topic Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

gbhatt4956 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:23:16 GMT

Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive? I had no problem before. I am using Turbo Tax for last 20 years. Now they are asking for money.

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

Kat — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:24:14 GMT

Strange. Have you already e-filed your return(s) and have they been accepted?

Here are instructions (see screenshot):

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

SteamTrain — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 21:41:30 GMT

A couple other things.

1) some people forget they don't have write permission to certain directories. IF it still won't save using Save-As, then try saving to your Desktop instead and see if it saves there.

2) make sure you are saving the tax file and the PDF file to yoru computer, and not to some cloud drive.

3) DO not save directly to a flash drive from the TTX software. Historically, those files get corrupted in the save. Save to your hard drive, then copy those to the flash drive.

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

gbhatt4956 — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 17:57:48 GMT

I am TurboTax customer for last 20 years. I faced compability problem first time. Even I received message from Microsoft that there is compability issue . I have 64 bits OS, but somehow TurboTax is downloading in 32 bits. I tried everything and called TurboTax, but it didn’t work.

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

EbonyL122824 — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 20:18:59 GMT

@gbhatt4956 You can follow the instructions in the TurboTax FAQ here to save your tax return as a tax data file.

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

SteamTrain — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 20:41:01 GMT

I "think" TTX only comes as a 32 bit program to make it compatible with all Windows computers.

My Windows 10 system automatically installs it in the proper 32-bit section of my computer.....so if yours doesn't do that automatically, something is "off" with how you are trying to install it. (or are you trying to force install it as a 64bit softwre set?)

_______________________

This shouldn't be necessary but you could try the following:

If you are using a Windows 11 computer...try rt-clicking on the installation file and try running in compatibility mode for a W10 computer.

If you are using a Windows 10 computer...try rt-clicking on the installation file and try running in compatibility mode for a W8 computer.

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

BellaBella — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 22:29:50 GMT

Hi,

I have spent hours trying to work out something that should be very straightforward and am wondering if you can help me.

I usually use turbotax online and so it saves the stuff for easy use the following year.

For 2021 though I used the desktop versions and filed by mail as I was way behind schedule.

Now when I open the 2021 desktop version of turbotax it pulls up all the information correctly but I can't work out how to save the .tax file onto the computer so that I can pull it up in the online version to do my 2022 taxes.

It seems like it should be straightforward, but the only option under the File menu at the top of the page is to save it as a pdf which is not useful.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks,

Bella

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 22:53:59 GMT

You have to transfer 2021 into the 2022 software BEFORE you start entering any other 2022 information into the program. Here is a FAQ that should tell you how to transfer from desktop to online software.

How to transfer last year’s return? https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900883

Re: Why I can not save 2021 tax file on my computer or on my flash drive?

VolvoGirl — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 23:13:04 GMT

If the 2021 program opens your return you already have the data file ending in .tax2021 saved on your computer. You don't need to save it. Or you can save it again so you know the name and where it's saved. Go up to File - Save or Save As.

If you used the Desktop program last year here’s How to transfer into the Online version. You need to have the prior year .tax2021 file on your computer. It should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder. Expand the link if you used the CD/download last year........

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/how-do-i-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-turbotax-online/00/25953