topic I am trying to retrieve my 2021 tax return and I can't open it. Any suggestions? in After you file

I am trying to retrieve my 2021 tax return and I can't open it. Any suggestions?

4max28 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:04:20 GMT

Re: I am trying to retrieve my 2021 tax return and I can't open it. Any suggestions?

VolvoGirl — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 22:16:12 GMT

How to Access prior year online returns
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/27010

If you can't get the side menus to open up to access the prior year..... You need to start entering some basic Personal Info in 2023 for the side menu to open up. Just continue a little ways into 2023. I had to go though about 12 screens.

If you used the Desktop CD/Download program then the only copy is on your computer and not saved or stored online. So you need to make and keep your own backups.

Or request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Or get a copy of your return using form 4506
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

Re: I am trying to retrieve my 2021 tax return and I can't open it. Any suggestions?

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 22:16:34 GMT

You have to access your own account and/or print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

Start a 2023 return online and enter some personal information so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/27010

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.

Account Recovery

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900721-find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows

You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $43, an actual copy of your tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

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

SAVE YOUR TAX RETURN !

EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records. That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900937-why-should-i-save-a-pdf-copy-of-my-return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899779-what-s-the-difference-between-the-tax-data-file-and-the-pdf-file

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912466-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-for-windows •

NOTE: TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years. Returns older than seven years are purged.

Re: I am trying to retrieve my 2021 tax return and I can't open it. Any suggestions?

VolvoGirl — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 22:18:01 GMT

Or do you have the .tax2021 file and trying to open it in the Desktop program? 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.