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How to recover .tax2018 file

Hello, I am running into a strange issue. I have been using TT for about 10 years now. Somehow my 2018 tax file ( the one with .tax2018 extension) file got saved as a zip file with .tax2018.zip extension. When I unzip the file, I see two files, one is a manifest.xml and the other is a file with long list of numbers and names (example: df402278-cafd-4bb2-bb0d-5f35e0bcf208) but I could not find the actual .tax2018 file. 

 

I have moved between different laptops and restored from my Google Drive back up etc, but I am not sure what exactly caused this .tax2018 file to become .tax2018.zip. I spent quite a bit of time Googling this and also tried contacting TT helpline, but could not find a way to recover the original .tax2018 file. 

 

Does anyone have any suggestions on recovering the file? Thanks for any advice. 

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16 Replies
MichelleLO
Intuit Alumni

How to recover .tax2018 file

Please reach out to Customer Support via the Contact Us link below for assistance with troubleshooting this issue:
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

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How to recover .tax2018 file

As mentioned in my original post, I already reached out to TT help but they were not able to resolve this. 

JakailaLO
Intuit Alumni

How to recover .tax2018 file

If you used Turbo Tax Online to file you can download a new .tax file from the Turbo Tax homepage. But otherwise, it's not much else that can be done, unless you find the files on your computer. You can also try this link for assistance: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/...

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padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

I have observed the same thing.  The original .tax2018 file was backed up to Google Drive, where it appears as an archive of two files (exactly as noted in the original post).  In order to import the 2018 taxes into the 2019 version on TurboTax, I downloaded the file from Google, but the uncompressed file does not import successfully into TT.  Has anyone solved this one?

CassLO
Intuit Alumni

How to recover .tax2018 file

@padm

Please see the link below, for instructions on how to open a zip file:

Unable to open downloaded .zip file in Windows

You must also have the 2018 TurboTax software program installed on your computer to open a .tax2018 file.You don't need the program installed to open a pdf file. 

 

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How to recover .tax2018 file

Its not an issue with unzipping the file. Please see the issue description in my original post, copying below again

 

When I unzip the file, I see two files, one is a manifest.xml and the other is a file with long list of numbers and names (example: df402278-cafd-4bb2-bb0d-5f35e0bcf208) but I could not find the actual .tax2018 file.

How to recover .tax2018 file

Did you try just removing the .zip from the end?

padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

I am observing the same thing @Narman.  Apparently, the original *.tax2018 file was converted into a *.zip once uploaded to Google Drive (months ago when I originally uploaded it).  I then download the file to the new laptop, and I see a manifest.xml and a file called 795a6c18-773c-4388-bd6b-f291c7e3b99c in the archive that appears to have replaced the original *.tax2018 file from last year. I tried adding the file extension .tax2018 to the file with the alphanumeric filename which enabled TT to recognize it as a prior TT tax file, but it returned the message:  "Import not successful."  It is as if the original file was somehow garbled by the upload to Google Drive... If there are any other ideas, please advise.

padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

yes, @VolvoGirl .  thanks, for the suggestion.  that did not work per my prior more detailed post.

How to recover .tax2018 file

@VolvoGirl , thanks for the suggestion. It worked like a charm, and now I could use the file to import into TT 2019. 

 

@padm , I also tried adding the .tax2018 extension to the file inside the zip file earlier. But based on the above suggestion, I just renamed the file from .tax2018.zip to .tax2018 and it works. Please try and see if it helps. 

padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

@Narman - that's awesome; I am pleased that worked for you.  I tried renaming the file again once more, and no luck.  I still get the 'This import was unsuccessful." message.   

How to recover .tax2018 file

How are you trying to "import" it?  You don't import it, you Transfer it.  Are you starting a New return each time?  Go to File-New and if it doesn't show up in the box, click the blue button to browse to the 2018 file.

padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

@Narman and @VolvoGirl  - new PC... the setting to expose file extensions was disabled.  I was renaming the file, and not the actual extension which Windows10 was hiding from me.  Thank you both for your posts... by renaming the archive, I was able to import the prior year's TT file.

 

To recap for anyone else running into this issue:  rename the archive (downloaded from Google Drive which appears to have two files contained therein) to remove the *.zip extension.  That should then allow you to import to TT.  

padm
Returning Member

How to recover .tax2018 file

I am incorrectly using "import" to refer to the step at the beginning of transferring a prior year's return.  Thanks for catching the imprecision of my language for the benefit of others on this thread.  

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