Go to our Access Prior Year Tax Returns webpage for a list of available Online and Desktop programs for previous years.

Note: TaxAct does not provide archived copies of returns filed through the TaxAct Desktop or TaxAct Professional Editions. If you no longer have access to your saved return file, you can receive a copy of a successfully-filed return from the IRS by calling 800-829-1040. For more information, go to the IRS Topic No. 156 Copy or Transcript of Your Tax Return – How to Get One webpage.

If you were a prior-year TaxAct Online user, but you did not finish your prior-year return (or if you need to start a new return for a previous tax year), you can still prepare and print your return using our TaxAct Online service. See TaxAct Software for Previous Years for details. When you are ready to proceed, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your TaxAct account .
2. Expand the My Returns & Details section.
3. Expand the 20YY Returns section.
4. Select the applicable tax year.
5. Then, either open an existing return or start a new return:
   1. Click Open Return to open an existing return.
   2. Click Start a New 20YY Return to create a new return.

Prior year returns may be electronically filed by those using the TaxAct Professional program (both individual 1040 returns and business 1041, 1065, 1120-S, 1120, and 990 returns) or by those using the TaxAct Business Consumer (1041, 1065, 1120-S, 1120, and 990 returns) program when supported by the Modernized e-File (MeF) system.

MeF allows the current year and two prior years to be e-filed. Generally, the IRS allows electronic filing year-round, except for an annual maintenance period. See the FAQ IRS Modernized e-File System Shutdown Period for details.

Each year the TaxAct program will allow electronic submissions for prior year returns as soon as the Final version of the software is released in January; however, the returns will not actually be transmitted to the IRS until they are ready to start processing them.