How can I access a prior year's returns without purchasing a tax product this year? They're legitimately being held hostage by TurboTax.

[st-jbehr]

I need to access my 2017 returns to correct a mistake made by Turbotax (the reason I stopped using their services), but they're forcing the purchase of a 2020 tax return option before allowing access. Is there a way around this?

[DoninGA]

You do not have to purchase the TurboTax online edition for 2020 to access a prior year TurboTax online tax return.

You have to sign onto your 2017 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 2017 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 prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID 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)

OR -

You may have to start a 2020 tax return before the links on the Tax Home web page become available.  In that case start the 2020 tax return with the User ID you used for the 2017 return.  Once some basic information has been transferred over, Tax Home should be visible on the left column.  Click on Tax Home and then the other links will be shown as in this screenshot.

To access your prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID 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)

[st-jbehr]

I appreciate your response but despite their claims, this doesn't solve the issue. It's recursive, and continually routes me to select a product for access to prior returns. Turbotax is not displaying correct 'how-to' info.

After entering all data prior to submitting a return, I still get this message:

"Download your past TurboTax returns

Looks like you didn't file with us last year or you filed using a TurboTax product that doesn't include access to prior-year returns.

To download your prior-year TurboTax returns, just get started with your 2020 tax return in the TurboTax product that's right for you.

Select a product on Tax Home

Want to download your TurboTax customer data including your tax returns?
Visit Intuit Privacy."

[DoninGA]

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@st-jbehr wrote:

I appreciate your response but despite their claims, this doesn't solve the issue. It's recursive, and continually routes me to select a product for access to prior returns. Turbotax is not displaying correct 'how-to' info.

After entering all data prior to submitting a return, I still get this message:

"Download your past TurboTax returns

Looks like you didn't file with us last year or you filed using a TurboTax product that doesn't include access to prior-year returns.

To download your prior-year TurboTax returns, just get started with your 2020 tax return in the TurboTax product that's right for you.

Select a product on Tax Home

Want to download your TurboTax customer data including your tax returns?
Visit Intuit Privacy."

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Selecting and starting a TurboTax online edition for 2020 does not mean that you have to pay for that edition.  Paying for the 2020 account is Only required if you would be e-filing or printing the 2020 tax return.

You should be able to start the 2020 Deluxe online edition with your 2017 User ID, complete the My Info section to enter your personal information.  Then click on Tax Home on the left side of the screen.

That will present you with the screen as shown in the screenshot so you can select the download PDF for the 2017 tax return.