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Installation & Updates

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Running Program Updates

Steps to Check for Program Updates: Open your TaxAct program. Click Online in the upper menu bar. Select Check for Updates from the dropdown menu. Follow the on-screen instructions to select and install the federal or state updates you need. NOTE: This process verifies and installs the latest program updates. Your data will remain intact and will not be lost during the update.

Opening an Online Return in Desktop Program

To open an online return in the Desktop app, you must first have the TaxAct Desktop software installed. See Downloading and Installing TaxAct for steps to download and install the Desktop software. Once the Desktop app is installed, follow the instructions below to open an online return in the program:

NYC-1127 Calculation Update (2025)

The New York City Department of Finance (NYC DoF) has made changes to the calculation of Form NYC-1127 related to certain school tax credits. Form NYC-1127 filers are no longer permitted to claim the following credits on Schedule B: Line A1 – NYC School Tax Credit (fixed amount) Line A2 – NYC School Tax Credit […]

Upgrading Your TaxAct Software

To upgrade to a different TaxAct product, follow the steps below. Steps vary depending on whether you use the Online or Desktop program. Online Dashboards Open your TaxAct return. In the navigation pane on the left, click Resources. Under My Return, click the Upgrade Options tile. Locate the name of the TaxAct software you’d like to […]

Federal Software Updates

As 2025 TaxAct federal editions are updated, details will be added below to highlight what’s new in each release. Download Information | State Program Updates | TaxAct forms 1040 Edition 2025 Limitations Form 1062 – Deferral of Tax on Gain From the Sale or Exchange of Qualified Farmland Property to Qualified Farmers is not available. […]

Reviewing Your Return with Double-Check

You can easily review your return manually, or with the TaxAct Double-Check feature, which can identify missing or incomplete information that may bring your return to the attention of the IRS, and alert you about possible tax saving opportunities.   Manual Review Click About or Basic Info, then click Continue on each screen, visually reviewing […]

Donation Assistant

Donation Assistant is a useful way to calculate the Fair Market Value (FMV) of donated items, such as items donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or any other charitable or non-profit organizations. This calculator provides certified resale values, so you can accurately determine the value of your donated items and maximize your deduction. Follow the steps […]

Individuals – Active Forms in Forms and Schedules

To determine which forms/schedules are “active” in the current return, as opposed to those forms that are not being used in the current return, you need to view the Forms and Schedules list. Active forms/schedules are either automatically created (and required as a part of every return), or you have entered information in the TaxAct […]

Blue or Red Fields – Calculated Lines, Worksheets, Overrides

The data entry fields are color coded to indicate the type of field it is. There are three types of fields, user entry fields (green), calculated fields (blue) and overridden fields (red). Calculated fields (displayed in blue) are fields in which the program has calculated the data. The data could be text, a number or a […]

Macintosh Version Availability

At this time, there are no plans to release a TaxAct Desktop product for Mac operating systems. However, Mac users can still complete their tax returns by using TaxAct Online Products, which are fully compatible with most modern web browsers. For details on supported browsers and system compatibility, please visit our System Requirements page.

Prior Year Software No Longer Available

Due to maintenance and compatibility concerns, TaxAct no longer provides software for tax years prior to 2022. Filing a Return for 2021 or Earlier: Visit the IRS website to print the necessary tax forms for your specific tax year. For additional assistance, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040.

Individuals – Install/Update a State

You need a TaxAct account to sign in to the program, and you need to purchase your TaxAct Desktop products before installing. See for more information. Installing State Editions If you have already purchased a state return, Sign in to your TaxAct account online. Click Orders and Downloads. Click Download next to the state/return-type you […]

Troubleshooting TaxAct Installation Issues

I downloaded the program file but can’t find it on my computer. How do I find it? Try any of the following: Repeat the download process, Use keyboard shortcut CTRL+J in your web browser, or Find the Downloads menu item or icon on your Web browser. You can also use Windows search to locate the […]

Finding Download to Install

After you click Download to download the TaxAct program, the [filename].exe should appear at the bottom of your screen. If the file does not appear at the bottom of your screen, try one of these options: Check your browser downloads. From within your browser, use your keyboard to press Ctrl + J, and you can […]

What Do I Need to File?

Click any link below to go to our checklist for that return.  Complete the checklist before completing your TaxAct® return to save time. 1040 Individual Income Tax Return 1065 – Partnership Return 1120S – S Corporation Return 1120 – C Corporation Return 1041 Estates & Trusts 990 – Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax

Preparing for Next Year – Business Edition

TaxAct provides tools to help you plan for next year’s tax return. To access the planning tools: From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Next Year (on smaller devices, click in the top left corner of your screen, then click Next Year). Continue with the interview process to prepare for next year. Planning tools […]

System Requirements

The TaxAct online products require the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or version 13 or higher of Safari.  TaxAct desktop products require Windows 10 or higher.  Go to our TaxAct System Requirements webpage for details.

“TaxAct Final Version Not Found” During State Install

If you receive a “Tax Act Final Version Not Found” error when attempting to install a TaxAct® Desktop state module, the error message is most likely caused by one of these issues: The Federal program needs to be installed first.  Sign in to your TaxAct Account online, click Orders and Downloads, then download and install the […]

Preparing for Next Year

TaxAct® provides tools to help you plan for next year’s tax return. To access the planning tools: From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Next Year (on smaller devices, click in the top left corner of your screen, then click Next Year). Continue with the interview process to prepare for next year. Let’s […]