If I filed my 2016 taxes online with intuit and received a return through direct deposit why does my tax timeline ask me to complete my 2016 filing?

[SweetieJean]

Did you start a second  return?

[VolvoGirl]

You probably have another account.  That's common.  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     <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/">https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery/</a>

[jameslkaufman]

thanks i will give this a try

[jameslkaufman]

i checked the only other email i might have used in the past and there was no account associated with it. The notice i see on the screen for my existing account is "Though the October 16 deadline to file has passed, we can still help you file a 2016 tax " which is a bit unsettling since i was confident that i had filed correctly and completely already. i received a refund so what am i not understanding? how can i receive a refund if i did not file?

[SweetieJean]

Did you use TT desktop to prepare the return, which you then efiled?

[SteamTrain]

..or...do you have state forms that haven't been filed yet?

One "can" choose to only file the Federal forms and forget about the state not being finished yet.

[SweetieJean]

I have found that some users say they "filed online" when they mean efiled, as opposed to paper-filed. However, that does not necessarily mean they used TT Online to prepare the return.

[jameslkaufman]

I think I used the desktop and then e-filed. I am not sure of the distinction between desktop turbo tax and a different online option. I completed the filing online. At the time of my filing I printed a copy of my return and filing instructions. My Federal, Hawaii, and California return instructions all say that the Fed and State returns have been received electronically and there is nothing to mail. I received a Fed refund and Hawaii refund, but my turbotax instructions for California said there is no balance due nor a refund due: do not mail a payment or expect a refund from the Franchise Tax Board.

[jameslkaufman]

Thank you for your insights. I looked on my hard drive and saw that hi had downloaded the program and it is there that i found all my completed forms. I did not see the distinction between online desktop and downloaded program. I think since i completed the filing using the downloaded program when I go to the online TT site it does not know that I filed successfully  using the downloaded program. seems strange that TT would not recognize that and point me in the right direction. thanks again

[SweetieJean]

You may have accidentally started something in Online (web).

[SweetieJean]

This post is outdated, but may be of interest:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2923027-online-vs-desktop">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/29230...>

[VolvoGirl]

Uh, there is no "online Desktop".  You either used the Desktop CD/Download program on your computer or you logged into the Online web version.  You can efile your return online using the Desktop program.

[SweetieJean]

Online means you logged into the TT website, and used the web based program.

Desktop means you got a TT CD, or downloaded the software to your own computer. Look on your hard drive for a .tax file.

[VolvoGirl]

Returns done in the Desktop program are not listed in your Tax Timeline.  They are only saved and stored on your computer.  The Timeline is for online accounts.  Maybe you started a return in the Online version or used the online version for a prior year?  

But if you are not sure if you used Desktop or the Online version then if you did use the Online version you might have another account.  It's common to end up with multiple accounts.  If you want to check for oher accounts you may have. ....   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/