Can I use 2023 TurboTax software to calculate and print my 2022 Taxes?
Just got my TurboTax software update in the mail but it clearly says "2023 tax year" on the package. I still need to do my 2022 taxes (I know, I'm super behind but had an extension). Is there any way to get this version to let me go back and use 2022 tax forms? I really just need to be able to calculate everything correctly and then print the forms so I can mail them in. I don't want to buy another copy of the software for the previous year if I don't have to. Has anyone tried using current year software for previous year returns?
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Lucas Notre-Dame
Unfortunately, you can't use 2023 TurboTax software to prepare 2022 tax returns. Tax software is specifically programmed with the tax laws, forms, and calculations for a specific tax year. The 2023 version has all the updated tax brackets, deductions, credits, and forms for the 2023 tax year, which are different from 2022. You have a few options though. First, you can purchase the 2022 version of TurboTax if it's still available. Second, you can use the IRS Free File program which might still allow access to 2022 forms. Third, you can download the forms directly from the IRS website (irs.gov) and complete them manually. The IRS keeps prior year forms available for several years.
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Aria Park
•What about the online version of TurboTax? I thought they let you access previous years. Would that be cheaper than buying another copy of the software?
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Lucas Notre-Dame
•Yes, that's actually a great point! TurboTax Online does allow you to prepare returns for previous tax years. You can access the 2022 version through their website, and they typically keep prior year versions available for a few years. The online version might be more cost-effective than purchasing another copy of the desktop software. If you're concerned about cost, you might also want to look into the IRS Free File options, as some of them still let you file 2022 returns for free if you meet certain income requirements.
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Noah Ali
I went through this exact situation last year trying to play catch-up on my taxes. I wasted so much time trying different workarounds until I found out about taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which ended up being a lifesaver. They have this tool that can help you figure out which forms you need and even calculate the right numbers for previous tax years. I was able to upload my documents and they guided me through the whole process for my late filing.
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Chloe Boulanger
•How does it compare to just using the regular TurboTax online for previous years? Does it actually save money or is it just easier to use?
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James Martinez
•I'm a bit skeptical tbh. Can it actually handle all the forms? I have some self-employment stuff and rental property income that makes my taxes complicated. Does it work for more complex situations or just basic W-2 stuff?
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Noah Ali
•It's definitely different from TurboTax online because it helps interpret your specific documents rather than just asking you a bunch of questions. I found it much faster since it could analyze my forms directly and tell me exactly what I needed. For complex situations, that's actually where I found it most helpful. I have a side business with 1099 income and some investment losses, and it handled all that without an issue. It identified some deductions I would have missed because the system recognized patterns in my documents that were deduction-eligible that I wouldn't have known to look for.
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James Martinez
Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that someone mentioned earlier. It actually worked really well for my complicated tax situation! I was super skeptical (as you could probably tell from my question) but it handled my self-employment income and rental property stuff better than I expected. The document analysis saved me hours of manually inputting numbers and double-checking everything. Ended up finding some deductions I totally would have missed too. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck with previous year tax returns.
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Olivia Harris
If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about this issue (which is likely since their wait times are ridiculous), you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used them when I had questions about filing for previous tax years and couldn't get anyone at the IRS to pick up. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Honestly it was weird how well it worked. The agent I spoke with confirmed that I needed to use the correct year's software but also gave me some options for getting access to the forms I needed without buying another software package.
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Alexander Zeus
•Wait how does this even work? Are they somehow jumping the line at the IRS call center or something? Seems kinda sketchy that they can get you through when everyone else has to wait for hours.
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Alicia Stern
•Yeah right. Nothing gets you through to the IRS faster. I've been trying for WEEKS to talk to someone about my 2021 taxes. If this actually worked, everyone would be using it. Sounds like a scam to me.
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Olivia Harris
•They use a system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally picks up, it calls your phone and connects you. It's basically like having someone wait on hold so you don't have to. No, it's definitely not a scam. I was pretty surprised myself since I'd been trying to get through to the IRS for days. The difference is most people don't know about it, and honestly, I was skeptical at first too. But when you've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks, you get desperate enough to try anything.
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Alicia Stern
I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After being super skeptical, I tried it out of sheer frustration after another failed 2-hour wait with the IRS yesterday. It actually worked exactly like they said - I got a call back when an agent was on the line, and I was able to ask about using 2023 software for 2022 taxes. The agent confirmed what others said (you can't use current year software for past years) but helped me access the right forms online for free. Saved me hours of waiting and probably a lot of mistakes if I'd tried to figure it out myself.
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Gabriel Graham
The IRS actually provides free fillable forms on their website that you can use for prior years. Just go to irs.gov and search for "prior year forms." That's what I did when I had to file my 2020 taxes late last year. You don't need any special software!
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Layla Mendes
•I'm not very good at doing taxes manually though... that's why I've always used TurboTax. Are the fillable forms easy to use or do you need to know all the tax rules yourself?
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Gabriel Graham
•You do need to know which forms to fill out and the calculations are all manual - the forms don't do the math for you like TurboTax does. If you're not comfortable with tax rules, this might not be the best option. The Free File Fillable Forms are basically just electronic versions of the paper forms. You'll need to know which schedules to attach and how to calculate everything correctly. If your taxes are simple (like just a W-2 and standard deduction), it might be manageable. But for anything complicated, you might want to look at the prior year software options others have suggested.
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Drake
Has anyone tried using FreeTaxUSA for prior year returns? I heard they let you do previous years for a lot cheaper than TurboTax.
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Sarah Jones
•Yes! I've used FreeTaxUSA for the past 3 tax seasons including filing a 2021 return late last year. They have prior year returns available and it's WAY cheaper than TurboTax. I think I paid like $15 for state filing and federal was free. The interface isn't as fancy but it gets the job done.
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