switching from turbotax online to desktop

Unfortunately, you can't import your previous taxes year's data from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop. TurboTax Online can't export anything other than a PDF file, and TurboTax Desktop can't open PDF files. Only .ttxx files

Thank you for choosing TurboTax.

Thank you for getting back to me.

This seems like a significant flaw in the product line. I have been using TurboTax desktop for well over 10 years without any issues.  Last year I was forced to use the online version because the desktop version would not run on my PC or laptop.  (both CD and downloaded versions). TurboTax support was aware of this issue but could not resolve it (and for many others having the same issue) and I was encouraged to apply for a refund.

You would think that some provision would be made to allow users to switch back and forth between product versions, especially when the switch was forced, not voluntary.

Your feedback is important to us. We have noted your concern and will pass on to our development team.

Thanks for choosing TurboTax.

I hope something more than "noting my concern and passing it along...." will be done. Not being able to switch between online and desktop products will subsequently drive your customers away once they make this unpleasant discovery.

I posted the same question on the TurboTax USA forum and the first reply was "Just hit the 'import from TurboTax online' on the 2024 new return's first page of the desktop version.

If this is true, why wasn't the same done for the Canadian version?

Regards,

Greg

@gbcooper While they look similar, the US & Canada software are not the same, which is why they have different features. Here in Canada, we use software developed in here, not the US. Also, our online software is based off of Intuit Profile, while TurboTax Desktop is its own program that has been around for 30 or so years. They are not the same under the hood.

Thank you for your reply.

While I appreciate the detailed explanation of how the USA and CDN versions are different, I think the whole point of the thread is being missed.  Or I'm not explaining myself clearly.

My decision to use the 2023 online version was not voluntary. When I chose that particular product for the first time, there was NO warning whatsoever about choosing the desktop version in subsequent years would result in incompatible working file formats.

Now, there should be actions related to solving the problem (e.g. writing an app that scans/converts the PDF files to the desired desktop file formats "ttXX" or "taxXX", etc.). Because of this flaw, I now have to start my 2024 returns from scratch, without the benefit of importing my 2023 return information. Not a huge deal of course, but if I had known this last year, my process for selecting tax software might have been different.

Since Intuit / TurboTax knew of these issues previously, I can only assume that this has been an intentional outcome all along. I have yet to hear of how a solution is going to be developed. Is this problem intended for ALL future users of the online and desktop versions?

Regards,

Greg

@gbcooper I do understand your frustration, as I faced the same issue when my Mother passed away. I had to us TurboTax Desktop to complete her final return, so I couldn't import her previous return from TurboTax Online. 

It has always been the case that you can't transfer returns from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop. When we here in community are asked what features customers would like to see added, this is one that we always mention. And we do pass on our customers' comments and requests about the matter. But, unfortunatly, it hasn't happened yet, and will not be happening for the 2024 products. 

Also, as far as I know there is nothing on the Canadian website or on the packaging that implies that transfering returns from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop can be be done. Perhaps that's something we need to make it more clear.

Thanks for your detailed reply. My condolences to you and family for your Mom's passing.

I understand the corporation's reluctance to create and integrate yet another update / feature. However, what you said is precisely the reason it needs to be addressed. Although the literature / marketing info does not explicitly state you CAN import data from one version to the other, it does not explicitly state that you CAN'T.

One must always assume that the positive version / assumption is true unless explicitly stated otherwise. Anything else is misleading. The omission of that information is ultimately misleading.

Regards,

Greg

Hi

i spend a lot of time try to get answers from other turbo tax users, for downloading 2023 online version data to my 2024 desk top version tax return,  it does not work at all.  today, I just find  your post online: it never works for Canadian version of TURBO TAX, 

Thanks to you  gbcooper

I'm having the same issue.  I've used TT online for the past several years.  I chose the desktop version this year because I like to be able to review the forms that the software is creating.  I've had issues in the past with form errors that were never apparent during the process.  At any rate, when I follow the instructions in the desktop version to retrieve my previous TT data, I get an error.

