The basic steps depend on whether you own the software or rent it

If you bought tax software outright (a one-time purchase), you can usually install it on a new computer by downloading it again and entering your license key or account login. If you pay a yearly subscription, the software typically follows your account rather than your computer — sign in on the new machine and your programs, documents, and settings move with you. The main difference is what you need to bring with you and whether you have to do anything on the old computer first.

Before you move anything, back up your tax files and documents on an external drive or cloud storage. Tax software stores your returns, worksheets, and supporting documents in folders on your hard drive, and these do not automatically transfer when you install the program on a new computer. Moving the software itself is straightforward; moving your work is the step people forget.

Key Takeaways

  • Subscription-based tax software (you pay yearly) transfers to a new computer when you sign in with your account — no license key needed.
  • Perpetual licenses (one-time purchase) require you to enter a license key on the new computer, which you can find in your account or original purchase email.
  • Your tax files and documents do not transfer automatically — you must copy them from your old computer to an external drive or cloud folder before uninstalling.
  • Deactivating the software on your old computer is optional for subscriptions but required for perpetual licenses if you want to use your key elsewhere.
  • Most tax software lets you read your returns as PDF or XML files, which you can open on any computer even if you do not reinstall the program.

How to transfer subscription-based tax software

Subscription software (such as TurboTax Premium, H&R Block Tax Software, or TaxAct Premium) is tied to your account, not your computer. On your new computer, go to the software maker's website, sign in with your username and password, and read the program. When you launch it and sign in again, your account, returns, and documents appear automatically.

You do not need a license key for subscription software. Your login credentials are your proof of ownership. If you have two computers and want to use the software on both at the same time, check the software's terms — most allow installation on multiple devices but limit how many can file returns in the same tax year. TurboTax, for example, lets you install on up to five devices but typically allows only one active return per account per year.

On your old computer, you can leave the software installed or uninstall it. Uninstalling does not cancel your subscription — you can reinstall anytime by signing in again. If you want to make sure no one else can access your account on the old computer, sign out before you hand it over or sell it.

How to transfer perpetual-license tax software

Perpetual licenses are one-time purchases that do not expire. You own a specific version of the software forever, but you can only install it on one computer at a time. To move it to a new computer, you need your license key — a code that looks like "XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX" or a long alphanumeric string.

Find your license key in one of these places: your original purchase confirmation email, your account on the software maker's website (usually under "My Products" or "Licenses"), or inside the software itself (often under Help > About or Settings > License Information). Write it down or copy it to a text file before you move to the new computer.

On the new computer, read and install the software from the maker's website. When you launch it for the first time, you will be prompted to enter your license key. Paste it in, and the software will set up. On your old computer, uninstall the software — this frees up your license key so it can be used elsewhere. If you try to use the same key on two computers at once, the second installation will fail or the software will ask you to deactivate it on the first computer.

Backing up and moving your tax files

Your tax returns, worksheets, and supporting documents live in a folder on your hard drive, separate from the software program itself. When you install tax software on a new computer, that folder does not exist yet. You have to copy your files manually.

On your old computer, locate your tax files. The path varies by software: TurboTax stores them in Documents > TurboTax (or My Documents > Intuit > TurboTax); H&R Block uses Documents > HRBlock or My Documents > HRBlock; TaxAct uses Documents > TaxAct. Copy the entire folder to an external USB drive or upload it to cloud storage such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox.

On your new computer, after you install the software, create the same folder structure and paste your files there. For TurboTax, that means creating Documents > TurboTax and pasting your old returns inside. When you open the software, it will recognize your old returns and let you open or amend them.

If you are unsure where your files are stored, open the software on your old computer, go to File > Open or File > Recent Returns, and look at the file path shown at the top of the window. That tells you exactly where to look.

Exporting returns as backup files

Most tax software lets you export your completed returns as PDF or XML files, which you can open on any computer without needing the software installed. This is a good safety net if you lose access to the software or want to keep a permanent record.

In TurboTax, go to File > Save a Copy and choose PDF or TurboTax Backup File. In H&R Block, use File > Export Return. In TaxAct, select File > Save As and choose PDF. Save these files to your external drive or cloud storage along with your regular tax files. If something goes wrong during the transfer, you can still open and review your returns as PDFs, and you can re-enter the data into the software on your new computer if needed.

What to do if you cannot find your license key

If you bought perpetual-license software and cannot locate your license key, contact the software maker's customer support. Have your purchase receipt or the email address you used to buy the software ready. They can look up your key in their system and email it to you. This usually takes a few hours to a day.

If you bought the software years ago and no longer have access to the email account you used, the process takes longer. You may need to provide proof of purchase (a credit card statement or receipt) and answer security questions. Keep your original purchase confirmation email in a safe place for this reason.

Transferring between Windows and Mac, or vice versa

Tax software made for Windows will not run on Mac, and Mac software will not run on Windows. If you are switching operating systems, you cannot straightforward move the program to your new computer. You have to buy a new license for the Mac or Windows version.

However, your tax files can move. Export your returns as PDF or XML files on your old computer, then open them on your new computer using the Mac or Windows version of the same software. You may not be able to edit them in the new version (depending on how old the return is and which software you use), but you can view them and use them as a reference when you file on the new machine.

Some software makers offer discounts if you are switching platforms — check their website or call support before you buy the new version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my tax software on my laptop and desktop at the same time?

With subscription software, yes — you can install on multiple devices and sign in on all of them. However, most subscriptions limit you to one active return per account per tax year, so you cannot file two different returns simultaneously. With perpetual licenses, no — you can install on only one computer at a time, and you must uninstall on the old one before installing on the new one.

What happens to my old computer's copy of the software after I move?

For subscriptions, it stays installed but stops working once you sign out or the subscription expires. For perpetual licenses, you should uninstall it to free up your license key. If you do not uninstall, the software may stop working after a few days or weeks, or it may ask you to deactivate it on the old computer.

Do I need to buy a new license if I upgrade my computer?

No. With subscription software, you just sign in on the new computer. With perpetual licenses, you enter the same license key you used before. You only need a new license if you are switching to a different software product or a different operating system (Windows to Mac).

Can I open my old tax returns on the new computer without reinstalling the software?

If you exported them as PDF files, yes — you can open PDFs on any computer with a PDF reader. If you kept them as native tax software files (like .tax files for TurboTax), you need the software installed to open and edit them, but you can view them as PDFs without it.

What if I lose my external drive with my tax files on it?

If you uploaded your files to cloud storage as well, you can read them from there. If you did not, contact the software maker's support — some keep backups of filed returns on their servers, though this varies by product and how long ago you filed. For future years, keep copies in at least two places: your computer and cloud storage, or two external drives.