How to get copies of past years tax returns

[BrandiS · Accepted solution]

Here's how to obtain copies of a prior year return(s) you filed in TurboTax Online:

1. Sign into your TurboTax account (if not already)
2. Click on My TurboTax  (click on My Tax Timeline in the drop down menu)
3. Scroll down where is says "Prior Year Return(s)" click on Load My Tax Timeline
   
4. On the Tax Timeline screen, click the tax year you need
5. On the right side, select Download/print return (PDF) (if you just need a printout)

If you don't see your tax year listed, you may have multiple accounts. https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/

Hope this was helpful!

[tiffitzmuskrat]

It doesn't say "My TurboTax" or have a dropdown with "My Tax Timeline" anywhere on my screen.

It just says "TurboTax" "Search", "help", "Intuit Account", and "sign out" are the other options.

[TerukoL]

You can access your prior year returns using the Documents tab in the navigation. 

• When you sign in, make sure you're using the same TurboTax account (with the same username) as in prior years.
• Select Documents from the navigation when it appears.
• Use the drop-down menu at the top of the screen to choose the tax year you want and then select Download PDF.

If you filed your 2018 taxes with TurboTax, and would like to receive a copy to complete this year's tax return, please click, How do I access a prior year return?

If you did not file your 2018 taxes with TurboTax, and would like to receive a copy to complete this year's tax return, please click Can I get a copy of my tax return from the IRS?

[cpearce47]

Turbo Tax would not let me access the prior year's return without paying for the current year.  Kind of a bummer since I paid for last year's return at the time

[AkinaLO]

You will always have the option of ordering your tax transcript for free from the IRS. Please review the following article with instructions to order your tax transcript. How do I get a copy of my tax return or transcript ...

[maciassk]

Where are Documents in the navigation pane? ?

[AshleyLO]

@maciassk Which TurboTax product are you trying to access your prior return on? If you're using TurboTax Online, once you sign in to your TurboTax account, the Documents tab is directly below Tax home on the left side of your screen. If you still have difficulty locating it, please reach out for assistance via telephone: What is TurboTax phone number?

[jdarnold11]

I'm unable to do retrieve old returns without committing to doing taxes with them this year as well which is complete garbage given the fact that we've paid for those returns.

[DoninGA]

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@jdarnold11 wrote:

I'm unable to do this as well which is complete garbage given the fact that we've paid for those returns.

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To access your current or prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For a fee of $50 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

[Darlenetax2019]

This was DEFINITELY NOT helpful as the first instruction says "click on my turbo and I do not have that option"   When I tried calling the ROBOT ask if I was interesting in speaking to a CPA to upgrade when clearly what I need is tech support.   I'm already using your service and yet I'm being ask to upgrade just to get thru.    This is HORRIBLE 

[DoninGA]

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@Darlenetax2019 wrote:

This was DEFINITELY NOT helpful as the first instruction says "click on my turbo and I do not have that option"   When I tried calling the ROBOT ask if I was interesting in speaking to a CPA to upgrade when clearly what I need is tech support.   I'm already using your service and yet I'm being ask to upgrade just to get thru.    This is HORRIBLE 

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Then you are not signing onto the prior year online account with the same User ID you used to create the account.  Many users have multiple User ID's.

You have to sign onto your online account using the exact same user ID you used to create the online account.

Close all TurboTax windows on your web browser (including this one).  Copy and paste the account recovery website link onto a new web browser window and run the tool.

Use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of all the user ID's for an email address.  Run the tool against any email addresses you may have used - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If none of the user ID's received will access your account, then use the option shown in blue on the account recovery website, "Try something else"

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

To access your current or prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

[bpw0001]

DoninGA, 

You are either not listening or not understand the problem being stated. For everyone who goes to the turbotax website, when we sign in, we do not have any of the options you are talking about. There is search and help in the upper right, there is only one menu option on the left called "turbotax" then on the bottom left there is Intuit Account and Sign Out.

Now for everyone having this problem, I have found the solution. The problem seems to stem from the default "sign in" being to filing this years taxes only and not the full sign in website for whatever reason they decided to set it up that way. 

Solution: (You may be able to go directly to step 5)

1) If you are signed in, sign out. 

2) Go to the main website: https://turbotax.intuit.com/

3) DO NOT SIGN IN.

4) Click on After you file/Go To Turbo. Further explanation: On the menu (you might have to click the hamburger icon - the three parallel lines near the upper right if your window is small), hover over or click on "After you file". Then click on Go To Turbo

5) This will bring you to https://turbo.intuit.com/

6) Sign in

7) Click on Tax Home on the left.

😎 Click on documents.

9) Select Year

10) click Download tax PDF.

[InfuriatedUser]

That no longer works AND I decided to use the CD version this year which will NOT let me access previous year's returns

Nice going, TurboTax.  Been using you online since 2013 and CD before that and I'm done with you.  Shame on you.

[sullymeg]

I bought an new computer and my turbo tax files did not copy over.  How do I get past years of tax returns