@ biggertcate wrote:
I am working on my 2023 tax return. The application asked me to do an update after I had already been working for several hours on entering data into the turbo tax data collection system. I have access to turbotax, but there is no data in the collection system. How do I retrieve the data?
Since it's 2023, I assume you are using the 2023 desktop software. Hopefully, it hasn't actually disappeared. The data file may have just become dissociated from the TurboTax interface, which would be the best case scenario for this issue. I don't know if you are using Windows or Mac, but in the Windows version the default location for the *.tax2023 data file is in the Documents\TurboTax directory. Search your entire computer system for the data file which ends in *.tax2023 and also check the Recycle Bin/Trash. If you use Windows OneDrive also look there.
Once you know the data file's location (if you find it), then launch TurboTax, and if using Windows, in the top TurboTax menubar, in the top left corner of the interface click on FILE, then in the dropdown menu choose "OPEN Tax Return." Then point TurboTax to the location of the *.tax2023 data file. If using a Mac, someone else will have to comment.
TIP: I save a backup "just in case" copy of the in-progress *.taxYYYY data file to a thumb drive (or other external drive) periodically while working on the return, typically after every work session.
