Cannot reopen saved tax2020 file

[unkini]

I bought the downloadable version of TurboTax Premier and installed it on my Windows 10 laptop. After spending a few hours to complete both my tax-year 2020 federal and state returns, I saved a .tax2020 file and exited for the day.

Now when I try to re-open my .tax2020 file to resume my return, I get the message:
"Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening  your return. 

Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new tax return"

Creating a new tax return is not a great option as I will have to redo a few hours of work. Has anyone else hit this issue and been able to figure out a solution?

[dziadzia56]

I have the same issue with no help from TurboTax.  I will not use TurboTax again.

[MichelleLO]

Please try to update your software to see if that resolves the issue. For instructions click here. You may need to run a manual update as well.  If that doesn't work, please see the link below to contact one of our TurboTax representatives:

What is the TurboTax phone number?

[Scott Sk]

I am experiencing the same problem. 

I have the downloaded version (not the online version). I did the update and still can not open my file which I already spent several hours working on. 

[Scott Sk]

I received the following error message after restarting my downloaded program. I spent several hours the first time I started my taxes and am afraid if I start over I will waste several hours again.

Error message: Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return. Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new tax return.

Is there a better solution? Or is the best solution another program other than TurboTax?

[VolvoGirl]

You have the tax file ending in .tax2020?  Do you get an error message or code?  Like 190?

After you get update the program you might need to download and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to File-New Tax Return).

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

[Scott Sk]

I tried creating a new file, then closing it. Then reopening my original file. I continue to get the same error. There is no Error code.

The entire error message is this: Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return. Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new tax return.

BTW,  I'm using TurboTax Premier.

[Scott Sk]

I created another new file from scratch. Imported my 2019 PDF and completed the "Personal information" section. Then saved the file. Exited the program. reopened the program and got the following error again: Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return. Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new tax return.

It appears the TurboTax program is corrupt and will destroy every file I create.

I've uninstalled the program and reinstalled the program and the same thing happens. 

[unkini]

I updated last weekend and again yesterday. In each case, the new version of the software still does not allow me to re-open my original tax2020 file. This bug is very easily reproducible on my Windows 10 laptop, here are the steps:

1. Start brand new Federal return, does not matter how much or how little progress you make

2. Save in-progress return to tax2020 file

3. Exit program

4a. Restart program by double-clicking tax2020 file

OR

4b. Restart program and then select tax2020 file to open

Both 4a and 4b consistently  return that same error message that I and other users have reported:

Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return.

Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new return.

I only have the downloadable Premier version, but it seems likely that the bug is not specific to Premier? As this is such a basic bug which affects almost every user, it seems strange that it hasn't been fixed as yet.

[Scott Sk]

I feel your pain! This may likely be the last year I use TurboTax there are many alternatives now that are just as good and less expensive.

I was also using Windows 10 Laptop with Turbo Tax Premier. One common thing I found with my situation was I used the Import option to get my previous year's information from my PDF file. Last year I did the Turbo Tax online version, not the desktop version. Therefore, I did not have the native .tax file.

Every time I used the import it resulted in the corrupted file. 

I started from scratch and did not import any previous tax information and I was able to make it through and save and access my file after I closed it. 

I'm very disappointed in Turbo Tax's response. I spend several hours starting over and over after entering data many times before I figured out how to avoid the problem. I requested help and ended up figuring it out myself. This does concern me that if they have such a problem, will my taxes actually be correct? What other mistakes did they make? 

[NDLH]

I have used Turbo Tax since 1999, and I am sorry to say that the 2020 version of the program was the first time that I was disappointed with the program. My program did not loose the file but it was not returning to the step that I last completed, so I had to restart many times. I thought that it was because I did not "visit" every topic, so I went through each one (although I did not need to) and made sure that the program knew that I had visited the topic. After doing so I was able to exit, open the program and select to go back to where I left off. Hope this helps the technical staff troubleshoot this problem

I also kept getting a message that suggested that I go back to the previously completed task because there could be an error in it. I never saw this before.

I would suggest to Intuit to review any updates made to the program and thoroughly quality check the program before they loose long term customers like me, that have been using the product for many years

[unkini]

I finally found a workaround, which was to keep the default/suggested filename for the tax2020 file unchanged.  I can change the directory where the file is being saved from Documents\TurboTax, that does not trigger the bug in the software. But if I change the filename when I save (which I was doing earlier), then I cannot reopen the file - I get the "tax file is corrupt" error.

[jacjar1]

all suggestions tried, still have same issue. How do i get a refund this program is useless if i cant save file. 

[KatrinaLO]

If you are having issues and need assistance, please contact customer support. Please see the Customer Support phone number here. If you would like to reach out through our website, please see the TurboTax FAQ below for contact information: https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

[marsman56]

I had same problem. I saved every Turbo Tax file I had on my computer to a thumb drive and them removed all traces of TurboTax from my computer.   It worked fine after that.  Turbo Tax help did nothing to help and when I talked to them and explained what I did they had no clue.