download 2016 return filed with turbotax

[lylebresler]

How can I download 2016 return filed with turbotax! I followed all the online directions multiple times and it's just a giant circle

Why is this since I paid Turbo Tax already for the service????

[mesquitebean]

Free access to returns expires at some point unless you use a paid edition each year.  This FAQ explains the "why" that you are asked to pay.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/when-does-access-to-my-prior-year-turbotax-...

TurboTax instructions for unlocking a return can be confusing.  I can give you better straightforward steps once I ask you some questions.

Was your 2016 return prepared with Online TurboTax?  If so, log in to your account and look in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents."   Choose tax year 2016, and look for a link to download/print the PDF.   Do you find evidence of your return there OK, but when you try to download, does it ask you to pay?      If that's your situation, we can tell you how to pay to unlock your 2016 return.   The method to unlock it depends on what all you have done with your 2018 return.

If you find no evidence at all of your 2016 online return in that account, we can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.    A return prepared in desktop software (CD/download) will not be in an online account.

Please answer all of the following:

1. Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one still in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return started/prepared in Free Edition?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the 2016 online return?

We can tell you a precise lists of steps to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[mesquitebean]

Was your 2016 return prepared with Online TurboTax?  If so, log in to your account and look in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents."   Choose tax year 2016, and look for a link to download/print the PDF.   Do you find evidence of your return there OK, but when you try to download, does it ask you to pay?      If that's your situation, we can tell you how to pay to unlock your 2016 return.   The method to unlock it depends on what all you have done with your 2018 return.

If you find no evidence at all of your 2016 online return in that account, we can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.    A return prepared in desktop software (CD/download) will not be in an online account.

Please answer all of the following:

1. Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one still in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return started/prepared in Free Edition?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the 2016 online return?

We can tell you a precise lists of steps to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[mesquitebean]

Was your 2016 return prepared with Online TurboTax?  If so, log in to your account and look in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents."   Choose tax year 2016, and look for a link to download/print the PDF.   Do you find evidence of your return there OK, but when you try to download, does it ask you to pay?      If that's your situation, we can tell you how to pay to unlock your 2016 return.   The method to unlock it depends on what all you have done with your 2018 return.

If you find no evidence at all of your 2016 online return in that account, we can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.    A return prepared in desktop software (CD/download) will not be in an online account.

Please answer all of the following:

1. Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one still in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return started/prepared in Free Edition?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the 2016 online return?

We can tell you a precise lists of steps to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[mesquitebean]

Was your 2016 return prepared with Online TurboTax?  If so, log in to your account and look in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents."   Choose tax year 2016, and look for a link to download/print the PDF.   Do you find evidence of your return there OK, but when you try to download, does it ask you to pay?      If that's your situation, we can tell you how to pay to unlock your 2016 return.   The method to unlock it depends on what all you have done with your 2018 return.

If you find no evidence at all of your 2016 online return in that account, we can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.    A return prepared in desktop software (CD/download) will not be in an online account.

Please answer all of the following:

1. Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one still in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return started/prepared in Free Edition?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the 2016 online return?

We can tell you a precise lists of steps to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[Chloe Millburn 123]

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. No

[mesquitebean]

@ Chloe Millburn 123 

Are you a different person from the threadowner?   If so, this may get kinda confusing since you've posted in someone else's thread who has not yet had a full answer, and whose situation may be different than yours.

I'm not sure about your answer to #1, since it was actually 3 possibilities, and you just said "Yes."  But in any case, are you saying you have already filed a 2018 return, but it's in a different account than the locked 2016 return--i.e., that you have multiple accounts?    If so, that's problematic, and there are 3 ways to proceed.

The quickest method would be to start a dummy 2018 Free Edition return in the account with the locked prior return just long enough to upgrade to PLUS and pay the 19.99.   We can tell you the steps.  You can do all that on your own, without having to phone Customer Support.    While that would unlock the prior return, you could have some confusion in the future.  Next year you'd have to remember that you have 2 accounts with a 2018 return in it, so that you prepare your 2019 return in the correct account; i.e., the one with your finished and filed 2018 return.   The other drawback is that this method would not automatically extend another year of access in the account in which you have already filed for 2018, although you might be able to phone Customer Support, tell them the situation, and ask them to.

The other choice would be to upgrade your already-filed 2018 return to PLUS and pay the 19.99.   However, that would not automatically unlock the prior return in the other account.   Having paid for PLUS, you'd then have phone support privilege.    You'd then have to phone Customer Support, tell them you paid in that account and ask them to unlock the return in the other account.  

Ideally, in these complicated situations it would be good if one could simply phone Customer Support and ask them to work out this situation.  It's possible they might just unlock the return.  But since you don't yet have PLUS, then you don't have phone support.    Without PLUS, the only way for you to communicate with TurboTax Support is through Twitter or Facebook.   If you want to try that to see if they will just unlock the 2016 return for you in the other account, or advise you on a better approach, here's how to reach them through messaging at Twitter or Facebook:

https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax
or
https://www.facebook.com/turbotax

We can tell you the steps when you decide which of the approaches you want to take.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript