I am now learning that my 2020 TurboTax return was never successfully filed (frustrating, considering I thought I completed all the steps in TurboTax as I had done for several years prior).
I am now working to file my return outside of TurboTax. When I go to my prior returns, however, I no longer have the option to download this return as a PDF. The only option is to download a .tax version, which appears to be a TurboTax proprietary file and would require me to purchase and download new software. I already paid for TurboTax Online Premier for the 2020 tax year. For other tax returns that were successfully filed through TurboTax, there is a link to download the PDF.
Is there a way for me to access my 2020 return, without needing to purchase new TurboTax software?
You have to access your own account and/or print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.
Start a 2023 return online and enter some personal information so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.
Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have
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/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac
You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30, an actual copy of your tax return.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
SAVE YOUR TAX RETURN !
EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records. That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900937-why-should-i-save-a-pdf-copy-of-my-return
NOTE: TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years. Returns older than seven years are purged.
Thank you for your reply. My issue is not that I can't find my return, but that TT is not allowing me to download a PDF of the return. The only option available to me is to download a ".tax2020" file. The return was not successfully filed with the IRS so I am not able to get a copy from the IRS. I need my TT version so I can file a paper version of the return. I do not want to purchase TT again in order to do this, since I already paid for Online Premier for the 2020 return.
Is it possible to find a PDF version of my return in this case?
@docbrown Have you started a 2023 tax return using the online editions and signed onto the account with the same User ID you used for the 2020 return?
If so, and the 2020 PDF is not available you will need to contact TurboTax support for assistance.
Support is open from 5am to 5pm Pacific time, Monday thru Friday.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for contacting support - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632
Support can also be reached by messaging them on these pages https://www.facebook.com/turbotax/ and https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax
If support cannot get the 2020 PDF available for you to download, you will need to recreate the 2020 tax return using the 2020 tax data file.
Since you paid for the 2020 online edition support should be able to push a 2020 desktop installation file to your download account at no charge.
See this TurboTax support FAQ for completing a tax return originally started using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/printers-printing/finish-prior-year-retu...
A 2020 tax return can only be printed and mailed using TurboTax, it cannot be e-filed.