I replaced my hard drive and re-installed prior year versions of the TurboTax software. How can I update those software versions so that I can open the old tax returns?

[srgordon]

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.

[TurboTaxVeronique]

@srgordon 2018 is available on our website, on the prior years page. 

If you have the 2018 License code, you can download it with this link, but because it is a software earlier then 2021, you can experience a compatibility issue with Windows 11. You can find solution on this Forum link.

If you don't have your License code and it's only to print or save in PDF a copy of your 2018 return, you can use the Free version available on this page.

[srgordon]

Thank you, I mentioned prior I have the "Installation key Code" and CD. Actually, for the versions going back decades but I assumed updates would not be available so wanted the updated version from your site. 

Downloading 2018 from the link provided prior, and trying to activate it yields an error (2019 works), and suggests I call a number to activate over the phone vs over the internet but that number has a message saying go online as the number is no longer in use.  I am on Windows 10 not 11 (and I know that is soon to be End Of Life) but that's a problem for another time. 

I have the software via your downloads but the activation fails when I enter my license code. The software without being able to use it, is pointless. How can I activate it? 

[TurboTaxVeronique]

Unfortunately, phone activation is discontinued but we suggest you to contact Product support team by phone and report the issue. 

Thank you for choosing TurboTax.

[srgordon]

Just fyi for anyone else in a similar situation, I did call support and they indicated there is currently an issue with activating 2018 which they are working on, and confirmed 2017 and prior can no longer be activated on a re-install. Not sure I see the logic in not allowing me to re-activate software I paid for when had I not had the harddisk failure, it would have merrily kept working, but that is a fight for another day....

I must say, response time on this forum and the phone support was quick and responsive!

[BlondieSL]

All this is motivating me to move on to another company that provides tax software.

I've used TurboTax for many years.

I have not found their support to be great and now THIS!

What was the point of creating an account then?  (rhetorical).

On any other site, including Amazon, when you have an account, it retains all your information (keys, orders, etc) until we decide to remove it.

So I think it's time to move on to a different option.

Even with these posts.  I tried to stop notifications and it doesn't work!

Even clicking on UNsubscribe has not worked.

I do not like companies that take on the authoritarian method, so yeah, time to move on.

[TurboTaxAniqua]

@srgordon For TurboTax 2018 re-installation, make sure your internet connection is good and if you have any anti-virus installed, please turn that off before installing TurboTax Desktop and you can turn that back on after the installation. If the issue persist please contact Product Support so we can investigate this issue for you.

You can call customer support at 1-888-829-8608. 

We are available Monday through Friday 9 AM to 6 PM ET for English and French support. 

We are closed on the weekends for now. 

Thank you for choosing TurboTax.

[srgordon]

I did call Customer Support and they were the ones who told be there are activation issues for 2018 version and they are working on it. Activation for 2019 and newer worked no problem.

[TurboTaxVeronique]

Thank you for the update on your situation. Yes, our teams are working on this issue with TurboTax Desktop 2018 activation.

We are pretty sure Product support tried this with you, but, at this moment, what we can do is to ask you to verify your Internet connection and if you have an antivirus. If yes, please try to deactivate the antivirus and try again. If the issue persists, be sure to turn back on the antivirus and call Product support (something you already did).

As soon as we have an update about this issue, we will post here.

Thank you for your patience.