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Level 2
posted Jan 28, 2024 7:11:07 PM

won't Import previous year

I have used Turbotax for 12 years and it was always able to easily import data from previous year. This year it doesn't find file and when browse to it program just says unsuccessful but no problem can manually input it. The reason I continue to use turbotax is ease of tracking and entry. What it up? I have been a loyal user but this is very annoying.

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20 Replies
Level 15
Jan 28, 2024 8:07:44 PM

Are you using the CD/download TurboTax desktop software installed on your computer? Is it Windows or Mac?


When you browse to the 2022 tax return file, does the file name end with .tax2022?

 

New Member
Feb 6, 2024 1:15:21 PM

Hi - 

I did not write the original inquiry, but am having the same problem.  

I'm using Windows, TT Home & Business.  The file I'm trying to bring up is last year's return that is on a pdf file.  Your note on that screen says "We support files from TurboTax (.tax2022 & .pdf)", so why it is not coming up?  I spoke with Devi at length a few days ago and someone from the back office was supposed to get back to me.  

2022 taxes were done from a cd, and this year I uploaded the program from online.  

Help.  Thanks    Jude

[email address removed]

Level 15
Feb 6, 2024 1:37:56 PM

@judebreitwieser 

 

It's not clear whether your problem is the same as the original question. The original question does not say anything about using a PDF.


Transferring last year's information from a PDF does not work the same as transferring from a .tax2022 file. At best it will transfer some of your personal information (name, address, Social Security number) and your AGI. Using a .tax2022 file is much more thorough and transfers a lot more information. And sometimes transferring from a PDF doesn't work at all.


Although the PDF is technically supported, the support is very limited. You really have to use the .tax2022 file to get any meaningful transfer of information. If you don't have the .tax2022 file you might as well just start your 2023 tax return without transferring, and enter everything manually.

 

Level 2
Feb 6, 2024 2:24:37 PM

This is the exact problem I am facing. I did a search of my computer to find any TT files, none were found after 2016. In spite of this last year imported 2021 info just fine, so did 2021 import 2020 and so on for 12 years. Yet this year the 2023 program did not find any tax files. Looking in my saved TT directories I only found PDF files. On top of that when I went to run the installed 2022 program it required the KEY number, which I have apparently thrown away. I did not expect to need it again

Level 2
Feb 6, 2024 2:28:23 PM

After installing and using TT 2022 last year there is no .tax2022 file on my computer to import from.

Level 2
Feb 6, 2024 2:32:53 PM

You say if it doesn't import from 2023 you might as well enter everything manually. I find this answer frustrating. The reason I continue to use TT is because it imports the previous years data and information. I am retired so nothing changes except the amounts in the fields I used the previous year. If TT cannot or will not support this feature there is no reason for me to continue to use this product.

Level 15
Feb 6, 2024 2:59:35 PM


@robsam47 wrote:

Looking in my saved TT directories I only found PDF files.


@robsam47 

 

Search your entire hard drive for *.tax2022, not just your "saved TT directories." Check the Recycle Bin, too. You might have saved the .tax2022 files in a different directory from the PDF files. See if the appropriate one of the following FAQs helps. (You still haven't said whether you are using Windows or Mac.)


How do I find last year's tax data file (.tax file) on my computer? (for Windows)


How do I find my tax data file (.tax file) in Mac?

 

Level 2
Feb 6, 2024 10:30:34 PM

I did search my entire computer using *.tax20* 

I found files for 2008-2016 but nothing for 2017-2022. In spite of this I was able to import previous years information for every year from 2008-2022. It is only this year that finds nothing. It is also annoying that I cannot run previous years TT programs that are all currently installed on my computer without the key number which I did not keep. I did not think I would need it.

New Member
Jan 3, 2025 5:30:17 PM

Same problem here. the pdf files looks good.

New Member
Jan 3, 2025 5:31:26 PM

Dowload version installed on Windows 11

New Member
Jan 3, 2025 5:33:39 PM

The file is a pdf

Level 15
Jan 3, 2025 5:38:31 PM

@TLMTT You are posting to an old thread that has posts from multiple users.  The thread began with a question about transferring a previous year into the new tax return.   If that is what you are trying to do, you do not want to try that with a pdf.   You need the file that says .tax2023  

 

 

How to transfer last year’s return? https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900883

 

Level 1
Feb 26, 2025 7:00:32 AM

I also submitted my own ticket to Intuit (early February) after trying all the advice posted above (selecting the discovered 2023's tax file and browsing for the same file or my PDF).  All I've gotten are "we haven't forgotten you" emails but no solutions.  One person replied to my post with a solution link that has been closed and no longer accessible.  Has anyone actually gotten a fix from Intuit yet?

 

Expert Alumni
Feb 26, 2025 6:25:02 PM

Make sure you have installed TurboTax on your C drive, and that your 2023 tax file is also on the C drive.

 

@jlimmer 

Level 1
Feb 27, 2025 5:47:31 AM

Thanks for the advice.  While the program has always been installed on my C: drive, I've always been successful these many past years with the previous year's tax file being on another drive and able to transfer information.

 

Regardless, this time both the program and the tax file are on the C: drive yet I'm unable to transfer the information.

Level 1
Mar 22, 2025 11:21:29 AM

Same for me. Come on, Intuit. This is unacceptable and inexcusable for one of the selling points of your program. 

Level 1
Mar 22, 2025 12:27:09 PM

As one of the community "experts" suggested, I called TurboTax support.  Absolutely no help.  The guy simply said, sorry, and didn't offer any tips or solution.  As far as they are concerned, there is no solution pending.  Ultimately, I had to start a new return from scratch, re-entering everything, so that I could beat the mid-April filing deadline.

Expert Alumni
Mar 22, 2025 5:19:54 PM

Can you clarify if you have tried the suggestions above?  Making sure the download is on your C drive as well as the tax file is saved as a .tax format and also on the C drive?  

 

@ddw1946 

Level 1
Mar 22, 2025 6:19:59 PM

Yes, all of them... Several times.

Expert Alumni
Mar 25, 2025 7:31:43 PM

Have you tried opening your .tax2023 file in the 2023 TurboTax program to see if it opens?  If you saved it after tax season last year on a removable drive, then downloaded it to your C drive to use this year, it may be corrupted. 

 

Did you try the transfer using one of your 2023 backup files?  There's usually a couple of them in the Documents folder.  Sorry you had to start over, but it's very difficult to diagnose the problem in this forum without seeing your files or knowing your system configurations.

 

@jlimmer