have eyeballed the error.  

[bkdamkr]

I understand that TurboTax Desktop Mac doesn't import last year's return, we must start a new return based on a previous return on our computer. I did that.  It seemed to work but all of the information from the 2023 return is missing. I'm instructed to review last year's information to see if it's accurate, but the boxes and lines are all blank.   On the other hand, when I'm in TurboTax 2024 and open the 2023 return by "opening a recent file"  (return), all of the information is there.  Both returns are in the same account.  

It's annoying to have to enter all of my information, and frustrating to not be able to compare my 2024 entries to the 2023 ones.

Please tell me how to fix this before I get too far into my 2024 return to make it worth going back and starting all over.

Any suggestions?

[DoninGA]

What?  When you start a New Tax Return using the TurboTax Mac editions, do you not get a screen showing the prior year tax data files available for transfer?

[gamix]

You get a screen window showing only your .pdf files, and a drop down file type screen showing both .pdf and .tax2023.  The drop down should only show .pdf, since that's all that will appear in the window, leading to an incomplete import.  Users need to manually select the singularly labeled .tax20023 drop down, whereupon any .tax2023 files will appear in the window, and can be selected.