Individual – Importing Prior Year TaxAct Returns
The Import feature is included in all the TaxAct programs at no extra charge. This feature allows you to import key information from last year’s return, saving you valuable time. There is no need to enter information such as your name, Social Security Number (SSN), address, etc. You will be given the option to choose which information is transferred using our Import Manager, and you can always edit the information in the current year return after importing.
Import from Prior Year
When you import a prior year return, anything previously entered in the current return will be overwritten. You need to import the prior year return, then edit your current year return. You can’t import the prior year return if you already printed or filed the current year return.
TaxAct Online
- You are prompted to update your return from last year when you create and open your current year return the first time.
- If you did not select to do so, you can get back to that import option by going to Resources > Topics Assistant > search “Import” > Select Import – Last Year > View Topic.
- Select your prior-year return in the drop list and click Transfer.
- Once the import is complete, the About dashboard displays showing information about your tax family (you, your spouse, and dependents, if applicable).
- Verify your carryover information, make additional entries if needed, then click Continue.
- The Income dashboard opens.
- Income that was updated from last year shows under the My Income section. The status of each form is displayed.
- Click Start to enter current year information/amounts for each updated form.
- Click on the three-dot icon and select Remove from return to remove an item that is no longer needed.
- Once you have entered all income items, click Continue at the bottom.
- The Deductions & Credits dashboard opens. Review or add other information as needed under My Tax Breaks.
- Once you have entered all deduction and credit items, click Continue at the bottom.
- The Taxes & Miscellaneous dashboard opens. Review carryover information and complete any necessary information. Select from the list of other forms and add/complete as needed.
- Proceed through review and filing.
- From within your return, click Basic Info, then click Data Import (on smaller devices, click in the top left corner of your screen, then click Basic Info).
- In the Select a 2024 tax return drop-down, select the return you want to import, then click Transfer.
- You will see a notice that Importing your 2024 return into your 2025 return will remove all previously entered data in this 2025 return. Proceed? Click OK to proceed.
- Confirm the information and click Continue, or click Clear and Start Fresh, if needed.
Import from Another Tax Program
You can upload your prior-year tax return in PDF format, and we’ll pull in the details we need, which you can review for accuracy.
TaxAct Online
- From within your TaxAct return, click Basic Info, then click Data Import.
- On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection.
- Below Did you use TaxAct Desktop last year?, click import your 20XX PDF return.
- Click Browse, click the prior year return PDF, then click Open.
- You will see a notice that Importing your 20XX return into your 20YY return will remove all previously entered data in this 20YY return. Proceed? Click OK to proceed.
- The import may take a few minutes to process. Review the imported details and click Continue, or click Clear and Start Fresh, if needed.
Related Links
Professional Editions – Importing Prior Year TaxAct Returns