I filed offline via TurboTax in 2021 so my tax history from 2019 and 2020 did not carry over. Any way to correct this?

[EbonyA]

By "offline" are you referring to filing via the desktop software? 

[mnfish]

Yes, desktop. But, as I recall, I also filed with the desktop version for 2019 and 2020. 

[MichelleLO]

If you used TurboTax desktop software, did you transfer your 2020 return into the 2021 software?

[mnfish]

I made an attempt but was unsuccessful. I was able to import my Broker 1099 but I don't see an option for importing my 2020 TT file. Can you help?

[mesquitebean]

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@ mnfish wrote:

as I recall, I also filed with the desktop version for 2019 and 2020. 

I made an attempt but was unsuccessful. I was able to import my Broker 1099 but I don't see an option for importing my 2020 TT file. Can you help?

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Edited 3/16/2022 at 3:32 AM Pacific

I added this additional paragraph since on re-reading the thread I'm being confused by several things here.  Your thread title says you "filed offline" (past tense) and mentioned "in 2021."  Is 2021 referring to a current tax year 2021 return (in 2022) that people are now preparing, or by "in 2021" does that mean a 2020 return you prepared in calendar year 2021 last year?

  i.e., Have you already filed a tax year 2021 return that you prepared this year in desktop software?    If you have already filed a tax year 2021 return, why are you asking about "importing the 2020" file?   Since that doesn't gel,  I'll assume for the rest of this answer that you haven't yet actually filed/submitted/efiled a tax year 2021 return since you are asking about "importing 2020."  You'll need to provide more info to clear things up.

BTW, when moving data from the prior tax year into the subsequent year's return, it's called "transferring", not "importing." 

NOTE:  If you have already filed/efiled/submitted a tax year 2021 return, the following will NOT apply.   You cannot transfer a 2020 data file into an already-filed return.

If your current 2021 return is still in preparation, however, then the following info may help.

You have to be certain how you prepared last year's 2020 return in order to know where to look to get the 2020 data file.   If you used Online TurboTax for the 2020 return, you can download the *.tax2020 data file from your online account to transfer into a 2021 desktop return.   If you did use the online version, we can help you locate it.

If you used 2020 desktop software, however, then YOU are the only one who could have saved a copy of the *.tax2020 data file.   If that's the product you used last year,  then you first have to find that file.   Search your entire computer and any external storage for any file ending in the *.tax2020 file extension, and we can tell you how to transfer it into a 2021 return.  

NOTE:  You can only transfer the 2020 data file into a NEW 2021 return; the file is transferred at the beginning as the first step.   So once you have the *.tax2020 data file, if you are already working on a 2021 return, you'd have to start over with a new return in order to transfer-in the *.tax2020 data file.

[mesquitebean]

mnfish:

I added an additional paragraph above since it's not clear to me what your thread title means in regards to 2021.  Since you said "in 2021", that made it unclear if you were asking about your 2020 return filed in 2021, or if you're asking about this year's 2021 return (in 2022) and confusion about whether you have already actually filed/efiled/submitted the current 2021 return.   You may have been emailed the original answer.  Please return to the forum to see the full revised answer with the additional paragraph, then please provide additional clarification so we can fully understand your situation in regard to your current 2021 return.

Also please confirm exactly what product you are using now for your 2021 return.  Underneath your question above it says "Online TurboTax."   Are you using the online product this year for your 2021 return and used desktop software last year for your 2020 return?   Is that what you meant by "filed offline in 2021?"

If you're using Online TurboTax now to prepare your 2021 return, it is possible in some circumstances to transfer a desktop *.tax2020 data file (if you have it) into an unfiled 2021 Online return, but again, during that process it would ask you to start over the current 2021 return.   That can be done as long as one has not already paid for, registered, or actually filed/submitted the 2021 return.  

[mnfish]

Okay, thanks. I have already filed my 2021 taxes using TT desktop so I gather it's too late to do anything. FYI, when I log into Turbo Tax online it asks if I want to file my 2020 taxes which obviously I already did last year via desktop. No mention of my 2021 file online. I don't recall TT asking if I wanted to download 2020 when I started my taxes this year.

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

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@ mnfish wrote:

Okay, thanks. I have already filed my 2021 taxes using TT desktop so I gather it's too late to do anything. FYI, when I log into Turbo Tax online it asks if I want to file my 2020 taxes which obviously I already did last year via desktop. No mention of my 2021 file online. I don't recall TT asking if I wanted to download 2020 when I started my taxes this year.

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The desktop and online products are completely independent and do not communicate with each other.  If you used desktop 2021 software this year, then your Online TurboTax account will have no evidence of a 2021 desktop return in the online account.   If your online account is mentioning finishing a 2020 return, then maybe you started a 2020 online return last year then decided to ultimately use 2020 desktop software instead. 

It's all moot if you already efiled your 2021 return and the efile was accepted, or if you printed and mailed it. 

For future reference, here's what normally occurs.  I don't know if you use Windows PC or Mac.    I use Windows; the Mac method may be slightly different.

