It appears you're looking for a comprehensive guide on merging two TurboTax accounts. That's a common desire, especially for those who've accidentally created multiple accounts or recently married and want to combine their tax histories. However, there's a crucial piece of information to start with:
Unfortunately, TurboTax does NOT offer a direct way to merge or combine two separate TurboTax accounts.
This is a frequently asked question on their support forums, and the consistent answer is that their system is not designed to merge accounts. This is due to various reasons, including data integrity, security, and the way tax returns are uniquely tied to a single account for record-keeping and IRS compliance.
While you can't merge them, there are strategies to manage your tax information efficiently if you find yourself with multiple accounts. This guide will walk you through the best practices to handle this situation.
Navigating Multiple TurboTax Accounts: A Comprehensive Guide
Having multiple TurboTax accounts can be a bit of a headache, especially when tax season rolls around and you need to access prior-year returns or transfer data. Since direct merging isn't an option, the key is to consolidate your data and choose a primary account for future use. Let's dive in!
Step 1: Identify and Access All Your TurboTax Accounts
Feeling a little lost in the digital maze of accounts? Don't worry, it happens to the best of us! The very first and most crucial step is to gain access to all the TurboTax accounts you might have created. You might be surprised at how many you've accumulated over the years.
Sub-heading 1.1: Recall Potential Usernames and Emails
Think back! Did you use different email addresses for personal and business taxes? Perhaps an old email address from a previous job?
List all possible email addresses you might have used to sign up for TurboTax.
Think about different usernames you might have chosen. Sometimes people use a simplified version of their name, or an old nickname.
Jot these down! Having a list will make the recovery process much smoother.
Sub-heading 1.2: Utilize TurboTax Account Recovery
If you're unsure of your login credentials, TurboTax offers an account recovery tool.
Go to the TurboTax login page.
Look for options like "Forgot User ID or Password?" or "Account Recovery."
Follow the prompts carefully. You'll likely need to enter an email address or phone number associated with the account.
Check all your email inboxes (including spam/junk folders) for recovery emails.
Sub-heading 1.3: Verify Access to Each Account
Once you've identified potential accounts, try to log into each one. This is vital to confirm you have full access to your historical tax data.
Log in to each account successfully.
Navigate to your "Tax Timeline" or "Past Returns" to ensure all expected prior-year tax returns are visible and accessible.
If you encounter issues, repeat the account recovery process. If still unsuccessful, you might need to contact TurboTax customer support (though they cannot merge accounts, they can assist with access issues).
Step 2: Download and Archive All Your Prior-Year Tax Returns
Now that you have access to all your accounts, it's time to secure your valuable tax documents. This is like creating your own personal tax archive.
Sub-heading 2.1: Download PDFs of Filed Returns
For each TurboTax account you've accessed:
Locate your "Tax Timeline" or "Prior Year Returns" section.
For each tax year, find the option to download the PDF of your filed return. This usually includes all schedules and forms.
Save these PDFs in a clearly organized folder on your computer or a cloud storage service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox). Label them clearly with the tax year and the name of the taxpayer(s) (e.g., "2023_JohnDoe_Taxes.pdf," "2022_JaneSmith_Taxes.pdf").
Sub-heading 2.2: Consider Saving the .tax File (Desktop Versions)
If you've ever used the desktop CD/Download version of TurboTax, your tax file will be stored directly on your computer, not online.
Locate the .tax file for each year (e.g., "mytaxes2023.tax"). These files contain all the raw data of your return.
Back these up! Store them in the same organized folder as your PDF returns. Having the .tax file can be useful for transferring data in future years.
Step 3: Choose Your Primary TurboTax Account for Future Use
This is where you make the strategic decision. Since you can't merge, you need to pick one account that will be your go-to for all future tax filings.
Sub-heading 3.1: Factors to Consider for Your Primary Account
Think about what makes the most sense for you:
Most Comprehensive History: Does one account have a longer or more complex history of tax filings? Choosing this one can simplify data transfer in the future.
Ease of Access/Familiarity: Which account do you remember the login for most easily? Which one feels most "yours"?
