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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 6:14:57 PM

Is there a way to recover information since I worked on my return a long time and then my computer shut off suddenly? Does turbotax not auto-save at all?

I spent a lot of time entering all of my business deductions and then my computer shut down. When I turned in back on and opened turbo tax, nothing that I just worked on is showing up. 

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3 Replies
Alumni
Jun 3, 2019 6:14:59 PM

The version of Turbotax that you install and run on your home computer does not auto-save. When you exit that version, it asks if you want to save the file. Otherwise, you have to initiate a save by clicking on the top line menu File, then Save.

Recent versions of Turbotax create a temporary file when you open a tax return. You might want to look in the Turbotax folder in your Documents folder and see if there is a .tax file whose name begins with a "~" character and then open that file.

New Member
Apr 20, 2020 11:15:04 AM

I had shut down without thinking to save my partner's return.   Old versions of TT seemed to prompt you to save early on.  As you advised, I Used finder to find the autosave temporary file with the ~ .    THANK YOU!  

Saved hours of re-do time!   I will suggest to TT that they put in a save suggestion for early in the interview, critical!

Level 15
Apr 20, 2020 11:30:07 AM

When you close a return there is an auto prompt to save the return  but if you did a computer shut down instead you would not have gotten it.  

 

If you had closed the return prior to this then it should open at the prior saved spot.  

 

Remember to use the save feature (in the FILE tab of the menu bar) frequently as you complete each section so if the computer turns off unexpectedly all you have to redo is the last part entered.