@ earlgray
"Your software has a serious flaw."
I'm a fellow user and longtime forum volunteer. This is mainly a user community forum--not a direct route to TurboTax Support, although I left info for you above on how to reach them.
Sorry you're having trouble, but there's not an easy explanation for what happened to your data file. With millions of people using TurboTax this is not a common issue. We see a few instances occasionally in this forum, but not very often. TurboTax phone support likely gets some reports as well.
This is a thread from last year, where the threadowner was using Online Free Edition and couldn't find his online return.. That's why the first answer for the original threadowner from last June mentions checking for other Intuit accounts. Since you are using desktop software, that does not apply in your situation.
"I am also well aware of how to search for files."
Sorry, but there's no way to know what any individual user knows or not. And in a massive forum like this there is a broad spectrum of users. If someone suggests something you already know, it's OK to just ignore it.
You should discuss your issue with the folks at TurboTax. I had left contact info for you in my previous comment above. It's good to let them know in case it's an issue they are currently investigating so they can question you further, and gives them an idea how often it's affecting users.
