Import Last Year's Return Using TaxAct Desktop
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Importing using TaxAct is a quick and easy process. Please keep the following things in mind when importing:

  • 2020 TaxAct Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Self Employed, Sole Proprietor, and Professional Editions users may import a prior year return that was created with any TaxAct 2019 Desktop program. These programs will import using any desktop return file with a ".ta9" file extension.
  • Using TaxAct Desktop, Online, and Professional 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 2019 return to a 2020 return, the result will be a brand new 2020 return with only the imported data. You must import FIRST, then enter data into the new version.

Example: Importing into 2020 TaxAct Editions

  1. Start the current year's 2020 version of TaxAct.
  2. Click File from the top menu, then click Import.
  3. Click either Import TaxAct 2019 Return or Prior Year PDF Data from the drop-down.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import of your return.