No Option to Download 2017 .tax File, Can Only Download PDF

[dontworryaboutit]

I am using TurboTax Desktop and need to amend my 2017 tax return, which was done in TurboTax online.  I have followed numerous TT help articles, to no avail. This article from TurboTax says simply go to TurboTax and select "Show Documents From 2017", when I do that, my only option is to download the PDF.

How do I obtain the 2017 .tax file?

[Kat]

Curious.  I know there has been a problem with users accessing 2018 .tax files; I haven't heard of a problem with 2017.

Before I ask you to call TurboTax Support, I'll ask if you've begun a TurboTax Online return for 2020.  Sometimes even beginning a current-year return (just personal info, basically), will unlock prior-year returns.  I can't say if this will work, but it's worth a try.

One other thing:  If you typically use the Free Edition of TurboTax, you may need to purchase the minimum paid product to access prior-year returns.  But you'll see that hyperlink in the TurboTax article you cited in your question.  Telephone Support, too, is not a feature of the Free Edition of TurboTax.

How do I contact TurboTax? 

[dontworryaboutit]

It's possible in 2017 I used free, but since then I've always used a paid product, and this year is no different, where I'm using TT Premium (Desktop).

I'm also unable to download 2018 .tax files as well, only seeing a PDF option. So it would appear that I'm having an issue with both.

[Kat]

Based on what you've said, the Free Edition shouldn't be the issue.  There is an active article about 2018; I'll share it here.  You can sure sign up to be notified for that.

Why can't I download my 2018 .tax file in TurboTax... (intuit.com)

Maybe try to contact Support about your 2017 tax data file.  If it's on the servers (as it should be), they should be able to help.

[dontworryaboutit]

I've done my taxes with TT for the last eight years, looking back now. They only have tax returns for me from 2017 and 2018, and ONLY the PDF versions.

[Kat]

Have you used the online platform for all of those years?  They would only have your returns if you used TurboTax Online.

Edited to add:  Most often, users who can't locate their returns used a different account to prepare those returns.  Many users have more than one account and don't realize it.  The TurboTax FAQ linked below may help you locate your returns.

Why can't I find my return in Tax Home or My Docs? 

[dontworryaboutit]

Yup, I've used Online in the past, this is the first year I am using Desktop as I need to amend a previous return (2017), which they apparently do not allow you to do online. So, now I've spent the extra money for this product that TT support articles told me I needed to buy, that I can not use because the other TT support articles are incorrect, and I do not have access tot he files they tell me to simply download.

Why exactly did I just spend over a hundred dollars? Additionally, I have premier but I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to get in contact with a human, let alone an email address at TurboTax. this is getting seriously frustrating.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

To access your prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download .tax file

[dontworryaboutit]

Here's a screenshot of my home page on TurboTax. My 2021 return has been started.

[dontworryaboutit]

Whoops, here's the proper image:

https://i.imgur.com/lcp6LtK.png 

[dontworryaboutit]

This is what I needed. There's an additional link farther down the page, glad to see the data is there. Thanks for your assistance. I was able to retrieve my documents!

[Kat]

@dontworryaboutit , so @DoninGA 's answer took care of it for you?