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New Member
posted Aug 14, 2024 12:43:09 PM

Where do I find my previous tax returns that I had filed with turbotax?

I'm looking for my 2016 tax return.

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Aug 14, 2024 12:46:33 PM

Turbo Tax and the IRS only keeps the last 7 years.  If they still have it……..

How to Access prior year online returns
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/27010

If you can't get the side menus to open up to access the prior year..... You need to start entering some basic Personal Info in 2023 for the side menu to open up. Just continue a little ways into 2023. I had to go though about 12 screens.

If you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online. So you need to make and keep your own backups.

Or request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Or get a copy of your return using form 4506
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

4 Replies
Level 15
Aug 14, 2024 12:46:33 PM

Turbo Tax and the IRS only keeps the last 7 years.  If they still have it……..

How to Access prior year online returns
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/27010

If you can't get the side menus to open up to access the prior year..... You need to start entering some basic Personal Info in 2023 for the side menu to open up. Just continue a little ways into 2023. I had to go though about 12 screens.

If you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online. So you need to make and keep your own backups.

Or request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Or get a copy of your return using form 4506
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

Level 15
Aug 14, 2024 1:19:14 PM

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

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899779-what-s-the-difference-between-the-tax-data-file-and-the-pdf-file

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912466-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-for-windows

 

 

NOTE:  TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years.  Returns older than seven years are purged.

New Member
Aug 14, 2024 1:30:49 PM

Thank you very much for the helpful links. I'll try to carry on this way and get my issue resolved through the IRS. Much appreciated! 

New Member
Aug 14, 2024 1:35:59 PM

Yup... thanks for the obvious info to save tax returns. I did indeed have a copy saved, but where it is anymore, I couldn't say. An old laptop? An old microsoft cloud? Not sure, but it isn't with my 2017-and on taxes. In fact, I can't seem to locate any returns I filed prior to 2017. Maybe I was 100% paper back then and somehow lost them during one of my moves? I couldn't tell you, but thanks for the advice anyway. Maybe it will help the next person.