topic Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Old laptop crashed w/past history

pnt4u2 — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:57:00 GMT

My laptop crashed with several years of TurboTax. I have it recovered on a thumbdrive. I called TT Tech before and he said I must load it first before starting 2020 TurboTax. He said if I had any problem to call Tech and y'all would walk me through it. Can you help me?

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

HTT82 — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:24:38 GMT

Hello....my laptop crashed and i lost everything, including my 2020 tax that was filed successfully. Didn't have a chance to back it up before laptop crashed. Wondering if you have been successful in restoring. How did you reach out to an Turbo Tax contact? I've searched everywhere and cannot find a phone number to call anyone. Have you resorted to any other alternatives to restoring your taxes or do you have to redo your taxes all over again? If you have any insights, pls share. I was able to re-download 2020 turbo tax to my new laptop but do not know if Turbo tax keeps copies of our submitted taxes anywhere. Thanks for any insights.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

VolvoGirl — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:28:08 GMT

Sorry no. If you used the Desktop program the only copy of your return was on that computer and any backups you made. Did the hard drive crash or the computer? If the hard drive is ok you can take it out and put it into an external usb enclosure to access it.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

VolvoGirl — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 18:31:38 GMT

For the original poster and anyone else.....

If you have a .tax2019 (or any year),

The programs need to be installed from the CD or download them again. You don't need to install them unless you need to amend or open a return.

After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return 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 Tax Return).

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-computer/00/26128

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

HTT82 — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 19:45:24 GMT

Hard drive is not able to be recovered through Geek Squad support. Lost everything. Didn't get a chance back up 2020 tax return to external drive and hoped that Turbo tax may have a copy i can request since I eFile. I was able to restore 2019 tax since i downloaded the 2019 turbo tax app from where i purchased it and have a copy of the submitted tax saved off from prior year. My problem is getting a copy of my 2020 tax that was submitted. Perhaps the IRS and Franchise tax board may have a copy for me to download since electronically eFile? I have 2020 turbo tax app now on my new laptop and will have to redo my taxes all over again if i cannot retrieve the copy that was submitted. Searched online in turbo tax to talk to someone but cannot find a number. If you have a number to share with me, i can call turbor tax support. Thanks!

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

VolvoGirl — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 19:59:04 GMT

The only thing you can get is a copy from the IRS and probably the state. But not an electronic file you can open in the program.

You can request a transcript from the IRS

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

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

HTT82 — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 21:28:20 GMT

Thank you....i already called the IRS and requested a transcript and may pay the extra $$$ to get the actual file. I'm redoing my 2020 taxes now and see if i come up with the same number that i filed in May...LOL A real pain to have to go through it again....but learnt now to back it up daily to external drive.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

VolvoGirl — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 22:59:33 GMT

Well you can use the Forms Mode to enter it so it matches.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

Critter-3 — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 23:05:35 GMT

This is my mini version of a tutorial that should be in the downloaded program:

What is Forms Mode?

Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."

If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.

Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.

Related Information:

If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….

>>>In the TurboTax CD/Download software by creating a test copy:
1. Open your return in TurboTax.
2. From the File menu, choose Save As.
3. Give the copy a new name to distinguish it from the original (for example, by adding "Test" or "Example" to the file name).
4. Click Save. You are now safely working in the test copy and anything you do here will not affect the original.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900642-how-to-make-a-test-copy-of-your-return

>> use the WHAT IF tool:
- Click Forms Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 2 (forms view)
- Click on the Open Form Icon
- In the “Type a form name.” area type What-If (with the dash), click on the name of the worksheet - click on Open Form
- You will see the worksheet on the right side of the screen; enter the information right into the form
- To get back to interview mode - click on the Step-by-Step Icon (upper right of screen) or Ctrl 1

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:

From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
Browse to where you want to save your backup.
- Tip: If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
Click Save and then close TurboTax.
Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

AND protect the files :

How can I protect the tax files on my computer?

Always remember to shut off the auto update function once you have filed your returns and do not do any updates unless you have safeguarded the PDF & .taxfiles to a removable storage unit for safekeeping. Click on ONLINE then Update Preferences.... don't be afraid to click on all the menu headings to find all the goodies that are hiding.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

HTT82 — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 23:59:43 GMT

I've gone through the forms in the past and have looked at the actual values that Turbo Tax enters but in this case, i don't even have a hard copy to refer to in order to manually enter into the forms. Problematic if i screw up something. I'm hoping the IRS transcript, if i actually will receive it at some point, may give me some indications. Basically entering all my tax again for 2020, as if i'm filing taxes for 2020 all over again w/all the notes i've kept. Too many variables this yr. Thanks though.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

jhCopeland123 — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:36:51 GMT

My hard drive crashed with the last 4 years of my turbo tax returns. Is there any way to get them back? I did no backups.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

DoninGA — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:43:22 GMT

@jhCopeland123 wrote:

My hard drive crashed with the last 4 years of my turbo tax returns. Is there any way to get them back? I did no backups.

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/

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)

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

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

macuser_22 — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 21:48:08 GMT

@jhCopeland123 wrote:

My hard drive crashed with the last 4 years of my turbo tax returns. Is there any way to get them back? I did no backups.

Not if you used the CD/download version. It only exists on your computer or backups.

Perhaps you will invest in a (under $100) external HD to make periodic backups now. Personally I have 2 hard drives with daily backups and a 3rd portable HD in my motor home so even if my house burns down, I can recover my data.

Re: Old laptop crashed w/past history

Critter-3 — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 23:18:53 GMT

If nothing else thumb drive storage units are really cheap and you don't need a lot of memory for just your return files.