Trying to access [rior tax returns (2016, 2017, 2022) that were filed and saved but I can't access them in my Documents file. How do I access them?

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
October 10, 2025
1 reply
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TurboTax Online

Mike9241

Level 15

Turbotax deletes data after 7 years so 2016 and 2017 are gone. the IRS also deletes data that old. You would have had to save a PDF copy on your computer's hard drive (not Turbotax servers). To open a 2022 tax file online in 2025, you will need to purchase and download the TurboTax software for the year 2022. TurboTax Online and the mobile app are only available for the current tax year, 2024

Mike9241

xmasbaby0

Level 15

You have to access your own account and/or print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Start a 2024 return online and enter some personal information so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/27010

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m5y4ch1y

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx

Account Recovery

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-tax-file-computer/L0XJvPaJr_US_en_US?uid=m6gufxei

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/data-systems/find-tax-data-file-mac/L4VNGm33S_US_en_US?uid=m6guhab0

You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30, an actual copy of your tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

SAVE YOUR TAX RETURNS !

EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records. That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m6guj526

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-2021-turbotax-online-return-pdf/L8dHfRkpT_US_en_US?uid=m78eb8pc

In order to transfer a past year return to the new return you need the tax file

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/save-turbotax-online-return-tax-data-file/L4xwOG3LF_US_en_US?uid=m6guk3xl

NOTE: TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years. Returns older than seven years are purged.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**