How do you create a 2nd tax return for your elderly parent?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 5, 2025
2 replies
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I thought you could create more than 1-return on TurboTax Premium. Is this accurate?

xmasbaby0

Employee

Careful......there are some similar names----"Premier" is a version of desktop download software. "Premium" is a version of the online software. Make sure you know which you are using.

If you are using desktop download software you can easily prepare multiple returns and e-file up to five federal returns. Open the program and go to the tool bar, and click File and then New Tax Return to begin another return for a family member.

If, however, you are using ONLINE TurboTax, you get one return per fee, and need a different account and user ID for each return.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

ponti33602Author

Thanks for your response. It says "Premium" in the top right of the screen, but, I didn't download for my desktop and am using it on the web. I will need to do that......makes sense.

xmasbaby0

Employee

Premium is an online version of the software---it is NOT the download. You get one return per fee with Premium.

Did you purchase the desktop download---but then go online and use online software by mistake?

We see people get confused and they keep logging in to online software which will require them to pay at the end. You need to use the desktop software. One way to tell if you are using the right software---your tool bar. Online software has the toolbar in a black vertical column on the left side of the screen. Desktop software has the tools up on the top of your TT screen.

If you purchased the desktop download software, you have to download it, enter your license key, update it and open it up from your own hard drive to use it.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/how-do-i-switch-from-turbotax-online-to-the-turbotax-software/00/26129

xmasbaby0

Employee

When you use Online TurboTax, you get one return per fee. Each return needs its own account and user ID. If you use the same account and user ID for a second return, you overwrite the first one and lose it forever.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-start-another-return-in-turbotax-online/00/25596

When you use Desktop TurboTax, which you install from a CD or download to your own hard drive, you can prepare and e-file multiple returns for the cost of the software. You can e-file up to 5 Federal returns—more if you mail the additional ones. If you have multiple returns to prepare for family members, Desktop is more cost effective.

Desktop --unless you specifically buy federal Deluxe only from a retailer-- will include the software for one specific state. You can prepare as many returns for that state as the number of federal returns you prepare. E-filing state returns is an extra fee which can be avoided by printing and mailing the states. Additional--other--state software is an additional fee for the software.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901306-how-many-times-can-i-e-file-using-the-turbotax-cd-or-download

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2750704-what-are-the-advantages-of-the-turbotax-cd-download-software-over-the-online-version