It would be easier to switch to a competitors software and retrieve the data than it is to retrieve it within the turbotax platform

Unfortunately, you can't import your previous taxes year's data from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop. TurboTax Online can't export anything other than a PDF file, and TurboTax Desktop can't open PDF files. Only .ttxx files. 

Because this will be your 1st year using TurboTax Desktop, you'll have to enter information manually, but with future years, you'll be able to import data from the .ttxx file saved on your computer.

Thank you for choosing TurboTax.

I have been going through the same issue but when I was searching for a solution I found that you can request your data for past years from TurboTax so I did that after five days I received a link to download my data file when I unzipped the file all are pdf files I was very disappointed.

So here we are a year later in 2025 and while in my local Costco, I was looking at the Intuit TurboTax (Standard) for the 2024 tax year. Guess what? There is STILL NO mention of incompatibility with online  TurboTax files from a previous year.  (See product pictures below.)

Did someone forget to update the terms and conditions? Based on the numerous similar complaints in this discussion thread, it seems that a more accurate account of limitations needs to be included either on the desktop software end or the online version end. Or at BOTH ends. 

Lesson learned. I'll be choosing my tax software a little more carefully this year. 
Happy 2025!
Regards,

Greg

So if I have a .tt file from a 2023 tax return and am switching to turbotax online for 2024 return,  can I import the .tt file from 2023 to start or needs to be manual again?

@ewak You can import the .tt file from 2023 Desktop Version to your TurboTax Online version. Select the option 'TurboTax Download/ CD' (as shown below) When you get to this page. Please make sure you are log into TurboTax Online from the same device on which you have the back up file saved.

Thank you for your reply, but this whole thread was about going in the opposite direction ie: going from the online version to the desktop version, which still cannot be done.

And there is still no information on the desktop version packaging warning buyers of this limitation.

Regards,

Greg

@gbcooper Your feedback is important to us and will be passed on to the assigned department. 

it is easy to switch from desk top to online,  but not the other way around.

( thanks to Greg, who help me understand this problem)

when using online , and start a new return ,  you are able to import all data that is saved in your computer.

if i am not wrong, you click file button , =>   new return, and then choose file from your saved computer.

@YOW18 You are right! You can import your data from a Desktop version, if the ttxx file is on the computer you are working on for Online version.

I agree with all the other comments - I have been using turbo tax for many years -  last year I used online - not being able to transfer from online to desktop is a major flaw - I was able to transfer from desktop to online last year -- this will be definitely my last year of using turbo tax - lots of free software out there -  obviously Intuit is just taking the money and doing absolutely nothing with it

Great thread on this topic.  Answered all my questions. This is a huge miss for Intuit. I agree that this will most likely be my last year using this tool which I have been using for a minimum 10 years. I would have used the term software, but any company writing the requirements for the new on-line tool clearly missed a huge Use Case. Lots of other options out there. 

Cheers "Thank you for choosing Turbo Tax!" LOL

Rob

@rlowe103 Unfortunately, you can't import your previous taxes year's data from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop. TurboTax Online can't export anything other than a PDF file, and TurboTax Desktop can't open PDF files. Only .ttxx files. We truly appreciate you as a valued customer and you feedback is incredibly important to us.

Thank you kindly for your response. However, if you follow this thread you will see that this fact (i.e. can't use online files in the desktop version) was established a year ago.

What I am more interested in is what Intuit is doing about it NOW. The packaging on this years standard product (at Costco anyway) still does NOT give any warning at all to the customer. One of your colleagues previously stated the benefit of printing this shortcoming on the box to help buyers decide, That was a year ago. This has still not happened.

Why not include an import file utility for the desktop users? The USA version already does this. Perhaps contact them to see how they did it?

In my humble opinion, THIS is the current issue of this thread that needs to be addressed.

Regards,

Greg

I am in the same boat here. Looks like laziness and/or greed.  i think next year may call for a different program.