How can I recover a deleted tax return?

[sheiladjack]

Desk top 2021 return

[SForrestLO]

Do you have a specific question we can help you with? @sheiladjack

[IRISH39]

2021 is lost in my computer-how do I find it?

[SForrestLO]

Please see this Turbo Tax help article. View the links at the bottom of the page.

How do I open my tax return in the TurboTax software I installed?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/accessing/help/how-do-i-open-my-tax-return-in-the-turbotax-softwar...

@IRISH39

[ping410]

Accidentally deleted my 2021 tax return after I filed my federal taxes.  I need to file my state taxes.

What can I do?

[DawnC]

If you used TurboTax Online, you can sign in to your account and print your return from the Tax Home page.   Or click on Add a State at the bottom of the page if you need to add a state return.

If you used the desktop software, you won't be able to retrieve it unless you saved the file to a cloud location, flash drive, or some other form of digital storage.   If you are unable to locate it, you may need to use the software and recreate the file.  

Use this link for help with locating your tax file.   @ping410

[lbillemerson]

My hard drive crashed and I cannot recover the tax file submitted in April 2022 to the IRS. Can I download it from TurboTax?

[VolvoGirl]

@lbillemerson   Sorry not if you used the Desktop CD/Download program.  Then your return is only saved on that computer and any backups you made, even if you efiled it.

If you used the Online version, 

How to get a copy after Efiling or printed for mailing.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/my-tax-return/help/how-can-i-access-my-return-after-i-ve-e-filed-o...

[reb4664]

i can not find my 2021 return

[DoninGA]

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@reb4664 wrote:

i can not find my 2021 return

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To access your current or 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)

Or -

When you sign onto your online account and land on the Tax Home web page, scroll down and click on Add a state. 

This will take you back to the 2021 online tax return.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen.  Then click on Print Center.  Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return.  Choose the option Include government and TurboTax worksheets

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.

[Mike9241]

@reb4664 you may be in the wrong account. some taxpayers have multiple accounts.

use Turbotax account recovery instructions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/security-risk/account-recovery-request-t... 

[jurasds]

I used  Desktop software installed on your personal computer for 2021 filing

[jurasds]

I used  Desktop software installed on your personal computer for 2021 tax filing

[jurasds]

I used  Turbotax Desktop software installed on your personal computer for 2021.

[Mike9241]

with the desktop app find the folder that contains the XXXX.tax2021 file.   there should be a second file in the folder that has the same name but starts with a tilde ~ . this is a backup.  copy it to a new file (in the same folder) with a unique name ending with the extension .tax2021(must have this so your computer knows what program to use to open it). then double click on it with your mouse to open. if it is also corrupt then you are out of luck because Turbotax does not have copies of returns prepared with desktop software.  you'll have to start over.   

on a windows computer, the folder should be in c:\users\users name\documents\Turbotax

don't know about MACS