Save time by importing last year's information into this year's return. TaxAct Online will allow users to import from TaxAct Online returns, TaxAct Desktop returns, and PDF files created with another software program.

When importing a prior-year return, the result will be a brand new return with only imported data and anything previously entered in the new return will be overwritten.

Note. You can't import prior-year information into the current-year return if you have filed an extension of this year's return or printed it.

Importing Prior Year TaxAct Online

1. From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Basic Info to expand, then click Data Import. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then click Basic Info.
2. On the screen titled Select a 2019 tax return to transfer, select the return to import from the drop-down, then click Transfer.
3. If you already entered data into the current return, you will be notified that importing a prior-year return will override that data. Click either Yes, Import Last Year's Data to replace the data or No, Skip Importing to retain your previous entries.

At any time, you can click < Back, then click Skip Import to enter your information by hand instead.

Importing Prior Year TaxAct Desktop Return into the Online program

1. From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Basic Info to expand, then click Data Import. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then click Basic Info.
2. In the shaded box at the bottom of the import screen, click the import your 2019 Desktop return link.
3. On the screen titled Save time by importing last year's Desktop return, click Yes to confirm that you have your TaxAct Desktop 2019 (*.ta9) file from last year.
4. Click OK on the pop-up window that states: Warning: Importing a return will overwrite all previously entered data. Do you wish to continue? (Note. You will need your browser pop-up blocker turned off for this to appear!)
5. On the screen titled Delete current return data and import TaxAct Desktop 2019 return data?, click Upload File to locate the 2019 tax return file on your computer (file extension will be ".ta9").
6. Click Yes, Import Last Year's Return to continue, then click Import Summary.
7. You will be prompted to remove any forms you do not want included in the import. Check any forms you wish to exclude, then click Delete Selected Forms. Otherwise, click Done. If information has been entered already in your return, all previously entered data will be overwritten. In this case, you will be given a warning pop-up message. Accept it to continue the import and overwrite your previous entries.

Importing from PDF

1. From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Basic Info to expand, then click Data Import. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then click Basic Info.
2. On the screen titled Select a 2019 tax return to transfer, click the import your 2019 PDF return link in the shaded box.
3. Drag and drop the PDF or click Browse to locate the file on your computer, then click OK.
4. To exit the PDF import screen without importing, click Skip, I'll do it manually.