TurboTax Deleted My Returns - NEED IMMEDIATE RESOLUTIONS

[bk9001]

I had my nearly 10 years tax returns in the same directory.

Now I see all versions of Turbotax (2020, 2019, ..) are gone and so are all tax files including PDF files. No entry of app in the start menu any more. No trace of directories - I think it happened after the last run of TurbTax Deluxe!!

This is insane.

How is  it even possible?   Weirdest thing ever noticed in my life that files and  turbo tax apps for all years are all gone by themselves.  Is it a bad update of hacked Turbotax? Every other app  or files other than turbotax  files works fine - no issues at all with any other app or data file on the system. How come ??

I searched Internet and it seems this has been reported by many other users and there are several threads like this on this forum. So , it looks like I am not alone. Intuit cannot ignore this as an isolated problem.

Here are other threads with similar problems:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/turbotax-data-is-mis[product key removed]e/00/215...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-did...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/turbotax-data-is-mis[product key removed]e/00/215...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-did...

I need immediate help!!

PS:  This is a serious issue since I lost all my files before I could even back up!!. Need to go to its root cause and need to widely advertise it or it could affect others too.  I am quite tech savvy  - so basic file search and looking for hidden files etc. has already been tried.  Some thing is very  nefarious with Turbo-Tax 2020 forced updates..

[bk9001]

Now I see all versions of Turbotax (2020, 2019, ..) are gone and so are all tax files including PDF files. No entry of app in the start menu any more. No trace of directories - I think it happened after the last run of TurbTax Deluxe!!

This is insane.

How is  it even possible?   Weirdest thing ever noticed in my life that files and  turbo tax apps for all years are all gone by themselves.  Is it a bad update of hacked Turbotax? Every other app  or files other than turbotax  files works fine - no issues at all with any other app or data file on the system. How come ??

I searched Internet and it seems this has been reported by many other users and there are several threads like this on this forum. So , it looks like I am not alone. Intuit cannot ignore this as an isolated problem.

Here are other threads with similar problems:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/turbotax-data-is-mis[product key removed]e/00/215...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-did...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/turbotax-data-is-mis[product key removed]e/00/215...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/all-my-turbo-tax-information-is-missing-where-did...

I need immediate help!!

PS:  This is a serious issue since I lost all my files before I could even back up!!. Need to go to its root cause and need to widely advertise it or it could affect others too.  I am quite tech savvy  - so basic file search and looking for hidden files etc. has already been tried.  Some thing is very  nefarious with Turbo-Tax 2020 forced updates..

[DoninGA]

Have you tried a system restore to a date earlier than 05/27/2021?

[bk9001]

Thank you. Unfortunately - there is no restore point in the system  except for the date when I discovered the problem and re-installed TurboTax again. 

This is the only year when I didn't create a  print version for records - as inkjet printers head had dried due to covid period non-use.

[fanfare]

@bk9001 

One of the threads you posted suggests to look in

Users/Administrator/Documents.

Did you try there ?

[fanfare]

If you (or TurboTax) install as Administrator, but don't select "allow all users", the programs and files will be invisible.

[DoninGA]

---

@bk9001 wrote:

Thank you. Unfortunately - there is no restore point in the system  except for the date when I discovered the problem and re-installed TurboTax again. 

This is the only year when I didn't create a  print version for records - as inkjet printers head had dried due to covid period non-use.

---

Have you tried this -

Right click on the TurboTax icon

Click on Properties

Click on the Compatibility tab

Check the box Run this program as an administrator

Click on Apply and then on OK

Start TurboTax and see if the current year files are available.

The TurboTax default for saving the tax data files and any PDFs is in the TurboTax folder in the Documents directory.

In all my years of using the TurboTax software I have Never experienced a TurboTax installation or a TurboTax update that would remove any files from the TurboTax folder.

I am currently running a Windows 10 PC Version 10.0.19043.  Have TurboTax installed for tax years 2007 thru 2020.  The 2020 TurboTax Premier version has the latest updates - Version 020.000.1744

There have been instances where a Windows update would for some reason move the TurboTax folder contents to the Recycle Bin.

Contact TurboTax support.  Request technical assistance.

Support is open from 5am to 5pm Pacific time, Monday thru Friday.  Closed on Memorial Day

Use this website to contact TurboTax support during business hours - https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

[peterschack]

I just resolved a similar situation, although I still have no idea how it happened.  I went to open a 2020 return to look for some information, and both the tax file and the corresponding pdf were gone, and not in the recycle bin.  (I use the desktop version of TurboTax.). They’d been there the last time I looked a few weeks ago. 

Luckily, I run backup software which lets you look at your drive as it existed on a given prior date, and I restored the files from there.   But you can bet I’ll store duplicate version from now on!