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Level 1
April 15, 2020
Question

Missing 2019 tax data file after turbotax software updates were applied

  • April 15, 2020
  • 18 replies
  • 2 views

4/14/2020 - I launched the 2019 turbotax business program on my Windows 10 PC. turbotax updates were applied. I wanted to open a return and continue where I left off. I clicked Continue a Tax Return,but no files were found! The turbotax file folder on my PC was empty. Did the turbotax update process delete the tax data file?

18 replies

Level 2
May 17, 2021

Hi there,

If by searching the whole hard drive for *tax* , you cannot find the file. You can access the IRS website on this link: 
Here’s how people can request a copy of their previous tax return | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

Click on the link Get Transcripts Online and follow the registration instructions to create an account (if you are not registered already) or login if you are.

I did not have my 2019 Tax returns for the same reasons that you all are having (all posted) and I got it in 15 minutes.

I hope it helps.

Best regards.

Critter-3
Level 15
May 17, 2021

Others have reported these things have fixed the issue : 

 

They were not in the same administrator account so the program could not see the file. 

 

They had the program on the wrong drive ... it must be on the C drive. 

 

They had uninstalled OS updates ... install them and reboot the computer at least 3 times.   The run a program update ... you may need to force the update : 

 

 

 

How do I update TurboTax CD/Download?

Although you can update over a wireless or dial-up connection, it's best to use a wiredhigh-speed connection to speed things up and minimize the possibility of data corruption.

Select Check for Updates from the Online menu in TurboTax (Windows) or quit and reopen the program (Mac). If new updates are available, you'll get a message to download them.

If you get disconnected while updating, try again and our update will pick up where it left off.

Windows users: Download a manual update if you're having trouble updating from the Online menu.

Related Information:

Level 2
September 7, 2022

I am on TT Deluxe, not Business. But a similar thing happened. I opened my Taxes 2019 from my Desktop drive, but there was no data. The program congratulated me that my taxes were complete, but there  was no data, not in the Summary, nowhere. It sent me back to start again: First Name. 

Lots of time wasted apparently. 

Level 5
September 7, 2022

The TurboTax help line told me that my problem was unique and no one else had the same complaint, which isn't true.

I still haven't found a fix.  A fix is necessary because it's going to happen again.  An update will move our tax files someplace else.  Obviously TurboTax doesn't know how to solve the problem and will not even acknowledge that there is a problem.

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Critter-3
Level 15
September 7, 2022

The program looks on your hard drive for the .taxfile so did you save it to a removable storage medium ?   If so the program cannot see or run it from that location ... copy it back to the hard drive. 

Level 2
November 25, 2022

Missing 2022 tax data file after update Turbotax Premier 2022

Can somebody tell me where the file are on my Windows 10 laptop and what the file extension is?

Thanks Ed

Level 2
November 25, 2022

my user name is ed.debi

Level 5
January 25, 2023

This has been a continuing problem with turbo tax.  The turbo tax updates move your files.  Where?

Level 5
January 29, 2023

It looks like it did. 

Level 5
February 28, 2023

Turbo tax updates move all files.  Where?

Level 2
January 24, 2024

App missing after updates were applied

CatinaT1
Level 15
January 25, 2024

You are posting on an old thread. Can you please clarify what the problem is you are having?

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
January 26, 2024

I just updated TuboTax desktop version on my Windows 10 computer, now all my previous tax files are gone. I had started a new 2023 tax file as well, that's also gone.

Level 2
February 6, 2024

This happens to me every time I start trying to catch up on my taxes from the previous years. It also happens when I need to open my tax return because someone is requesting the information from me. It's been going on for desktop TT every year since I can remember starting back in 2013.

These "updates" even mess with my PDF versions of my returns I've saved in different drives of my laptop.

Level 2
February 6, 2024

Thank goodness for external backup drive. All my old Turbo Tax files and PDFs were gone. I believe it overwrote the existing directory with a new directory, which killed everything in in.