Is it new to pay for downloading previous tax returns?

[mesquitebean]

No, it's not new.  It's been that way for a few years in regards to Online returns.    People should download/print a copy by October 31 each year to be sure they have control over it.   A paid product (PLUS or higher) provides an extra year of access.     After a certain period of time free access to past returns will expire, unless one continues to use a paid product each year (PLUS or higher.)   See this FAQ on when access expires:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/when-does-access-to-my-prior-year-turbotax-...

Have you located a past return, and are you trying to download/print, but it's asking you to pay?  The way to pay to unlock it depends on what all you have done for your 2018 return.   We can tell you all the steps.

The minimum to unlock a prior return is a 2018 Free Edition return upgraded to PLUS for 19.99.    However, you appear to be using Online Deluxe, which is 59.99 for Federal ( and 44.99 for a state return, if applicable).   Is that the product you used to prepare your 2018 return?  Has your 2018 return been filed, or is your return still in preparation?    Do you need Deluxe for the situations in your return/    If you are in the wrong product, we can tell you what to do.

1. Have you already filed a 2018 return in Online TurboTax, or is one still in preparation?  Or did you file elsewhere?
2. Was the 2018 return prepared in Deluxe?   Or did you upgrade too far while trying to get the past return?
3. Is the 2018 return in the SAME account as the past online return?

We can tell you how to unlock a return once you answer all the questions above.

There's also a free option if a return transcript will suit your purpose.   You may be able to immediately download one at the IRS website if you qualify to open an IRS account there.  Otherwise, to order a transcript to come by postal mail takes 5-10 calendar days.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

[russells85]

my question to this is, if you already purchased the deluxe to and attempted to complete 2018 tax return but find out that the previous year was never fully submitted as well as never being informed that there was an error, how do you complete the download of a previous year. I have downloaded the turbo tax software for amendment as your site has records of my tax return being submitted. The issue is that I have been trying to open the .tax file with Adobe. I'm not sure what app/file/method I'm supposed to use to save this download. If I can't Identify that then I will not be able to use the software which in turn means I can't complete 2017 tax return which means no 2018 return. If you have some information to avoid this disaster I would greatly appreciate the info thanks. 

[xmasbaby0]

@russells85 

Slow down and stop trying to amend.  You do not amend a return that was never filed in the first place.  If your 2017 return was not filed and accepted it was not ever filed.  That means do not click on anything that says amend.  Amending is a process you only use to make changes/corrections to a tax return that has been fully processed.  You say it was not.

I clicked on “amend” by mistake

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2552802-how-do-i-cancel-or-undo-an-amended-return-in-turbotax-onli...

What you need to do is print, sign and mail your 2017 return now.  If it was rejected you would have received an email telling you that it was rejected; perhaps you missed noticing that email or it might have gone to your spam folder.   Or maybe you just did not go all the way through the FILE section and e-file it.  E-filing is permanently closed for 2017 returns so it must now be mailed.

 Online preparation and e-filing for 2017 is permanently closed.  You have to download 2017 software to a full PC or Mac (not to a mobile device) and then print, sign and mail your return.  If you already paid for your TurboTax software, you can contact customer support to push a download of the software to you.

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.

To finish a prior year return started in TT online:https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2559403-how-do-i-finish-a-prior-year-return-that-i-started-in-turb

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 and/or your state received the return

Once you successfully complete and file the 2017 return, you should be able to transfer the 2017 data to a 2018 return.  Be aware that you can only transfer the 2017 return at the very beginning of the 2018 tax return preparation.  When you file 2018, you will not be able to use the 2017 AGI to e-file 2018, since you are filing 2017 late, and it will not be in the system.  So use "zero" for your 2017 AGI.  If that does not work, then you will have to print, sign and mail 2018.

[Hartwell]

Normally I download my yearly version of turbo tax but this year I bought it thru amazon and loaded it from a disc. Now I can't find any of my 2018 returns. I don't know how the files are named or where?

[mesquitebean]

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@ Hartwell wrote:

Normally I download my yearly version of turbo tax but this year I bought it thru amazon and loaded it from a disc. Now I can't find any of my 2018 returns. I don't know how the files are named or where?

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The 2018 data file ends in the *.tax2018 file extension, so you can search your entire system for any file ending in that.   If you are using Windows, the default location is the Documents>TurboTax folder, but you could have saved it anywhere.

Windows:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/01/...

Mac:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac/01/26206