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Returning Member
posted Feb 25, 2020 10:39:13 AM

State tax will not start

I have no problem in downloading the state tax but it will not run when hit "start" button,  It went back to download cycle.  HOw can I run the program?

0 28 7986
24 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 25, 2020 11:25:05 AM

This is a known issue with a workaround. Here is the article from Turbo Tax Help.

 

 

State Loop indicates TurboTax is "up to date" after updating but won't allow you to Install your state return

Resolution

:

  1. Download the TTStateCleanup.zip file and save it to your Desktop or other easy-to-find location.
  2. Double click to open the zip folder
  3. Extract the contents of the folder to your desktop and open the extracted folder.
  4. Right-click the downloaded file (TTCleanStates.exe) and select Run as Administrator.
  5. Select your version  (Personal or Business)
  6. select your state from the drop-down menu and choose Remove (if you're having problems with multiple states, choose  Remove all States).
  7. Once the tool finishes doing its thing, close it and reopen TurboTax.
  8. Follow the prompts to update TurboTax at the prompt – it should start downloading your state.
  9. If not, click the State Taxes tab and download it from there.
  10. If the fix-it fails, do this instead:
  11. Uninstall TurboTax.
  12. Double-click the CD or download file to start the reinstallation process with the following steps:
  13. Click Next on the Welcome Screen.
  14. Click I Agree on the License Agreement.
  15. On the next screen, where you see the install location, select Browse and change it to the location where TurboTax was originally installed. Normally, it's something like C:\Program Files (x86)\TurboTax\Deluxe 20XX.
  16. Click Install after changing the location.
  17. Reopen TurboTax after installation and proceed to your state taxes.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue you're experiencing in TurboTax Please use the article below to restart your computer into Selective Startup and run the tool again.  

Related Information:

Returning Member
Mar 3, 2020 5:26:46 PM

 Still can't get my state taxes to start; it keeps opening a window to purchase the state module online.  Just wondering if this scenario is causing the problem:

1) I purchased and installed TurboTax Business 2019, then processed a Federal tax return for my S corporation, choosing NOT to purchase my state module at that time.  I then E-filed my Federal return and tried to do the state return manually.

2) I then processed a Federal tax return for my LLC, this time deciding to go ahead and purchase my state module (South Carolina).  I completed both Federal and state tax returns for the LLC.

3) Now I'm trying to go back and do the state return for my S Corp, but it keeps prompting me to purchase the state module!

I tried using the TTStateCleanup download but no joy.  If I uninstall and reinstall my entire TT product(s), will I still be able to get back into my existing tax files and complete the state return for my S Corp?  Or is it stuck in some hopeless loop because I didn't install the state module when I was initially offered to purchase it?

Level 1
Apr 10, 2020 9:05:16 AM

doesn't download arizona state

Intuit Alumni
Apr 11, 2020 8:32:39 AM

Please click the link below to contact Customer Support for assistance.

 

What is the TurboTax phone number? - Community

 

Level 2
May 22, 2020 10:55:27 AM

Hi TurboTax-2019 Customer Support,

 

I ran into the same loop problem as my CA State won't start no matter what.  I read the related articles, did all the steps multiple times, still no success.  1. run "TTStateCleanup.exe"  to clean all the States - no use,  2. uninstalled and reinstalled TurboTax - no use (also manually deleted the old TTax 2019 folder, delete some TTax 2019 related Windows' Regedit entries, the uninstallation did not delete everything, after reinstalling it, it didn't require license file, it still remember where I was last time),  3. did the Selective Startup - no use.   It continues to let you go though the State download, check update, the version is up to date, cannot go into the next step of State Tax.

 

I have used TurboTax for more than 20 years, never ran into this type of serious problem.  This is not acceptable.  Please pass this message to the TTax developers and QA engineers.    They must find out the exact cause of the issue and deliver a update release soon, time is running out!  Thanks!

Level 15
May 22, 2020 10:57:51 AM

Let them know........Contact Customer Service
5am-5pm Pacific Time Monday -Friday
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

What is the Turbo Tax phone number
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

New Member
May 23, 2020 7:16:19 PM

Thank you so much - this worked!

 

 

Level 2
Jan 20, 2021 9:59:13 AM

This cleanup file is for 2019. Is there one for 2020? The 2019 does not solve the issue for 2020 filers. 

Level 15
Jan 20, 2021 10:04:03 AM

@Angw1  What is your problem?  It is still early.   The state programs might not be ready yet to start or download.

 

State Forms Availability
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/forms/help/state-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-personal-tax-products/00/26227

 

Level 2
Jan 20, 2021 10:19:34 AM

Okay. Customer needed to file his 2020 state tax on TT Desktop software. 

Level 2
Jan 20, 2021 10:24:01 AM

I found this article to know when the IRS is accepting returns for 2020.

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/articles/5106790-when-will-the-irs-start-processing-tax-returns-for-individual-filers-ty20

Level 15
Jan 20, 2021 10:25:36 AM

Are you asking about Federal or State?  That link you posted doesn't work.  

The IRS won't open filing until Feb 12, 2021 this year
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-tax-filing-season-begins-feb-12-irs-outlines-steps-to-speed-refunds-during-pandemic


The IRS has not updated all the forms yet. See
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/forms/help/irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-personal-tax-products/00/26224

 

Level 2
Jan 20, 2021 2:36:56 PM

Strange, because I just clicked the link and it is fine, thank you for your responses!

