Thank you again for the speedy response.
Firstly, I am not sure why I was provided the link to the 2018 software if I could not activate it/use it -- a complete waste of time?
Secondly, what CRA wants or does not want is irrelevant -- I paid for the software and should be able to use it. UNLESS it is stated somewhere that if needing to be re-activated, it can only be done for the five most recent years and I agreed to it. I do not recall this in the prior versions but certainly not the 2023 version. To me, it seems odd that a company would allow the activated software to run uninterrupted BUT if I have to recreate my install -- of software I paid for -- I would be prevented to do so. I understand not offering software support but disallowing purchased software to be used? That seems excessively arbitrary to me and not documented anywhere that I can find.
