- Transfer Last Year's Tax Info from Desktop to Desktop
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Transfer Last Year's Tax Info from Desktop to Desktop
Updated: 11/03/2009
Article ID: 594
In this article, learn how to transfer from your TurboTax desktop 2007 return to TurboTax desktop 2008. For additional transfer information and instructions, see Transferring in TurboTax.
Note: Transferring and importing are different procedures in TurboTax. Importing means to bring information into TurboTax from financial software, such as Quicken or QuickBooks, or from financial institutions, such as your brokerage firm or payroll provider. For more information, see Importing into TurboTax.
Before you start
- Be sure to update TurboTax before you begin to ensure you have the latest forms and features installed.
- Have your tax file ready. You don't need last year's TurboTax program on your computer, but you must have access to last year's tax file in .tax format. If you don't remember where it is, find your saved tax file before you start.
Transferring from Desktop to Desktop
To transfer from your TurboTax desktop 2007 return to TurboTax desktop 2008:
- You need last year's TurboTax return file on your hard drive. Search your hard drive for files with a .tax file extension. The default file name for Windows users is 2007 [LastName] [FirstInitial] Tax Return.tax.
- Open TurboTax 2008.
- To start a new return, select Start a New Return from the "Thanks for Choosing TurboTax" screen, or go to the File menu and select New Tax Return. If you've already begun entering your 2008 return, any existing information will be lost when you transfer.
- Select your tax return file on the "Let's Transfer Your Info from Last Year" screen. If the file isn't listed, select Find a Tax File, navigate to your tax return file on your computer's hard drive, and then select Open.
- Click Transfer Return, and then click OK to confirm the transfer. You can then review, edit, or delete transferred information.
Transferring after you begin your return
If you decide to transfer after you begin your return, follow these steps:
 | Important: It's best to start with a new return because when you transfer, TurboTax removes any existing information you've already entered. |
- Start TurboTax 2008 and open your return.
- Switch to Forms Mode.
- Go to the File menu and select Transfer 2007 Tax File.
- Switch back to Interview Mode by selecting Interview from the View menu.
Other notes about transferring
For more information, see Transferring in TurboTax.
- Transfer your information into a new TurboTax return. If you've already started your 2008 return, any information you've already entered will be lost when you transfer.
- Always transfer from a prior year before you import information from financial software, such as Quicken or QuickBooks, or from financial institutions, such as a payroll provider or mortgage lender.
- You can only transfer information from one tax return. Information from additional returns must be entered manually.
- You can only transfer information from the prior tax year. For example, you can only transfer 2007 tax information to TurboTax 2008.
- If you need to transfer from a year other than last year, you must have each version of TurboTax installed, and then transfer each year in succession.
- .PDF files cannot be transferred. A .PDF file is a picture of your tax return, used primarily for record keeping and is not a data file. Be sure to save your tax return as a .tax file for transferring purposes.
- Personal return information cannot be transferred to a business return (or vice versa).
- TaxCut Business will not transfer into TurboTax Business.