 

Returning Member
Feb 28, 2022 6:54:00 AM

After an hour long telephone conversation with a TurboTax specialist, it was determined that there is NO Tennessee State Tax forms to download because starting in 2021, the HALL Tax was repealed. There is no individual income tax due nor on interest & earned dividends.

 

I guess TurboTax missed this one. Hopefully next year it will be corrected for Tennessee.

New Member
Mar 11, 2022 8:45:49 PM

I've tried the tool to remove the state and after that restart turbotax I don't see the State. 

but somehow it came back once I've done Federal return, and after that I cannot start my state return.

the same situation. 

NEED URGENT HELP ON THIS. 

Intuit Alumni
Mar 14, 2022 9:55:53 AM

Try to update the software.

 

Manually Update TurboTax for Windows Software (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business)

You can try to update manually, scroll down the article for those steps.

Level 1
Apr 3, 2022 4:14:54 PM

Well, it's 2022 and they still have not fixed this error. I have already paid for the second state, and I keep getting stuck in the "clear white box" stage every single time I try to add the second state.


I think that with all of the people having this issue, there should be a complete and 100% solution to this.
I tried the "TTStateCleanup" tool. It did not even get to the first menu it was "supposed" to get to. I ran it as admin, from multiple locations, including the directory containing the current TurboTax file I am trying to get the states to work. I created a rule in Windows firewall and verified TT can connect to the internet and completed updating. i uninstalled  the tool, reinstalled it, still does not work. I don't think the thing actually is written correctly. I unzip the tool, click on the .exe...Then It asks if it can make changes, I click the button to ok that, and it generates a log file, but nothing else. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And the log file is useless.

After a week, and many, many, attempts, I keep getting the same response from their software.

I paid full price, bought an extra state, but cannot finish my tax return.

This is not acceptable.

 

Ridiculous that they make us give up our time to solve their own trouble shooting AFTER purchasing their software.

 

They sure don't make a mistake taking my money...

Intuit Alumni
Apr 4, 2022 4:09:16 PM

Have you tried following the instructions in our FAQ regarding getting blank screens, missing buttons, or missing images?

 

@frustratedwiththisproduct

 

Level 1
Mar 29, 2023 2:56:07 PM

Three years later and I'm having the same problem.  Have spent hours on the phone with customer support and  -  NOTHING!

Intuit Alumni
Mar 30, 2023 8:52:26 AM

You are commenting on an old thread. Can you give us some more details of the issue you are having so we can better assist? @MikeL7 

Level 1
Mar 30, 2023 11:22:16 AM

Hi Carissa - Old thread but same issue.  Using Premier version on a windows 10 machine.   I'll give you the full story.  I worked on both my state and federal returns and left TT and the file open on the computer.  The software was working fine.  The computer got rebooted with the software/file open.  When I returned to TT later after restarting the computer, it gave me an option to recover the file, which I selected.  I continued to work on the return and all seemed well until I went to eFile both returns.  Can't remember exactly what it was called but I believe it was a Failed Validation error.  Someone else in the community solved that problem by reinstalling the software.  So I reinstalled the software and worked on my federal again as I received a late K-1.   When I went to revisit the state return it took me to Intuit to buy it. That's when I noticed the state refund block in the top banner was missing.   Customer service gave me a link to reload the state but the file still did not show it as present.  At this point I figured the file itself was the problem so I bit the bullet and completely redid my federal.  The new return did show both the federal and state refund blocks in the top banner.  After completing federal I hit the start button for the state.  Instead of starting the return it went out to download the state (though it was already installed) and came back with the 'software up to date' message.   Hitting the state start button just put me back into that same loop.  So I assumed there must be a problem with my software that a reinstall (Amazon download) did not fix.  I went to Intuit site for a clean version and downloaded it, but it gave me the same result.   State return will not launch.  I e-filed the Federal.  I probably spent close to five hours with three different CS reps over two days.  Let me know if you have ideas. Thanks!!  - Mike

Intuit Alumni
Mar 30, 2023 1:19:18 PM

Please try the steps in the below TurboTax  Help Article to see if that will resolve the issue you're experiencing with the state download.

State install/e-file update loop: State not installed after installation or TurboTax needs to update prior to e-file

 

If that doesn't resolve the issue, you will need to reach back out to Customer Support and see if they can push you a new download of the software.  

What is the TurboTax phone number?

@MikeL7 

Level 1
Mar 30, 2023 2:04:58 PM

Been there done that.  If you open the file it's for TY21 so it didn't help.  CS couldn't find TY22 version.  CS number I used is 800-446-8848.  Nice folks but they ended up playing middleman to a supervisor they were messaging back and forth with.  Slow process.  As I mentioned before, I bought a new version direct from Intuit site and it didn't fix the issue.  I'd blame my computer, but as I said before, until the reboot with the open file the state module worked fine.   I've got a gremlin in their somewhere that won't go away even with the installation of a fresh copy.  

Intuit Alumni
Mar 31, 2023 12:25:11 PM

Please feel free to contact Customer Support again so you can speak with a different representative who can assist you.

@MikeL7