Can't e-file because TurboTax is unable to locate attachment.

[fanfare]

Instructions above are for the Chrome browser with a new Tab.

[ehong78]

How can you go back to page where you attach file?  The one I found is greyed out.  

[Cynthiad66]

At this point, I would either contact phone support to see if they can pinpoint your specific issue or mail in your return. It is hard for us in community to troubleshoot your return without actually seeing it.  

[wihuang]

I ended up deleting the non-resident NY filing and restarted a new one, this time TurboTax did not ask for any attachment during e-file transmission.

[silabbate]

I also had the same problem, and the only thing that TurboTax "customer service" is coming up with is to file NY manually, which I am not sure is accepted.  I already filed Federal and NJ successfully, and I am tempted to follow your procedure of deleting the non-resident NY filing and start all over.  Did you do it from File, Remove State Return, with no problems?

[ehong78]

Hey, I just started a new file and redid everything again making sure to answer questions right the first time to avoid attaching any file.  It let me efile after that.  

[wihuang]

Yes.  I was a little worried that TurboTax would make me purchase another state download, but it did not.  It remembered that I bought one more state return to be filed.

Good luck.  I was playing with wage allocation choices, which could be what triggered the software to look for a phantom attachment.  Hopefully they will fix the bug.  Anyway, I no longer work in NY city, thank god.

[silabbate]

I decided to pay electronically and file by mail, I hope they accept it.  My return was long and it would have taken a lot of time to recreate it, I didn't want to mess up.  And I'm hopefully done with NY as well, although this is more of a TurboTax problem.  Thanks for your help.

[OceanZhang]

Solution:

During the e-file process, TurboTax is supposed to auto generate this pdf, save it, and attach it. For some reason, this doesn't always happen. For me, it was the federal that glitched while my state was just fine.

Take note of the file location that turbotax is looking for the missing file. 

Save the return you wish to file in PDF format in the folder that turbotax is looking for the attachment.

Change the file name of the saved file to the exact file name that turbotax is looking for. 

Once you have the exact match, transmit the e-file, and you should be good. 

Note, if your problem is with a state return, make sure you save only the state portion of the turbotax return and not the entire federal+state. If you save the whole federal+state file and go through the steps, it will still bypass the error and get the return filed, but your state comptroller might not look past the federal portion of your returns before seeing your state returns. 

[kmatt5]

I ran into this error and it was frustrating as the message is not clear. I figured out it is related to the Form 8453 for esignature that need to be printed, signed, scanned and uploaded. 

[CarissaM]

We are happy to hear you were able to solve the issue. 

Please let us know if we can further assist you. @kmatt5 

[MLHertz]

I had this error as well using a downloaded version of Turbotax business.  It also didn't show up under the Tools as a valid attachment. I moved the file from My downloads folder and put it in the same folder where I was saving my return.  I also changed the name to something simpler like "signature form".  The pdf previously had a name with unusual characters.  I was able to check that it attached by going to the tools menu. Then I was able to efile.