Turbotax 2020 won't load

My iMAC is running on macOS High sierra 10.13.6 and I just purchased Turbotax 2020 and it won't open

because it appears I need at least 10.14. I have checked for updates on my iMAC, which is only 2 years old

and per there are not updates available. How can update??

iMac, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jan 4, 2021 11:42 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 7, 2021 9:56 PM

The App Store Updates page only informs you of updates available for the OS you are running.


Installing a newer OS is called an upgrade.


Which OS you can upgrade to will be governed by which model and year your mac is.


Click on the  top left of your screen click on About This Mac to find out the year of your mac.


For Mojave or Catalina,


Open Safari and click on this link, 


How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support


Go to Check Compatibility to see if your mac qualifies for the OS upgrade you want.


Then go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install.


If you want to or are able to install Big Sur, open Safari and click on the link below.


How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS ******.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you are considering upgrading to Catalina or Big Sur be warned they do not support 32bit apps.

Your Mac is probably running 32bit apps and these will need to be updated to 64bit apps,

some updates may be free, some may be paid. Use this app to discover which apps you have

are 32bit, https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/ then contact the developers of the software to see

if they are providing 64bit updates or alternatives.

43 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 7, 2021 9:56 PM in response to farkwood

The App Store Updates page only informs you of updates available for the OS you are running.


Installing a newer OS is called an upgrade.


Which OS you can upgrade to will be governed by which model and year your mac is.


Click on the  top left of your screen click on About This Mac to find out the year of your mac.


For Mojave or Catalina,


Open Safari and click on this link, 


How to get old versions of macOS – Apple Support


Go to Check Compatibility to see if your mac qualifies for the OS upgrade you want.


Then go to the Download OS section and click on the OS you want to install.


If you want to or are able to install Big Sur, open Safari and click on the link below.


How to upgrade to macOS Big Sur - Apple Support


Before upgrading make a full back up of your Mac.


Check that third party apps you use have updates available for the new OS.

https://roaringapps.com

Check that your printers/ scanners etc have updated drivers and software available for the new OS.


Connect your mac to your router via cable rather than rely on WiFi.

Do not use your mac while it is downloading

and do not use any other devices that share the same internet connection.


If the App Store says ‘Open’ then it is detecting a previous download of the install app

go to the Applications folder locate Install macOS ******.app.

Move it to the Trash, empty the Trash.

Restart, click on the link again, the App Store should say ‘Get' or 'Download'.


If you are considering upgrading to Catalina or Big Sur be warned they do not support 32bit apps.

Your Mac is probably running 32bit apps and these will need to be updated to 64bit apps,

some updates may be free, some may be paid. Use this app to discover which apps you have

are 32bit, https://www.stclairsoft.com/Go64/ then contact the developers of the software to see

if they are providing 64bit updates or alternatives.

Feb 7, 2021 2:21 PM in response to debndaz687

For the past 4 days I have been trying to get TurboTax 2020 to run on my iMac. The OS I was using not up to the 10.14 that is needed. Should have OS at least 10.14, Mojave. I had High Sierra 10.13.6. Unfortunately, to update, I installed Big Sur 11.2, the lates. BIG MISTAKE! After hours on the phone and computer with two tech support groups, and then 2 hours on the phone and computer with Turbotax support, it was concluded that TT will not run on 11.2 Big Sur, also it has problems with 11.1, and also gives problems under Catalina. The best and only option according to TT support is to go back to Mojave.

It is my Suggestion that TT send out a notice to all Mac users of this problem and give a workable solution. I have 40 years of computer programming experience. This appears to first be a Big Sur problem. A lot of other application are not working under it. And the when BS is fixed, TT can fix their product. I appreciate all of the comments and efforts of those who have contributed to this discussion. Very Helpful. Thanks

Mar 12, 2021 1:13 PM in response to darimi

After trying many fixes for making Turbo Tax 2020 work on an iMac, (it worked in Jan to mid Feb

and them NADA!!!!!

After spending MANY hours with TT support and Apple support, to no avail, I just returned my

TT for refund.

I then purchased the H&R tax package, installed it, and I got back in business. Naturally all the

information from TT2019 did NOT port over, so I had to enter a bunch of stuff, but eventually

I completed my tax return and used the Web to transmit both the US and State to the proper

addresses. I received confirmation from IRS and State that they had received the tax submittal.


Besides loosing MANY days in attempts to get the TT2020 to work, the extra effort to switch

to the new SW, and the weeks of "agony", I am satisfied that H & R did what is needed, but

I lost faith in TT for not coming up with a fix or a work around for the many TT users that

have iMacs. TT would not even admit, or inform their Service people about the incompatibility

between IOS and TT 2020.


Sad!!!!


Don S.


Don

Feb 11, 2021 3:54 PM in response to Bobby_Larson76

I have a new status to report on the turbo tax won't load problem. After trying the uninstall then reinstall procedures (about 3 times) I was able to make some progress in getting turbo tax to load -- although there was an error message (it was blank - no description) which I ignored. Note: If I didn't ignore it (i.e., send it to Turbo Tax) the program crashed. If I ignored it, the application loaded successfully to the point where I could start a tax return. I didn't do this right away. Subsequently, last evening, I got a desk top message from Apple that there was an OS update available -- which I did. The update installed Big Sur 11.2.1. When I started Turbo Tax 2020, there was an update available for that software as well (which is fairly common). This time there was no error message presented. Today, I decided to go ahead and work on a tax return. It is going well -- so far.

