What happens to my tax records if I use TurboTax online?

[dawnmb57]

I used TurboTax online for the first time with my 2019 taxes and now I cannot find the records in my usual cloud account. I wonder if they are stored somewhere in the TurboTax online account.

[DoninGA]

You have to sign onto your 2019 online account using the exact same User ID you used to create the online account.

Close all TurboTax windows on your web browser (including this one).  Copy and paste the account recovery website link onto a new web browser window and run the tool.

Use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of all the User ID's for an email address.  Run the tool against any email addresses you may have used - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If none of the user ID's received will access your 2019 account, then use the option shown in blue on the account recovery website, "Try something else"

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

To access your prior year 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/print return (PDF)

OR -

You may have to start a 2020 tax return before the links on the Tax Home web page become available.  In that case start the 2020 tax return with the User ID you used for the 2019 return.  Once some basic information has been transferred over, Tax Home should be visible on the left column.  Click on Tax Home and then the other links will be shown as in this screenshot.

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/print return (PDF)

[VolvoGirl]

The online version only saves your return in your online account.

If you used the Online version you should always save both the PDF file and the tax data file each year (before online closes Oct. 15) so you have a copy when you need it or if you ever need to amend it in the future.  You shouldn't rely on getting a copy from Turbo Tax.  Or if you want to use the Desktop program next year so you can transfer from this year.

Turbo Tax Online automatically saves

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/saving/help/how-do-i-save-my-work-in-turbotax-online/00/26235

Save the PDF

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/saving/help/how-do-i-save-my-turbotax-online-return-as-a-pdf/00/26...

Save the tax file

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/saving/help/how-do-i-save-my-turbotax-online-return-as-a-tax-data-...

[bjboom]

How long are my records available to me if I use Turbo Tax online every year?

[DoninGA]

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@bjboom wrote:

How long are my records available to me if I use Turbo Tax online every year?

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TurboTax retains the online tax returns for the past seven years, the same retention period as the IRS.