TurboTax

File with experts
File your taxes
Experts at your fingertips

An expert helps with your taxes, or does them for you
TurboTax Expert Full Service

TurboTax Expert Assist

TurboTax Self-Employed
Prior year taxes
File myself
File myself
Do it yourself

We'll guide you step-by-step
TurboTax Do It Yourself

TurboTax Self-Employed

TurboTax Desktop
TurboTax Free

Activate your product

Prior year taxes
Business
Business
Business taxes

Get your T2 corporate return done right, your way
TurboTax Business

TurboTax Business Desktop
Tax situations
Tax situations
Tax situations

Find extra guidance for your big life moves
For investors

For 25 and younger

For self-employed

For new to Canada

For life changes
Resources
Resources
Resources

Explore tax tools, get tips, and read reviews
Personal income tax calculator

RRSP savings calculator

Learning hub

TurboTax support (FAQ)

TurboTax community
Pricing

Level 2

Solved

TurboTax Can't Find Prior Year Return

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 29, 2020
5 replies
28 views

And because of that, I can't access the depreciation schedules. Any ideas?

TurboTax Home & Biz Windows

Best answer by VolvoGirl

Just saw your post you were able to download the .tax file? From a Turbo Tax Online Account? Which one? For 2018 .tax2018 or 2019 .tax2019?

Ok. You can't transfer a .tax2018 into an existing 2019 return. You would have to start a brand new 2019 return to transfer into. Go up to File-New.

If you are trying to open a .tax file you need to use the same year program. But The first thing to do before you open your tax return .tax file is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW).

JotikaT2

Employee Tax Expert

It could also be that you logged in with a different account than the one you used to file your tax return with last year.

Please see the following link to help you determine if this may have been a possibility.

Why didn't my information transfer over from last year

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

SoTiredof_TTAuthor

Level 2

All the link did was bring up an option to purchase TurboTax, which I've already done. I did have a separate turbo tax login. I thought Intuit merged it with the Mint login.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Are you using the Desktop program? Did you transfer from 2018? You need the file ending in .tax2018 on your computer to transfer into 2019. Are you trying to open your 2018 return in the 2018 program?

See if you have another .tax2018 file on your computer. Or maybe last year you marked the Schedule C as FINAL in Turbo Tax?

SoTiredof_TTAuthor

Level 2

Thank you VG. I searched for the 2018 file on my computer. Nothing came up but the PDF.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Here's an idea. Do you still have 2018 installed? Try opening the 2018 program and see if you can get your 2018 return to show up in it and if it is the right return. Go to FILE - OPEN. And see if your schedule C is in it and if it's marked as finally disposed. Or any Assets were disposed or sold.

Then save it again with a name and place you can find. Go to File - Save As. Then start a new 2019 return FILE-NEW and transfer from the saved 2018 file.

Last year that answers worked for this user - Thanks for the tip! I did go back to the 2017 return and found a box checked that indicated the business on the sched C had been disposed of. I unchecked the box, saved the 2017 file and re-imported. All is good! Thanks, again!

SoTiredof_TTAuthor

Level 2

Very last line …

TurboTax Help
Intuit
posted
‎May 24, 2019 4:11 PM

last updated ‎March 23, 2020 5:49 AM

621 helpful votes
Transfer last year's return to 2019 TurboTax for Windows
TurboTax for Windows personal CD/Download desktop software will transfer last year's tax data file (.tax2018 file) or PDF from the 2018 TurboTax desktop or online software. It even transfers PDFs created in TaxACT or H&R Block tax prep software.
We'll transfer over 100 fields to help you get a head start on your return, including:
Names and other personal info
Social Security numbers
Addresses
Employer and business info
Income forms such as W-2s and 1099s
Credits and deductions
Refunds and tax owed amounts
Capital losses
Disallowed deductions
Credits carried over to subsequent years
Schedule TurboTax information
E-file signatures if you successfully e-filed last year
Be aware that TurboTax does not transfer information that requires complex calculations, like depreciation.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Yeah, that's what I thought. That is if you transfer from a pdf or from another company. The actual Turbo Tax .tax2018 data file transfers everything.

VolvoGirlAnswer

Level 15

Just saw your post you were able to download the .tax file? From a Turbo Tax Online Account? Which one? For 2018 .tax2018 or 2019 .tax2019?

Ok. You can't transfer a .tax2018 into an existing 2019 return. You would have to start a brand new 2019 return to transfer into. Go up to File-New.

Jano 33

Level 2

Hi,

I lost all prior year Turbo Tax programs and returns . Does Turbo Tax save the 2019 tax returns in the cloud that I can access and roll into 2020?

ChondelLO

Level 12

No. TurboTax does not store them in the cloud. You are able to access prior years returns by contacting the IRS. Please visit the TurboTax Help article below for information on how to get a copy of your tax return from the IRS.

Can I get a copy of my tax return from the IRS?

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

rohit_118

Level 2

This is insane, when I login to my account, the only screen I see is file your taxes for this year. I do not see my previous year tax records, I have been filing my taxes with you since 2014!! Why you dont show me those records? And yes, I have used your premium services every year, which states I can view my tax records!!

DoninGA

Level 15

@rohit_118

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/

Start the 2022 online tax return by entering some personal information then click on Tax Home on the left side of the screen.

On the Tax Home webpage -

Scroll down to the section Your tax returns & documents. Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

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.

Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For a fee of $43 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

rohit_118

Level 2

So we will have to start the 2022 tax return to see our previous year tax returns? what if I don't want to file with Turbo Tax this year, I have no option to download?