Entered 2019 online but didn't file. Now need to access the info

[mydogsmom]

Help! I worked for 3 days online in 2019 Premier edition entering all my 2019 info but didn't file. I spoke to experts and had all the info there. A lot happened and I didn't get back to file the return and was getting a small refund. Now I can't access the info. I downloaded 2019 software now but apparently need to re-enter all the 2019 info. When I open TurboTax online, there is NO "Documents" category. The only thing that opens in TurboTax online now is to start a new 2020 return. Is there ANY way I can get that 2019 info from Turbo Tax and then transfer it to my 2019 software? Can customer support help me? Thank you!

[mesquitebean]

@ mydogsmom  asked:  "When I open TurboTax online, there is NO "Documents" category. The only thing that opens in TurboTax online now is to start a new 2020 return. Is there ANY way I can get that 2019 info from Turbo Tax and then transfer it to my 2019 software?"

If you're returning to Online TurboTax for the first time this tax season, the tabs for Tax Home and Documents may not appear at first.  It may first ask you some questions on preliminary screens, and you may have to choose a 2020 product (you are not obligated to use it) before you can get to your Tax Home page that also has the Documents tab.  If so, follow those introductory screens until you get to the Tax Home where you can access your prior-year returns.   Then once you are past those intro screens and at the Tax Home, see if you have "Documents" tab in the left menu column.  

See this image:

.

.
.

That first method (Documents tab) will allow you to get only a PDF.   To get the *.tax2019 data file for your 2019 desktop software, you'll have to use the second method, as follows:

The alternate method doesn't use the Documents tab and will also allow you to download the tax data file to open in desktop software:

Go to the Tax Home tab.  At the Tax Home scroll down to the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents."  Expand that section and choose tax year 2019, then you can choose to get the 2019 tax data file.  You can also download the 2019 PDF, if you wish.

Again, as I mentioned above, if returning to TurboTax for the first time this year, you may have to answer some preliminary screens in order to get to the Tax Home page.

If you do all that, but find no evidence of your 2019 return in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents", you may be in the wrong account.  We can tell you how to look for multiple accounts.

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

@ mydogsmom 

I revised some of the wording in my answer above, which should make it more clear that the Documents tab method is only to get a PDF.   To get the *.tax2019 data file so you can open it in your 2019 desktop software, you will need to use Method 2 above; i.e., to go to the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents".  With that method, too, you'll have to get past some preliminary screens (if you haven't already) in order to have a Tax Home tab.

[mydogsmom]

Thank you so much! I had to enter info for 2020 like you said and it was at the bottom, not in Documents. Really appreciate your reply!

So...off topic but is my not filing the 2019 taxes why I didn't get a stimulus check?? I am retired and don't technically need to file so I thought I would be picked up having social security. 😥

[mesquitebean]

---

@mydogsmom wrote:

Thank you so much! I had to enter info for 2020 like you said and it was at the bottom, not in Documents. Really appreciate your reply!

So...off topic but is my not filing the 2019 taxes why I didn't get a stimulus check?? I am retired and don't technically need to file so I thought I would be picked up having social security. 😥

---

Sorry, I can't help you with anything to do with a stimulus payment.    If someone happens to see this thread and your question, they may comment here.   Otherwise, you need to start a new thread at the link below with that stimulus topic in the title.  The title line is limited in space, so if needed, you can provide additional details in the box underneath it like you did in this thread.  Don't post any personal info in this public Internet forum.    Hopefully, someone familiar with a stimulus will see it and can answer any questions you have about your situation.

You can ask your question by going to the page below and click the blue button "Ask a Question."

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/02/202

[mesquitebean]

@mydogsmom 

ADDENDUM:

If you qualified for stimulus payments and didn't receive them previously, you should be able to claim the stimulus when you prepare your 2020 return.   It is called the Recovery Rebate Credit.

Then any stimulus payment you qualified for but didn't receive should be part of any monies refunded to you. 

FAQ:  How do I claim the Recovery Rebate Credit in TurboTax? (for a 2020 return)

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-and-deductions/help/how-do-i-claim-the-recovery-rebate...

[mesquitebean]

TIP: 

If you want to efile your 2020 return, during the efiling stage it will ask you to verify it by entering the 2019 AGI.  Since you didn't file the 2019 return last year in the normal time frame,  when efiling your 2020 return, you would use an AGI of 0 (zero) to verify.

A 2019 return cannot be efiled.  It has to be printed, signed, dated, and mailed.  It's recommended to mail by a method that has tracking such as Certified or Priority Mail.   If you have both Federal and state returns, you mail the Federal return to the IRS and the state tax return to the state tax agency.  The state tax agency may also require a copy of the Federal return.   There should be a page called Filing Instructions that prints with the returns.