• 2016 TaxAct Plus, Premium, and Professional Editions users may import a prior year return that was created with any TaxAct 2015 Desktop program. These programs will import using any desktop return file with a ".ta5" file extension.
  
• Using TaxAct Desktop, Online, and Preparer's 1040 programs, you may also choose to import a PDF copy of your 1040 return created with another program. When choosing to import the PDF, you must have a PDF saved version of the actual return. It cannot be a return summary.
  
• IMPORTANT: When you import a prior year return, any data that has already been entered will be overwritten. For example, by importing from a 2015 return to a 2016 return, the result will be a brand new 2016 return with only the imported data. You must import FIRST and then enter data in to the new version.

Importing prior year's return using TaxAct Desktop

Example: Importing into 2016 TaxAct

• Start the current year's version of TaxAct
• Click File from the menu bar
• Click either Import TaxAct 2015 Return or Prior Year PDF Data from the drop down menu.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import of your return.
• After completing the import of your return, the Import Summary will allow you to review the information transferred to your new return.