Can't open tax file

[paulkauer]

i get this for all of my tax files for 2021:  "We're having trouble opening your file"

even the backups.  i already filed but now can't access historical data since the latest update.  please help.  please do not tell me i have to re-do taxes from scratch that i already filed.

[mesquitebean]

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@ paulkauer wrote:
i get this for all of my tax files for 2021:  "We're having trouble opening your file"
even the backups.  i already filed but now can't access historical data since the latest update.  please help.  please do not tell me i have to re-do taxes from scratch that i already filed.

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I'll assume you are launching the 2021 TurboTax program, and then trying to have the program open the *.tax2021 data file.  

Is the data file on your hard drive?   Don't try to open it while it is on an external device, if applicable.

Are you using software for Mac or Windows?

Is there any more details to the error message?

How did you perform the update? 

[paulkauer]

Are you using software for Mac or Windows?  windows

Is there any more details to the error message?  "You can try using your back-up file instead.   You'll find instructinos on how to to open  your backup file in the link below.  Error: 102345"

the link connects to a "

We're sorry, the page you requested could not be found

"

i know where the backups are.  same result.

How did you perform the update? Automatic, it updated when i started.

[mesquitebean]

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@paulkauer wrote:

Are you using software for Mac or Windows?  windows

Is there any more details to the error message?  "You can try using your back-up file instead.   You'll find instructinos on how to to open  your backup file in the link below.  Error: 102345"

the link connects to a "We're sorry, the page you requested could not be found

"i know where the backups are.  same result.

How did you perform the update? Automatic, it updated when i started.

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Maybe you have already done so, but if you haven't rebooted (restarted) your computer since downloading the latest update, I'd do that.  Sometimes that resets something.

Here's a FAQ for Error 102345:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/bugs-and-error-messages/help/error-102345-or-error-1932147737-occu...

If it were me, if rebooting didn't change anything, I'd download and run the full manual update.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/updating/help/manually-update-turbotax-for-windows-software-basic-...

If that doesn't resolve it, and if you want to contact TurboTax Support at that point, you could do so, but they may recommend the following anyway:

If the manual update didn't resolve it, I'd probably uninstall and reinstall the software.   If you decide to reinstall, be aware that if your *.tax2021 data file has a state return in it, you'll need to install the state program into your software before opening the *.tax2021 data file, or you'll get a (different) error message since the program won't know what to do with the state data.   To do that you can start a new dummy return just long enough to download the state program.  You can later delete that dummy return.

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

[mesquitebean]

@paulkauer 

One other thing--do you also, by any chance, happen to have the dedicated Business Edition (corporations, partnerships, estates/trusts, etc.) installed on your system?  That product also saves its data files as *.tax2021 file extension, and the personal tax products cannot open a Business Edition data file, and vice versa.

Hopefully, you're not trying to open a Business Edition data file with a personal tax product.

[mesquitebean]

@ paulkauer 

Also, while you're doing all these maneuvers, I'd save copies of the *.tax2021 data files in a safe location such as a thumb drive, external drive, etc.--just in case.    The default folder for the tax data files in Windows is the \Documents\TurboTax folder, and that folder should not normally be affected by an uninstall.   But it's good to play it safe.

On rare occasions I've seen a few users say anecdotally that an update itself deleted their tax data files, but it's not clear what they were experiencing.   In any case, because of rare horror stories in the forum,  I always save a copy to a thumb drive after every time I work on my file preparing my return--just in case.

[paulkauer]

no solution offered other than re-do my taxes.  not fun  - especially since i already submitted.

funny how the self updating turbotax corrupted all my tax files.

NOTE:  the following did not resolve the issue

-manually updating turbotax with help for turbotax representative (after un-intalling)

-trying to open turbo tax from back up file

-rebooting my pc

-my files are not in default folder

this has been very painful and quicken seems not to care.  i will not be recommending or using turbotax for 2022.