I appreciate the reply TurboTax Susan. 

Many cloud companies like Google and Microsoft give the option to download an output file in different formats.  In this scenario, what good is a pdf because it can't be imported as you pointed out.

Intuit can re-design their cloud tax programs to permit downloading a ttxx file in addition to the pdf, but they have chosen to not to.  As a long-time Client, that is horrible since it takes control out of my hands!

Thank you for your input. I will pass on your comments to our product development team.

I thought turbotax kept pdf files of tax returns

Yes, a pdf file is created as an output and you can save this to your cloud drive or onto your own device such as a desktop pc.  However, the following tax year, the software that you buy at, say Costco for $30, cannot be used because it needs a .tt21 backup file as input to "start a new return using data from the previous tax year".  Intuit online does not create a .tt21 output file because your tax data is available online for 7 years.  It cost me $180.76 to complete 4 tax returns this year.  Last year it was #29.99 plus taxes for up to 8 returns.  A total cash grab now because it cost money to host all those cloud servers, staff, etc.  I would rather host my own backup .tt21 files for 7 years.

Why can't this be allowed?   Is Intuit giong to fix this problem and allow to interchange between Online or CD/downloaded version to obtain your TT20 files and past or future? 

Precisely my thoughts!  The answer will be no unless Intuit faces massive backlash from clients like us.

Very disappointing considering the US version allows it.

So if I have files from 2014-2019, did 2020 online, I now I have to start from scratch in 2021?

Had I known this, I would not have done the online one last year.

Not impressed.