topic Tax Return File is gone in After you file

Tax Return File is gone

itsnotaflufie — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:06:47 GMT

I bought the CD this year and filed taxes for 2019 back in February. Everything was great until I just tried to access my return through the .tax file I saved, and when I opened it up, everything was gone. My entire return is missing; the program is acting like I've never even used it before. How do I recover this? I really need my tax information, but didn't save a PDF because I was told this would work just as well. Apparently not.

Re: Tax Return File is gone

rjs — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:38:07 GMT

The only copy of your .tax2019 file is on the computer you used to file your tax return, and any backup copies that you made. TurboTax does not have a copy of it.

TurboTax will not automatically find the file if it has been moved since you saved it. If it doesn't show up when you start TurboTax, look first in the TurboTax folder. That's the default location. The file name extension is .tax2019, not .tax. If you don't find it in the TurboTax folder, use the Windows search to search your entire hard drive for *.tax2019.

You should always save a PDF of your tax return in addition to the .tax20yy file. The only way to open the .tax20yy file is with the TurboTax software for the corresponding year. At some point in the future you might no longer have a working copy of the software. Then the PDF is the only way to see your tax return.

Re: Tax Return File is gone

rjs — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 21:38:56 GMT

Also look in the Recycle Bin. Windows search doesn't look there.

Re: Tax Return File is gone

VolvoGirl — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 22:09:21 GMT

You have the file ending in .tax2019 you did back in February? Do you have a Windows computer? Which Windows? Also check in the One Drive folder if you have that.

If the main .tax file doesn't work, you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like "~your name.tax2019". That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

Find your Tax file in Windows

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/25926

Or another thought I have is even though you bought the CD a lot of people ended up accidentally using the Online version. When you filled out your return was there a blue menu bar across the top or a black menu bar Down the left side?