Feb 18, 2021 10:48 AM in response to EStraw

Running Big Sur 11.2.1 on 2019 MacBook Pro. Turbo Tax ran fine on Mohave for 2019 but 2020 version will not open on Big Sur nor will it open on older MacBook running High Sierra. After 2 calls and several hours with Turbo Tax tech support they said it is an Apple problem. After 2 calls and an OS re-install Apple says it is a Turbo Tax problem. I bought H&R Block Deluxe + State version and it ran fine and even loaded the history from last year's Turbo Tax return. I'll be taking Turbo Tax back to Costco for a return.

Feb 17, 2021 9:27 PM in response to farkwood

After trying unsuccessfully to upgrade MacOS from High Sierra 10.13 to something at least 10.14 to run TurboTax Deluxe 2020 (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur), I did my taxes using cellphone, TurboTax App. The license code from CD purchase from Costco was “invalid” when I tried to use it to pay for online filings. I successfully returned CD to Costco for refund. As for my 2012 Mac Pro, Genius Bar at Apple no longer supports as it’s too old. Will need to buy new laptop but not willing to do online - will wait for Apple stores to reopen. Thanks Costco for allowing return. PSA - TurboTax Deluxe 2020 requires higher than High Sierra OS. If unable to upgrade, do online via App.

Feb 23, 2021 3:33 PM in response to farkwood

Read the fine print. TurboTax is incompatible with Mac Big Sur OSX 11.2.1. Use online TurboTax and pay before you may print and or E-File. H&R Block fine print also notes incompatible with Mac Big Sur.

If you have an iPad another procedure is download free TurboTax App and you will be doing your tax return on line and you must pay before you may print or E-File.

Feb 24, 2021 9:12 AM in response to Ivandamirb

In discussions with Apple and TurboTax no fix is forthcoming at this time. We may use an online version with Big Sur 11.2.1, requiring payment before printing and or E-Filing. With an iPad we may download free TurboTax App and do taxes on line, again requiring payment before printing and or E-Filing.

H&R Block notes in fine print their product is incompatible with Big Sur 11.2.1.

Feb 4, 2021 10:14 AM in response to debndaz687

I had the exact same problem described above -- running Big Sur 11.2 on my iMac. TurboTax 2020 was running OK for several days but eventually got the message "whoops seems we hit a snag". When this initially happened I was able to continue the program, however the next day, TurboTax 2020 would not load at all. I deleted everything and tried re-installing TurboTax (from my CD). This did not help. Note: the evening before that is when I updated my Mac OS Big Sur to 11.2. I decided to call TurboTax tech support, and was advised that software purchased from a third party can been a problem. So I bought a new download version directly from TurboTax. That also did not work. I called TurboTax support again and did a screen save with the technician so she could observe what was going on. After trying a number of things, she concluded the problem was most likely with my computer and suggested contacting Apple Support. Note: TurboTax 2019 has the same "won't load" problem. TurboTax 2018, however, does load successfully. Help!

Feb 4, 2021 4:01 PM in response to bwr1796

Well that’s worrisome. I spent 3 hours today with Apple support (after being on the phone all day yesterday with TurboTax support) and they finally got it running by adding a “new user” and having me sign in with that. It did open and run but I didn’t try actually using it. From what your saying I’m not optimistic it’s going to keep running long enough for me to complete my taxes. The bright side is Apple support is great. Very professional and knowledgeable. TurboTax support treated me like it was my fault that it wasn’t working.

Feb 5, 2021 6:47 AM in response to bwr1796

Let me know how that goes. I was walked through the entire uninstall/reinstall progress step by step with screen sharing enabled. It didn't solve the problem. Also, the TurboTax support tech did give me a new license code which I downloaded from their site and that one can't be downloaded/installed successfully either. More than 7 hours with TurboTax support and getting close to 5 hours of Apple support.

Feb 5, 2021 2:03 PM in response to debndaz687

I spent a lot of time today trying to uninstall and re-install the 2020 Application. I didn't have any guidance for following the uninstall process so I'm sure I missed some items. I wished hey had an uninstall program. After the second try I got got a little farther in starting the program when a blank error message appeared on the screen (no description). I clicked to send that to TurboTax and the program crashed (as before). I went through the whole routine a third time -- being as careful as I could with the uninstall process. This time the software started up. I did get the blank error message -- but ignored it. After that, the program actually progressed to the stage "Ready To Start a Return." I closed the program, re-booted the computer and tried starting it again. It did start (with the blank error message -- which I ignored). I guess this is some sort of progress, but with zero confidence. Haven't talked with Turbo Tax yet about this.

Feb 5, 2021 2:22 PM in response to bwr1796

Also, did you find any Intuit/Turbotax items in your library? When the TurboTax support person walked me through doing this we opened every file in the library and there weren't any Intuit/TurboTax entries. We had put 2020 in the trash and deleted as instructed and when that didn't work we did a shut down and restart. When the program still wouldn't run is when we went searching through the library. But, as I said there was absolutely nothing there. This is so weird.

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Turbotax 2020 won't load

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