Lost Info???

[tonyz3399]

Downloaded home and business. After working on for 2 days next day wants another update when open up. Now go figure I can't find my return?? Just asks to start as if gone. This is after I also started online and it did NOT transfer to the download. So frustrating, any ideas or should I just try other software? 

[larrystremikis]

same here. Using Premier Since November. Feb 26 downloaded federal update, turbo tax opened with 3 months of input missing. Only name address still there???

[judiah38]

Lost access to returns started in TurboTax 2019 Premier. 

[AkinaLO]

Here's some options to find your tax data file (.tax file) in Windows

Your tax data file (.tax file) is not the same thing as a PDF copy of your return.

A .tax file can only be opened in the TurboTax CD/Download software. Because it's stored locally on your computer, we can't retrieve tax data files prepared in the TurboTax CD/Download software. E-filing doesn't keep a copy of your return on our servers.

Related Information:

• How do I move my tax data file to another computer?
• What's the difference between the tax data file and the PDF file?
• How do I open my tax return in the TurboTax software I installed?
• How do I get a replacement for a lost or damaged TurboTax CD?

[grandslam18]

Same just happened to me.  Was at the end of the return. Turbo Tax did an update (3/27/20) and now it looks like I just installed the program for the first time.  

Did not export a .pdf, this is the .TAX file I am looking for - it is nowhere on the PC. 

A search finds my 2017 and 2018 .TAX files, but no 2019 .TAX file exists - it is as if it overwrote the whole 2019 directory. 

Have to start over from the beginning.  This should not happen Intuit. Please fix. 

Others - it is a good idea before you do any updates to make a copy of the 2019 .TAX file to a second directory just in case before doing any more updates.

[grandslam18]

Thank you, but this response does not address the issue.  The issue is that the 2019 .TAX file that people were working on is gone and does not exist on the computer after performing an update of the turbo tax software. 

[CassLO]

@grandslam18  The reason you are not finding the files is, whenever an update is installed in the CD/Download software it loses track of where you left off. So the next time you open your return it takes you to the beginning. There is no way to get back to where you left off, because the software no longer knows where you left off. But after you save the return again, the next time you open it, it will pick up where you left off, until the next update.

If you exit without saving, it also will not remember where you left off. When you open the return again, it will go to where you were when you last saved it, unless an update has been installed.

" rjs Level 15"

Please see the TurboTax FAQ's below for more information:

How do I save my return as a PDF in the TurboTax software for Windows?

How can I protect the tax files on my computer?

How do I back up my tax file in the TurboTax CD/Download software?