In the Windows version, when one launches the TurboTax program and selects to begin a new tax return, the software will automatically churn and search one's computer looking for a *.tax2020 data file residing on the computer.  If/when it finds it, it then asks if you want to transfer it into the 2021 return.   If it doesn't find the 2020 data file, but you know the location, a user can tell TurboTax the location of the *.tax2020 data file, then the transfer proceeds.

I'm not sure what prompted your original question; i.e., why you were asking about transferring the 2020 data into an already-filed 2021 return.   Were you trying to correct something in the filed 2021 return?  Or were you asking just for the sake of continuity of data year after year?

If you efiled your 2021 return and it was accepted, or if you mailed the 2021 return, the only way to make any changes in it is by preparing a formal amended return Form 1040X.   You wouldn't be able to transfer the 2020 data file in that situation, either.

[mnfish]

 @mesquitebean "Or were you asking just for the sake of continuity of data year after year?"       Yes

I will pay more attention when begin the process in 2023.

Thanks for the help.

[mesquitebean]

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@ mnfish h wrote:

 @ mesquitebean "Or were you asking just for the sake of continuity of data year after year?"       Yes

I will pay more attention when begin the process in 2023.

Thanks for the help.

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You're welcome.   In regard to the *.tax2021 data file from this year's 2021 return and *.taxYYYY data files from tax year 2020 and earlier (if you have them), you should archive them  (or copies) somewhere safe in case you ever need them at some point in the future, such as preparing an amended return, transferring this year's 2021 file into next year's 2022, etc.  Users occasionally post in this forum that their hard drive crashed and lost all their previous tax files.

If you want, you can even use the relevant year's software to make PDFs for easier viewing when desired without having to launch the desktop software.

Remember the tax data files and any PDFs you save are very sensitive files, since they contain your personal ID info, financial data, and possibly bank account numbers, etc. Be sure to store them safely and securely to guard against computer theft, hacking, etc.

If you have any trouble transferring the data file next year, ask for help in the forum at the time you are starting the 2022 return.  Good luck!

[amielp69]

i think i followed the thread. I've been on the phone with some poor fellow who doesn't get what i'm asking but its this exact thread.  I use desktop turbo tax.  I completed 2021 desktop return but for some reason when i started the 2021 return it didn't pick up my 2020 tax data.   (not sure why since i can pull up the 2020 return using my 2020 turbo tax).  i didn't realize until i was halfway through so proceeded to finish and file my 2021 return.  But now the "Tax History Report" that shows five year tax history only reflects 2021.  Not a huge deal but would be nice to be able to input the prior years dats from my 2020 turbo tax data which is on the same laptop.   TT online experts were stumped.   Said couldn't do it.  so apparently if you don't import at the start you cant do it!.

[mesquitebean]

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@ amielp69 wrote:

i think i followed the thread. I've been on the phone with some poor fellow who doesn't get what i'm asking but its this exact thread.  I use desktop turbo tax.  I completed 2021 desktop return but for some reason when i started the 2021 return it didn't pick up my 2020 tax data.   (not sure why since i can pull up the 2020 return using my 2020 turbo tax).  i didn't realize until i was halfway through so proceeded to finish and file my 2021 return.  But now the "Tax History Report" that shows five year tax history only reflects 2021.  Not a huge deal but would be nice to be able to input the prior years dats from my 2020 turbo tax data which is on the same laptop.   TT online experts were stumped.   Said couldn't do it.  so apparently if you don't import at the start you cant do it!.

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"so apparently if you don't import at the start you cant do it!"

That's correct--in regard to a previous year's data into a new current year return.  The correct term TurboTax and the forum uses is "transfer" of 2020 data into 2021.   "Import" actually refers to a different function, such as importing 1099 tax forms or W-2's, which can be done later.

Here's how it normally works in the Windows product; I don't use a Mac, and you didn't say what you use.  You can only transfer 2020 data into a 2021 return at the very beginning when you start a 2021 return.   In the  Windows version of TurboTax, after you launch the program and choose to start a new tax return, the program churns a bit as it searches your computer for the *.tax2020 data file.   The most common location is the \Documents\TurboTax folder unless you chose another location for it.    If it finds the 2020 data file, it displays a Transfer button/link.  

If no *.tax2020 data file is found, one can use the "Browse" button.  That opens an Explorer directory tree, where one can point TurboTax to the location of the *.tax2020 data file.

If you're using the Windows version, I don't know why it didn't search your computer, or if it did search, but didn't find the *.tax2020 data file, unless it was in an odd location. 

Since you say can still open your 2020 tax file with 2020 TurboTax, you can use that product to make a PDF of the Tax History report up to that time, or print a copy, to have handy for viewing.   Or you can save a 2020 PDF with all of forms and worksheets to view throughout the year without needing the TurboTax program.    I save 2 PDFs every year--one PDF of the return "as filed", and one of the return with all the worksheets.

NOTE:  Remember all PDF tax documents and tax data files are very sensitive files, since they contain your personal ID info, financial data, and possibly bank account numbers, etc.  Be sure to store them safely and securely to guard against computer theft, hacking, etc.

[Tomkey]

I would like to move my history to online filing.  

[Katina S]

Follow our step by step instructions on how you can transfer last year tax return's data file (with a filename extension .tax2021) into one of our online Turbo Tax products.

@Tomkey