What Happens to Your Information When You Switch
Until you submit, your return stays with the software provider, and the IRS has nothing on file. That’s why you can switch at this stage without any IRS steps.
The catch is that tax software providers generally don’t pass in-progress returns to each other. Your draft stays behind, so you’ll rebuild the return in the new software. Some products can import a prior-year return PDF or your W-2, but don’t count on your current draft moving over. To make re-entry faster:
- Download or print every page you’ve finished in the old software.
- Keep your source documents, like your W-2, in one place.
- Look up last year’s adjusted gross income before you start (more on that below).
- Compare your new totals against your printed copy before you file.
If you’re rebuilding from scratch, it helps to know how to file Form 1040 online step by step.
Switching Before vs. After You File
Timing matters. The IRS accepts only one original return per Social Security number per tax year.
| Where your return stands | Can you switch software? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Started but not submitted | Yes | Save your work, then re-enter it in the new software |
| E-filed and accepted | No, not for a second original return | File an amended return on Form 1040-X if your original return needs to be changed |
Once your return is accepted, a second e-filed original from different software is rejected as a duplicate. Any changes after that go on Form 1040-X.
What Your New Tax Software Will Ask For
When you e-file your own return, you sign it by entering your prior-year adjusted gross income (AGI) or your prior-year Self-Select PIN. AGI is the income figure on line 11 of your Form 1040. Software generally fills this in for returning customers. As a first-time user of a new product, you may have to enter it yourself.
- If you have an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), you must enter it when prompted. It verifies your identity instead of your AGI or PIN.
- If you’re a first-time filer over 16, enter zero as your prior-year AGI.
How to Find Last Year’s AGI
If you don’t have last year’s Form 1040 handy, you can still find your AGI:
- Sign in to your IRS online account and check the Tax Records tab to see it right away.
- Log in to last year’s software, if you can, to view an electronic copy of your return.
- Order a transcript by mail, which arrives in 5–10 calendar days.
- Call the IRS automated line at 800-908-9946 to request a transcript by mail and allow 5–10 days.
Switching Close to the Tax Deadline
Re-entering a return takes time, so watch the calendar if you switch late. Calendar-year filers generally file by April 15, or the next business day if that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
If you need more time, you can get an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 4868 by the original due date. The extension covers filing only, so any tax you owe is still due by the original date.
