I'd like to further comment that I would not call this a "hard decision" on Intuit's part, but more of an irresponsible or reckless decision to remove this access without first notifying its paying customers of the decision. Notification, coming in the form of an email from "Intuit Profile Tax" advising of this new policy, like they send out emails when a new release is available, when they are having sales on the software, or when it's time for me to renew. Not just some policy statement buried on their website that only a properly formatted search can find. Yes.... I had to "Google" what happened to my old tax returns.
These old tax files are definitely not readable by the updated Profile software in its current form. The software returns an "Unrecognized file format error" if it is open and you try to load a Profile T1 return for 2007 or earlier.
Lets say I am able to track down a pre-2020 version of Profile by calling the suggested 1-800 number. Am I able to install multiple instances of Profile on my computer? I would think not. What about licencing? If I have another computer laying around that I can install an older version of Profile on, can I use my existing licence code for that or do I need to go through the "suspend my licence" process on my main computer every time I need access to an old tax file?
Obviously we don't prepare T1 returns and T2 return for tax years 2001 through 2007 any longer. However, business and rental clients do have fixed asset additions and disposals during those years, and not having access to accurately track additions & disposals, as well as properly calculate recaptured capital cost allowance after a property or business sale is more than just an "inconvenience" to your Profile customers.
I would have never thought we would have been deliberately locked out of our old tax files. It's ironic that I can quite easily access to my Taxbyte T1 returns for the years 1992 through 2000 on any computer.
