Why can't you download your Turbotax data without losing access to it online?

[TurboLover2]

When I log into my Turbotax account and go to download the data on record it says this next to the checkbox that needs to be checked to download it:

"You'll lose access to your electronic tax returns, W-2 records and audit assistance."

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I want to download the data that Turbotax has in its records for my account.

But in order to do that I have to submit IN ADVANCE to losing access to that data online in my Turbotax account.

Why can't I download the data and THEN decide if I want to delete that data and lose access to it and to my audit assistance in my Turbotax account?  I don't know if I want to lose access to it before I see exactly what data is there.

Three more questions please:

1) When it says I will lose access to the data.  Does that mean the data will also be permanently deleted from TT records since once I lose access I assume that also means I can no longer delete it myself?

2) Does the above (downloading your data) apply to TT users who use the Desktop version of TT or only those who file using an online version of TT?  Do Desktop version users also have stored data in Turbotax records?

3) I use the desktop version of TT.  When I start a new TT file for taxes each year it fills in data from the previous year's TT filed return.  Will deleting this data have any effect on that process?  I believe it gets that data locally on the users computer from last years local TT file.  But can someone confirm that?

Thank you.

[VolvoGirl]

Don't know about your  first question.   But if you use the Desktop program anything  you do or don't do in your Online account won't affect your desktop returns.   Your returns and data are only stored on your computer.  Yes your previous year tax return will transfer into the next year.  Make sure you have the .tax2023 or .tax2024 data file on your computer to transfer into 2024 or 2025.  

[TurboLover2]

Thanks for confirming that VolvoGirl.

I file my returns electronically through my Desktop version of TT.  I want to know what data TT has of mine.  Do they keep a copy of the electronic returns I file, for example?  Or do they go directly to the tax authorities without TT having access to the data?  This is the kind of thing I would like to find out by downloading whatever personal data of mine that they have.

But if I download the data there may be negative consequences because I will lose access and no longer have some kinds of support.  Why?  And what exactly does "lose access" mean?  Exactly what things will losing access effect?

Why can't I just see what's there and then decide if I want to keep it there.  It seems like a deterrent to transparency to me so I would like to know the rationale for that.

[VolvoGirl]

All I know is that if you efile using the Desktop program Turbo Tax doesn’t see or save your return online.  They don’t have access to your return.   They just transmit it to the IRS.   But they might save any documents you import like W2 and 1099 forms in your Online Documents.   There was discussions about that earlier in the year.  

I’m looking to see if I saved any notes on that.  

[VolvoGirl]

I found this thread from Oct 2024 for Desktop imported Documents being put in a Document Folder in your Online acct.   Is this what you are ask in about?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/after-you-file/discussion/unable-to-remove-document-from-the-docum...

[TurboLover2]

Thanks again for that link VolvoGirl.  It is an interesting discussion which I will have to study some more and does have some useful information in it.  Thank you.

But my overall question still remains.  Why can I not download my data without losing access to it and what are the consequences of losing that access?

==UPDATE==

I looked at the "Documents" section in my account that the link you provided discusses.  I don't have any documents listed there.  So I guess one of my questions now is does that mean I do not have anything in my Turbotax file to download even if I agree to "lose access?"

I never use the automatic download for tax forms (such as 1099s), I always enter them manually.  Maybe this is a factor as to why I have nothing in the documents.