Can FreeTax import a fairly complex prior year return?

TaxingIssues
TaxingIssues Member Posts: 3 Newcomer
in Filing my taxes

Can FreeTax import a fairly complex prior year return, if so, how accurate is it?

Also, my return was done by a tax preparer and includes a lot of worksheets that are not included when filing from what I understand, should those be removed before uploading?

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Best Answer

  • JanaA
    JanaA FreeTaxUSA Agent Posts: 179 image
    Answer ✓
    Hello,

    Hello TaxingIssues! Great follow-up question! You should actually keep the worksheets in the PDF rather than removing them. The import feature uses worksheets to carry over important information into the software. For example, if you have depreciable business assets, including a depreciation worksheet helps ensure those assets carry over as well.

    We'd recommend importing and then reviewing your account carefully to fill in any gaps as you work through your current year return. The uploading feature cannot import all of the information listed, you will be guided by the software to review each section and may need to reference your worksheets depending on the various credits, deductions, carryovers, etc. that have been reported on your prior year return.

Answers

  • MatthewD
    MatthewD FreeTaxUSA Admin, FreeTaxUSA Agent Posts: 1,001 image
    Hello TaxingIssues,

    We support importing many returns from a variety of tax software products. However, the information we import from those returns may be limited. The information we import is used to help build your account.

    The import can only be done when you first create your account. Once you start your account, the import cannot be done. What we recommend is import your return and then check your account. You may need to fill in some blanks as you start your current year return. For example, certain carryovers.
  • TaxingIssues
    TaxingIssues Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    I understand all of that, but it really doesn't answer my question, which is: Should I include the worksheets on prior year return or remove before uploading?

  • TaxingIssues
    TaxingIssues Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    Thank you JanaA that is the information I was looking for.

  • PAS
    PAS Member Posts: 1 Newcomer

    So my 2024 tax return was done by a tax preparer. How can I send those pdf scanned pages from that 2024 return to FreeTaxUSA so that the information can be used to possibly help with data in my 2025 return. I already have a Delux account open with FreeTaxUSA, and used it to file an extension for my 2025 tax return. Do I open a totally new account in order to input the 2024 information? My impression from reading the FreeTaxUSA site was that the 2024 Tax data would be helpful in completing my 2025 return with FreeTaxUSA. Is that incorrect? I have never used FreeTaxUSA before or done my own taxes before, so I want to get this done as accurately as possible. Should I start over in a new account even though my extension was submitted to the IRS thru FreeTaxUSA and accepted or just forget the whole idea of sending in my 2024 Tax return data?

  • KristineS
    KristineS FreeTaxUSA Agent Posts: 285 image
    Hello PAS,

    Thanks for joining our Community and writing in with your question.

    With FreeTaxUSA, you're prompted at the beginning of account creation to import a tax return prepared elsewhere. If you bypass that opportunity, you're not able to retroactively select it.

    In this case, since you've already created a 2025 account and submitted an extension from that FreeTaxUSA account, you're not able to upload the 2024 tax return in that account.

    In this instance, your best bet is to create a new FreeTaxUSA account and upload the 2024 return at the beginning of creating this new 2025 account.

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