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Level 10
posted Apr 8, 2025 11:52:10 PM

After update cannot find 2024 return to load

This is not a tax question but a software tech update one. After running 4/2/2025 desktop update when I start TurboTax it does not display the 2024 file I had been last working on as it usually does. Instead it wants to start a new return and searches for the 2023 tax file to transfer data. How can I get it to find and load  the 2024 file I was working on? 

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Apr 9, 2025 12:15:37 AM


@ robtm

 wrote:

This is not a tax question but a software tech update one. After running 4/2/2025 desktop update when I start TurboTax it does not display the 2024 file I had been last working on as it usually does. Instead it wants to start a new return and searches for the 2023 tax file to transfer data. How can I get it to find and load  the 2024 file I was working on? 


That has happened to me before, and hopefully it will be an easy fix 🤞.

.

Are you using the Windows or Mac version?    I can speak to the Windows version.   The best scenario would be that the file shortcut (rectangular icon) just became dissociated from the TurboTax interface.    If that's the case, then after launching TurboTax and arriving at the main landing screen, go to the top TurboTax menubar, and in the left corner of the program's menubar click the FILE menu and in the dropdown menu choose OPEN TAX RETURN.   Then it shows you a file directory in Explorer.   The *.tax2024 data file is usually in the default location, which is the Documents\TurboTax folder, but it could be wherever you chose to save it.   If you can't find it, do a full system search for any file ending in *.tax2024 file extension.

 

That should open the 2024 return so you can work on it.  When you finish your session and save your work, it should once again place a rectangular shortcut icon inside the TurboTax interface for easy opening of the return session the next time.

 

It's probably done similarly in a Mac, but the menu and search method may be a bit different.

 

Now, if you can't find a *.tax2024 data file at all--i.e., if the file appears to be missing entirely from your computer--then that's a bigger problem.

3 Replies
Level 15
Apr 9, 2025 12:15:37 AM


@ robtm

 wrote:

This is not a tax question but a software tech update one. After running 4/2/2025 desktop update when I start TurboTax it does not display the 2024 file I had been last working on as it usually does. Instead it wants to start a new return and searches for the 2023 tax file to transfer data. How can I get it to find and load  the 2024 file I was working on? 


That has happened to me before, and hopefully it will be an easy fix 🤞.

.

Are you using the Windows or Mac version?    I can speak to the Windows version.   The best scenario would be that the file shortcut (rectangular icon) just became dissociated from the TurboTax interface.    If that's the case, then after launching TurboTax and arriving at the main landing screen, go to the top TurboTax menubar, and in the left corner of the program's menubar click the FILE menu and in the dropdown menu choose OPEN TAX RETURN.   Then it shows you a file directory in Explorer.   The *.tax2024 data file is usually in the default location, which is the Documents\TurboTax folder, but it could be wherever you chose to save it.   If you can't find it, do a full system search for any file ending in *.tax2024 file extension.

 

That should open the 2024 return so you can work on it.  When you finish your session and save your work, it should once again place a rectangular shortcut icon inside the TurboTax interface for easy opening of the return session the next time.

 

It's probably done similarly in a Mac, but the menu and search method may be a bit different.

 

Now, if you can't find a *.tax2024 data file at all--i.e., if the file appears to be missing entirely from your computer--then that's a bigger problem.

Level 10
Apr 9, 2025 12:56:18 PM

Many thanks. Your solution worked great. After I got back into my 2024 return, I exited and saved it and was able to go back in and it loaded just fine. TurboTax seems to be having a larger number of issues with its programs this year. Hope it improves next year. Thanks again for your help. Greatly appreciated.

Level 15
Apr 9, 2025 2:16:53 PM

You're welcome.  I'm glad the data file itself had not evaporated.  Good luck.