Is the 2019 online return I started deleted ?

[brundick]

I started our 2019 return in April but had to file an extension to get more information.  Then we were hit by natural disaster after natural disaster.  We had an extended extension to 12/15/20 and I just went to finish the return with that ONE piece of info I needed and I can not find it.  Did Intuit delete that ?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

You have to use the exact account and user ID that you used to start the return in order to access it.

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

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900721-find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows

Online tax preparation and e-filing for 2019 returns is now permanently closed.  You had until midnight on Thursday, October 15, 2020 to finish and attempt to e-file; if your e-file was rejected you had until October 31, 2020 to make corrections and re-file. 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 2019 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.

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

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

[brundick]

A MILLION thanks for the incredibly thorough response -- on a Sunday nonetheless.  

I started the return online but do not see any receipt for purchase from the time.  I have purchased the desktop version and downloaded.

Do you know if I have to redo all the work or if that nearly complete return might be available somewhere ?

Again, I can't thank you ENOUGH !

[xmasbaby0]

You are welcome.  If you follow the steps in the FAQ for finishing a return that you started in online you do not have start all over--it will have the data you already entered.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-finish-a-prior-year-return-that-i-...

[VolvoGirl]

You need to download the .tax2019 file from online to open in the Desktop program.

First download the .tax file from the Online version,  

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/saving/help/how-do-i-save-my-turbotax-online-return-as-a-tax-data-...

Then see, How to Switch to Desktop,

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/how-do-i-switch-from-turbotax-online-to-th...

After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had.  So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - New)

Then you just OPEN the .tax2019 file, go up to File-Open.  You don't import or transfer it.