Online Products Xpert Assist Download Products Self-Employment Taxes Business Taxes Business and Home Bundles Tax-Exempt Organizations Estates and Trusts Previous Year's Products Professional Taxes
Tax Calculator Self-Employment Calculator Tax Bracket Calculator W-4 Calculator Tax Checklists Tax Extensions TaxAct Blog
Check E-file Status Track IRS Refund
Blog Support TaxAct for Professionals

How can we help?

Popular Topics: Import Options Refund Status Amend Return File Extension
Help Center  >  Pros  >  Getting Started & Account  >  Company Info, Guarantees & Policies

Professional Editions – Backing Up Client Returns and/or Preparer Information

With your TaxAct Professional Edition program, you can back up client returns and preparer information by following the steps below.

NOTE: It’s a good idea to back up preparer information any time you make changes to it and to keep a backup in the Client Data folder of the default install location of the computer. It’s also a good idea to keep another backup somewhere other than the same computer, on external media or another computer. For that, we also offer another option below.

Backup from Your Local Computer

Enterprise Editions Online Networking users: All data you enter is backed up automatically, so there is no need to run manual backups on your client data files.

Backup Client Returns

  1. Click File > Backup > Client Return(s).
  2. Select Local and click Next.
  3. Check the box next to the return(s) you want to back up and click Next.
    • NOTE: Click Select All to check all returns. Choose by return type in the drop-down list.
  4. To change the backup file location, select Browse and choose the location using the directory tree.
  5. Click Finish. A confirmation message will appear when files are backed up.

Backup Preparer Information

  1. Click File > Backup > Preparer’s Information > Local, specify a backup directory and click Select Folder. When performing future backups, you will be prompted to overwrite the files that already exist. Be sure to save the most recent versions.

Backup from Backup Files Saved on TaxAct Servers

The Online Backup feature is an Enterprise Edition feature. You may upgrade to the Enterprise edition of the program by contacting our professional support team at 319-731-2682. The Online Backup feature is not available when using the Enterprise online option (“cloud”), as your returns are saved directly to TaxAct secure servers.

Performing regular backups of client information, returns, and preparer information is important. To utilize TaxAct’s backup and restore functions, follow these steps:

Backup Client Returns

  1. Click File > Backup > Client Return(s).
  2. Choose Online, then click Next.
  3. Enter your TaxAct Account username and password.
  4. Select the return(s) you want to back up.
    • NOTE: Click Select All to check all returns. Sort by return type in the drop-down list.

Backup Preparer Information

  1. To back up preparer information, check the box next to Backup Preparer Master Information.
  2. Click Finish to upload the files. A confirmation message will appear when files are backed up.

Restore Client Returns from Backup Files Saved Locally

  1. Click File > Restore > Client Return(s).
  2. Choose Local, then click Next.
  3. Browse to your backup location to choose the files to restore. To restore all returns, click Select All. Click Next.
  4. Browse to the restore location. Default is C:\TaxAct\TaxAct 2026 Professional Edition\Client Data\[Practice ID]. Click Finish.

You may be prompted to overwrite any files of the same name that exist. Be sure you are restoring from the correct file before proceeding. A confirmation message will appear when files have been restored.

Restore Client Returns from Backup Files Saved on TaxAct Servers (Enterprise Editions Only)

  1. Click File > Restore > Client Return(s).
  2. Select the Online radio button, then click Next.
  3. Sign in to your TaxAct Account.
  4. Select the return(s) you want to restore. To restore all returns, click Select All.
    • To restore Master Information at the same time as client returns, check the Restore Preparer Master Information box, then click Next.
  5. Click the Authorize button. This will send an email to the address associated with your account.
  6. Leaving the TaxAct Restore Wizard open, click the link in the e-mail. Follow the steps to enter the authorization information into TaxAct and submit.
  7. Return to the TaxAct program and click Next.
  8. Browse to the restore location. Default is C:\TaxAct\TaxAct 2026 Professional Edition\Client Data\[Practice ID]. Click Finish.

You may be prompted to overwrite any files of the same name that exist. Be sure you are restoring from the correct file before proceeding. A confirmation message will appear when files have been restored.

 

Related Links