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It should save your progress every time you come to a new screen. TurboTax does eventually time out, but it will save all of your progress before it logs you out. You can also go to my account at the top and there should be a save and sign out option as well.
If I use the turbotax program that I install on my computer, it doesn't have a timeout. If that is a safe thing to do, then why does the online version have to time out? Please let me chose the duration of the timeout. This is highly inconvenient and makes me want to go back to the offline version.
@cklingner If you do not like the way the online software works then you can switch to the desktop software.
When you use the downloaded version it is wise to periodically save the return and you can give the files different names so if you want to go back to a prior save point you can ... if you save after each section then add "after w-2s or after Sch C or after Sch E" in the file name for quick reference. Then the last save should have "as filed" added to the file name.
This is my mini version of a tutorial that should be in the downloaded program:
Forms Mode lets you view and make changes to your tax forms "behind the scenes."
If you're adventurous, you can even prepare your return in Forms Mode, but we don't recommend it. You may miss obscure credits and deductions you qualify for, and you may forget to report things that will come back and haunt you later.
Forms Mode is exclusively available in the TurboTax CD/Download software. It is not available in TurboTax Online.
If you want to play around with different figures and tax scenarios without affecting your original return you can ….
It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:
If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.
AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :
AND protect the files :
Hi xmasbaby0,
Thanks for your response. I can't so easily use the downloaded version as I'm running on Ubuntu and I think Intuit still is not providing a version that runs on any Linux distribution. I would rather not have to switch to a Windows box just for filing taxes.
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