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If you used desktop software downloaded/installed from a CD to your own computer, then the tax files are stored locally on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive. They are not stored online. If you cannot recover them due to a hard drive failure, etc. you can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $43, an actual copy of your tax return.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
Going forward ... always save important files to a removable storage medium or back up your hard drive frequently for just this very situation.
@colcol17 @Critter-3 - and even better, save the backup to a cloud service.
while backing up to a removable storage medium protects against the hard drive crashing, it doesn't protect against earthquakes, floods or fires if the storage device is maintained in the same house as the harddrive!
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