Joint Filing Considerations (if applicable): If you're newly married, consider which spouse's existing account will serve as the primary account for joint filings. Often, it's the one with the more extensive tax history or more complex financial situation, as you can easily add the other spouse's information. Remember, you'll still need to manually input the other spouse's prior year AGI if using their existing TurboTax account isn't possible for the current year's transfer.
Sub-heading 3.2: Update Profile Information (Optional)
Once you've chosen your primary account, consider updating its profile information to ensure it's current.
Review your contact information: Email address, phone number.
Update security questions/answers for enhanced security.
Step 4: Strategize for Future Tax Filings
Now that you've got your past sorted and a primary account chosen, let's look ahead to how you'll manage your taxes going forward.
Sub-heading 4.1: Transferring Data from Previous Years (into your primary account)
This is where the downloaded PDF and .tax files come in handy.
For the chosen primary account: When you start a new tax return, TurboTax usually offers to import data from your prior year's return if it's within the same account.
For returns from other accounts: You will generally need to manually enter information from those prior-year returns. However, having the PDFs makes this process much easier as you have all the data readily available.
Annual Gross Income (AGI): This is often the most crucial piece of information from a prior year's return needed for e-filing. Make sure you have the AGI from all relevant prior years readily available from your downloaded PDFs.
Sub-heading 4.2: Filing Jointly (if applicable)
If you're married and previously had separate accounts, you'll file jointly using one of your TurboTax accounts.
Use your chosen primary account.
When setting up your tax return, indicate your filing status as "Married Filing Jointly."
You will be prompted to enter your spouse's information. Have their Social Security Number, date of birth, and any income/deduction information ready.
For the initial joint filing, you might need to manually input some of your spouse's prior year data if their tax history isn't linked to your primary account. Again, having their prior year PDF handy is invaluable.
Sub-heading 4.3: Discontinue Use of Other Accounts (but don't delete!)
While you won't actively use the other TurboTax accounts for filing, do not delete them.
Why not delete? They still contain your official tax records. TurboTax often retains these for several years, which can be useful if you ever need to access them for audit purposes or just for your own records.
Keep a record of login credentials for these dormant accounts in a secure place, just in case you ever need to access them again.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to access my prior-year TurboTax returns from an old account?
You'll need to log into the specific TurboTax account where that return was filed. If you don't remember the login, use the "Forgot User ID or Password" option on the TurboTax login page.
How to combine tax data from two separate TurboTax accounts for joint filing?
You cannot directly combine accounts. You'll choose one account as your primary for joint filing, and then manually input your spouse's relevant tax information from their prior-year returns (obtained from their separate TurboTax account or printed PDFs).
How to transfer my tax information from one TurboTax account to another?
TurboTax generally allows data transfer within the same account from one year to the next. To transfer data from a different account, you'll need to manually enter the information from the prior year's tax return, using a PDF or printed copy as reference.
How to find my AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) from a previous year if I used a different TurboTax account?
Log into the specific TurboTax account where that prior year's return was filed, navigate to your tax timeline, and download the PDF of the return. Your AGI will be clearly listed on Form 1040.
How to use one TurboTax account for both spouses after getting married?
Designate one spouse's existing TurboTax account as the primary. When starting the new tax return, select "Married Filing Jointly" as your filing status and add your spouse's information as prompted.
How to ensure all my past tax returns are easily accessible?
Log into all your known TurboTax accounts and download PDF copies of all your filed tax returns. Save these in a well-organized, secure folder on your computer or cloud storage.
How to avoid creating multiple TurboTax accounts in the future?
Always use the same email address and user ID for all your TurboTax filings. If you forget your login, use the "Forgot User ID or Password" recovery tool instead of creating a new account.
How to handle a situation where I can't access an old TurboTax account?
If account recovery fails, contact TurboTax customer support directly for assistance. They can help with login issues but cannot merge accounts or transfer data between them directly.
How to change the email address associated with my primary TurboTax account?
Log into your primary TurboTax account, navigate to your "Account Settings" or "Profile," and you should find an option to update your email address there.
How to get a copy of a prior-year tax return if it's in an inaccessible TurboTax account?
If you've exhausted all TurboTax account recovery options, you can request a tax transcript directly from the IRS (for federal returns) or your state tax agency (for state returns). This will provide key information, including your AGI.