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Employee

Question

No CD available for tax year 2024

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 7, 2024
25 replies
0 views

I want to express my discontent that Turbo Tax has eliminated the ability to get a CD. I like to keep the software in case I need to change computers.

I realize the download is the same program and updates need be done as tax rules are not always completely defined, often until well after the new tax year begins.

I have used Turbo Tax since it began. I really hate to change at this point but I am extremely disappointed. I am willing to pay extra for the CD. It is a preference.

TurboTax Home & Biz Windows

VolvoGirl

Employee

After you download the installation file you can burn the .exe file to make your own CD or copy it to a usb or external drive. Even if you bought the CD before you could use the download method to install it. I always bought the CD from Costco. But last year for 2023 I bought the download from Costco online. Installed it real fast. It was the same as the CD. Most of the laptops and computers now don't have a CD drive. And I had to get a new laptop with Windows 10 to run Turbo Tax starting for 2022.

bmistrelovic

There is very affordable CDROM drive, you can attach to any laptop!

SteamTrain

Employee

@jeannieh

After downloading the installation file, you can just copy the installation .exe file to a USB flash drive (And copy the license code to a text file to put on the USB too)

In fact, if you re-download the installation file in (say) June, and copy that to the USB flash drive, that will contain all the updates until that point int time....a BIG improvement over the beta-version that would be on a CD.

Yeah, just a workaround, but that would be better than a CD anyhow.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*

rpswartz

Can I reinstall that download after 5 or so years when my computer crashes?

DoninGA

Employee

@rpswartz wrote:

Can I reinstall that download after 5 or so years when my computer crashes?

No. The software is only available for three years plus the extension date for download. For example if you have the 2024 CD you can install the software at any time on or before October 15, 2028.

Bill175

Its worse than that if you live abroad. I would always buy the CD from Amazon because they would not allow people with a foreign address to download it. Now that there's no CD, I have no way of obtaining the software. Any know of a work-around?

Opus 17

Employee

@Bill175 wrote:

Its worse than that if you live abroad. I would always buy the CD from Amazon because they would not allow people with a foreign address to download it. Now that there's no CD, I have no way of obtaining the software. Any know of a work-around?

Turbotax is not officially allowed to be sold abroad. I believe that is due to restrictions on the export of encryption technology. I think if you have a helper in the US, you can probably figure out a way to get a copy of the downloadable installer sent to you via a file sharing service or a physical device, but it's not really my place to say how to break those rules.

Bill175

If there is such a law, its hard to understand why for the past decade it has been all right to ship a CD abroad with the software, but not be able to download that same software abroad. Not only that, but the software itself includes such forms as 2555 which is to be completed by someone residing abroad, including full Turbotax help for its completion.

Tautemarite2

Is it true that no cd install is available for 2024 premier?

Chuck Walters

DoninGA

Employee

@Tautemarite2 wrote:

Is it true that no cd install is available for 2024 premier?

Chuck Walters

TurboTax will not be providing a CD for the 2024 desktop software. There will be a Download for the 2024 software to install on a personal computer.

rpswartz

So? What if my computer crashes or I get another computer? Can I download that again to the same computer? or new computer?

Robert613

I usually pick up a physical copy of Turbo Tax at SAM's Club. What I don't like about not getting a physical copy is, and I'm not sure as I didn't get 2024 yet, is the fact that you have to give Intuit your life story to access the download. I never register the physical copy, just enter the key. I don't want to e marketed to by third party 'partners' If this is not the case, my apologies.

Bill175

I'm not sure you have to give more of your life story before downloading Turbotax than you had to give Intuit in order to post in this forum. Regarding registering the software when you first start using it: I don't do that either, but the reason I don't do it is because I reside abroad, which is incompatible with the registration form they provide. I can't click on one of the states, and my phone number is too long to fit in the space provided. Luckily, it's possible to just click that registration page away, and still use the software.

xrebp

Employee

Then I will no longer be using Turbo Tax if I cannot have the software on a CD.

VolvoGirl

Employee

@xrebp As I have said many times, why do you want the CD?

The Download program is EXACTLY the same Desktop program as the CD. You buy it the same way directly from Turbo Tax or in stores like Costco or Amazon. When you installed the CD you still had to go online to update it. It's only the method you use to install it. Even when I bought the CD I used the download method to install it. But last year for 2023 I bought the download from Costco online. Installed it real fast. It was the same as the CD. Most of the laptops and computers now don't have a CD drive. And I had to get a new laptop with Windows 10 to run Turbo Tax starting for 2022. You can copy the download installation file to a CD or to a thumb usb drive.

The confusion people have is that the Online version is NOT the Download Desktop program.

Since you now have to log into an Intuit Account all your downloads and licenses are listed there (even if you bought it from somewhere else) so if you need to download to install it again or install on another computer, even on the other operating system (Windows, Mac).

lawman4619

Employee

This is more garbage from Intuit to save a few $. Chipman has plenty of money. Why does Turbo Tax/Intuit make things so difficult? Very customer unfriendly. I may switch to H&R Block as I understand that they are not nearly as difficult to deal with. It may be goodbye to Turbo Tax. I store the Turbo Tax CD with each year's taxes just in case I need it if I have to go back to an old year or change computers. To repeat: Why does Turbo Tax/Intuit make things so difficult? Very customer unfriendly.

VolvoGirl

Employee

@lawman4619 Does HR Block have the CD for 2024? I haven’t bought the program yet.

But even if you have the CDs you won’t be able to reinstall 2020 or prior. They only support the last 3 years. And the License Code started in 2019. So 2019 needs to connect to Turbo Tax to verify the License Code. But they have stopped supporting 2019. So you can’t install and activate 2019 and newer when they stop supporting each year going forward.

And if you do get 2018 and prior installed you won’t be able to update it or download any state programs. So you should save all your returns to a pdf file with all the worksheets. Open each year and save them now if you haven’t already. I left all my programs installed so I don’t need to reinstall.

rpswartz

I still have the 1999 thru 2023 Turbo Tax from the CD installed on my computer! It seems like the IRS asked for some information for a few years back and I had to reload from the cd to computer.

Mike9241

The program will be available in your account under the products and billings tab until that year is no longer supported by Turbotax (even if you do not purchase directly from Intuit). Using a CD to reinstall a year no longer supported may not be possible since the updates are no longer available.

redjamie

Employee

I totally agree with you. I love that Intuit says you can still make a cd of the download but it is nothing I can do. I can change to another Tax software but I have happily used TT for years. (I know, now that you have had a chance to vent, go buy the software and grumble elsewhere.)