The system is in transition from 2020 software to 2021 software and the 2020 returns are being archived. It will likely be several weeks before you can download all the the worksheets etc that are part of the pdf of a 2020 return that you prepared online.
I started my 2020 taxes online and filed an extension. Now, I am trying to finish, but it is not downloading my 2020 form that I started back in April. How do I get my tax form that I already did?
Online tax preparation and e-filing for 2020 returns is now permanently closed. Now it is too late to use online software or to e-file. If you have any changes/corrections at all to make to your 2020 return, you now have to complete it using desktop software, which you must download to a full PC or Mac (not to a mobile device).Then you need to print, sign and mail it.
If you already paid for your online software you can ask customer support for a download of the desktop software.
They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday-Friday.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number
If you are getting a refund, there is no penalty for filing late. If you owe tax due, then file and pay the amount due as shown on the Form 1040, but expect a bill later from the IRS for the penalty and interest you will owe. Only the IRS will calculate this—TurboTax will not calculate it.
When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.
Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.
Thank you for the response. I understand that I am late, and it said that I had to download desktop software. However, it said I would be able to download my forms that I had already filled out. The only data that it shows is my 2019 Tax Return. Even if I am late on filing due to being in the hospital, it should not remove my data. At the very least, it should have notified me before removing my data. Is there any way to get that data so that I can continue my return?
You might have to download the .tax2020 file from online later. It maybe unavailable as they get ready for next year.
Save the tax file
Switch to Desktop
You can move your Online file to the Desktop program and continue without paying for Online or needing to reenter your info.
To continue in the desktop version see this…….
After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return .tax2020 file is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW).
@Iamtodd Data you entered has not been removed. If you started with the online software you just have to move the data to the downloaded desktop software now. If you did not pay for the online software yet you will have to pay first to download desktop software. If you already paid then customer support will help give you a download.
If you already paid for your online software you can ask customer support for a download of the desktop software.
They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday-Friday.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number
If you are getting a refund, there is no penalty for filing late. If you owe tax due, then file and pay the amount due as shown on the Form 1040, but expect a bill later from the IRS for the penalty and interest you will owe. Only the IRS will calculate this—TurboTax will not calculate it.
When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.
Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.
Thank you for the response. I do not need to file a state return since I live in Florida. When Turbo Tax took me to the download page, it only offered the Deluxe for Federal & State for $80, so I downloaded the Deluxe Federal only from Amazon for $49. It says, if you already purchased a previous yea's CD/Download tax software you can access it by clicking a link. It prompts for the license code, but when I enter it, it says something went wrong downloading my data. I have already downloaded and installed the Turbo Tax software that I bought on Amazon. I don't understand why they are holding my data hostage that I already paid Turbo Tax (twice now) to retain for me. This definitely does not make me want to use their online software again. It should just alert me that I will have to print the forms and mail it in since I missed the deadline.
Step 1 ... download the 2020 .taxfile from TT home page
Step 2 ... OPEN the 2020 .taxfile in the installed and updated 2020 program ... do not try to transfer it.
To access your current or 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 .taxfile
It is confusing to follow what you have done so far. You mention paying "twice"--- Did you not read the part of the information given to you that told you to contact customer support to get the download if you already paid for using the online software? You do not have to pay twice. If you paid for the online software then customer support will GIVE you the download. Not sure why you mixed it all up by going to Amazon.
It is also not clear from what you have said whether you had the return you prepared online completely ready and only need to print it out, or if you still have data to enter to finish preparing the return.
At this point you do need help from customer support to sort out what you did and to help you get your data moved to the desktop software. They are not there on weekends so wait until Monday.
To call TurboTax customer support
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number
Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday-Friday.
Thanks for your response. The problem is that my 2020 .taxfile is missing, so I cannot do step 1. I will call customer support to see if they can get the file for me.
The problem is that I only see 2019 when I log in. There is no 2020 to click on.
Maybe you used a different account. It's common to end up with multiple accounts. First LOG OUT of whatever TurboTax account you're logged into right now. Then use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of 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 you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online.
@Iamtodd Are you in the wrong account?
Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.
Account recovery
https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password
Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535
Thank you everyone for your responses. I was finally able to recover my 2020 taxfile. I still could not find it online. However, I was able to find a backed up version on an external hard drive that I had saved off after entering everything earlier this year. I appreciate the help.
my hard drive failed, how do I get 202 tax return I lost
If you used desktop software downloaded/installed from a CD to your own computer, then the tax files are stored locally on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive. They are not stored online. If you cannot recover them due to a hard drive failure, etc. you can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $43, an actual copy of your tax return.
I am not able to complete my 2021 tax return because of this issue, I do not want to pay the federal government $50 to send me a copy that could take up to 75 days. I would like to complete my return ASAP. Do you have anyway of giving my adjusted income for 2020 tax return.
@clintonhigh If you used desktop software your tax file is only stored on your own hard drive. You can get a free transcript of your return from the IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
Many 2020 returns were precessed late, so your 2020 AGI might not be in the system. You could try using zero if the AGI is rejected.
As for your desire to complete your return "ASAP":
I worry when people ask how soon they can file and want to file the minute they can, because experience here has shown that many of those same people will be back in this forum in a few weeks asking how to amend. Right now it has been taking the IRS more than six months to process amended returns. Filing too soon could mean you are setting yourself up for months of aggravation.
You can fall for the marketing ploy that will allow you to e-file early if you want to—-but be aware that your e-file will just sit on a server and if you discover that you need to make any changes you will not be able to. You cannot change or add anything while your return is in pending on the server. You have to wait until the IRS ether accepts or rejects it much later in January or early February. If it is rejected you can fix it; if it is accepted with your mistakes you have to wait for it to be processed and go through the lengthy process of amending.
You still need your 2021 W-2's and any 1099's that will show your income for 2021. Those will not be issued until late January or early February.
The tax forms are not ready yet. The software still needs lots of updates. Go to the REVIEW tab to see which forms in your return are incomplete and the estimated dates they will be ready (dates always subject to change) and sign up for the email alerts if you wish.
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Being in a hurry to file and get a refund is never a good idea---it leads to filing incorrectly without all of your information and to waiting months to amend mistakes that you should not have made in the first place. Be patient and file correctly when all of your information is in order and the tax forms are ready.
And based on the delays for 2020 refunds I for one do not even want to guess how long the IRS will take to process 2021 returns and send out refunds. Expect confusion regarding the child tax credit----wait for the letter 6419 they will send you in January that tells you how much of the advance CTC you got because you need to enter that. And if you got the 3rd EIP in 2021 there will be a letter for that too. Those amounts need to be entered carefully and correctly.
And…..if you are trying to rush because you get earned income credit or the child tax credit——the PATH act means you cannot get your refund until the end of February at the earliest—so filing early will not get you an early refund.
And….as of one day after people were allowed to start e-filing we were already seeing users post that they made mistakes and want to fix them——and they cannot fix their mistakes.