topic I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my return has been erased! Can TurboTax restore it, as they are at fault for this? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my return has been erased! Can TurboTax restore it, as they are at fault for this?

imdsutton — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 17:59:00 GMT

My entire return was complete, I was simply waiting on my state form to update and kept checking every few days. I last logged in 3 days ago and everything was there. Today I logged in, and my entire return is erased. This is unacceptable, hours of work gone. I am not using the desktop/CD version, I am using the online web version if that matters.

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my return has been erased! Can TurboTax restore it, as they are at fault for this?

DoninGA — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 18:02:09 GMT

You have to sign onto your 2020 online account using the exact same User ID you used to create the online account.

Close all TurboTax windows on your web browser (including this one). Copy and paste the account recovery website link onto a new web browser window and run the tool.

Use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of all the User ID's for an email address. Run the tool against any email addresses you may have used - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If none of the user ID's received will access your 2020 account, then use the option shown in blue on the account recovery website, "Try something else"

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.

To access your prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

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

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my return has been erased! Can TurboTax restore it, as they are at fault for this?

acimlife — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 14:09:54 GMT

I have the desktop version and my entire file was erased upon update. There is a problem in the update. Elaine Izzi

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my ret...

Irene2805 — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:34:41 GMT

Most likely, your tax return file hasn't been erased. It just may not show on the Home screen when you open the program. To open your return, click the Find a Tax File link. [See Screenshot #1. below.] Double-click on the file name to open it.

By default, TurboTax files are located on your C: drive [unless you have changed your settings] at this address: C:\Users\[your name]\Documents\TurboTax

If your file is not in the Documents folder you can search for it on your hard drive. The files have an extension ".tax[YEAR]," for example, .tax2017, .tax2016, etc. You can search your hard drive for TurboTax files by putting an asterisk in front of the extension: *.tax2020. This should find all your 2020 TurboTax files.

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my ret...

acimlife — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 01:43:00 GMT

I searched and have other years' submissions but not the one for 2020. I also checked for deleted files but found no tax file. It appears to be completely gone. Again, this appears to be a software update problem.

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my ret...

MichelleLO — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:57:36 GMT

Please reach out to TurboTax Customer Support as your issue would be best resolved with one-on-one support. Please visit the Contact Us page and select your product to get you to the right person.

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my ret...

dbmarch — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 15:35:37 GMT

I just had the same thing occur to me with the 2022 version.

I had my taxes just about complete. It was saved on the filesystem.

I opened Turbotax to complete my taxes and the it had a long update. Once the update was complete my Tax file was gone.

I know where to look and there are no .tax2022 files anywhere. The update definitely did delete my file.

This is a VERY serious bug. From now on, I'll make copies of my tax2022 files so the software doesn't cause me hours of work...

Re: I logged in today to see if the update was released so I could file, only to find that my ret...

CarissaM — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 20:32:42 GMT

Have you checked to see if there is a tax file with a similar name in your documents? @dbmarch