How do I change the default directory for my Turbo Tax documents?

I would think once you save it then you can move it where you want.  Then manually open it from there and it should use that spot going forward.  The tax files end in .tax2019 and normally go to Documents to a Turbo Tax folder.

Copy or move the .tax2019 File then open it in the program File-Open.

Thanks, VolvoGirl. This is what I have been doing, but it is more steps than should be necessary. Most software programs allow you to specify a default directory for documents, but I can't find that option in TurboTax.

Well it should only be the first time for each file.  How many returns are you doing?

I do a few, and this is a recurring issue every year.

Are you on Windows?  I checked my program.  The first time you save do it as a FILE - SAVE AS.  Then it will let you pick the folder out of the windows directory.  No copy or move involved.

Thank you for your help. Again, I know how to Save As, and how to move, and how to find files. The Save As option only seems to tell it where to save that file, not where to look for files in the future. I am asking a specific question about how to change the default directory. Perhaps someone else knows how to do this. If it's not possible, I highly recommend this for a future update to the program.

Thanks again.

rmcray, I always save my tax documents in a different folder than the default "Documents", and in my experience if I have it find and carry over information from the previous year it will offer to save my new file by default in the same location where it found the previous year's tax file.  Does that help?

Yes, that helps. I still would like to hear from TurboTax whether you can simply change the default directory. That is generally the easiest solution with most software, in my experience. You don't have to navigate to directories looking for old returns. Thanks.

Glad I could help!  I absolutely agree though, that TTax should have a default directory option.

I want me 2020 turbo tax Data file to exist  on a thumb USB drive .

I would be able to update my 2020 tax data records once

the usb drive was plugged in and turbo2020 Program on c:\ 

is started.

Refer to the following Help Article for instructions to save your tax data file.  When you get to step 3, you'll need to browse and choose the location of your thumb drive for where you want to save your tax data file:  How do I back up my tax file in the TurboTax CD/Download software?

Hi,

Since you are a TurboTax specialist, can you answer the original question here, please, because I'm having the same issue?

I want to set a default location for TurboTax to save to a different folder and different drive, NOT the Documents folder on the C drive.
Yes, I know I can do Save As, but it still keeps creating a TurboTax folder in Documents, which I keep deleting and it keeps recreating.  It's annoying.
Other software gives the option in Preferences or Tools to set a default location to save to. Does TurboTax have this option?

After you do Save As the first time (for each return) then it should remember and save it to that location.  

Doesn't work that way for me in Premium 2020. First saved in the directory where it took prior year data from (2019), but then that becomes the default save directory and I can't change that, even by renaming the file and saving it in "save as" to the 2020 directory.

Try it. Then a good answer would be appreciated.

#frustrated

Please follow the instructions in this TurboTax FAQ to contact customer support for assistance:  What is the TurboTax phone number?

@teklein26

Contacted turbo tax support and representative had no idea how to do this. This very common feature needs to be added to the program!

Hello rmcray, I share your pain, I think this may be the answer/work-around you are looking for?  The key is that TT "remembers" a tax file when it is saved.  Only then will it be displayed as a tax file icon/option when TT is started again.  Sadly, I see no option to reset this manually, as is the norm for software (as you have pointed out).

Here is my scenario - I completed and filed my return.  Then today, I decided to relocate the directory that holds the TT return files (*.taxYYYY).  Of course, now when I start TT, it does not display/find the tax file. 

Now, if I open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the new location of the tax file, and "open it" (click on it), it will come up in TT.  But, when I exit TT, it asks me to save the file, and if I do not save the file, it will not "remember" it.  And, here is an additional requirement of my own - I did not want to save it, because I did not what the date/time of the file to change (as seen in Windows Explorer).

So, here is what I did:

1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the new location of the tax file.
2. Create a folder (ex. Tmp), and copy the tax file into the Tmp folder (which preserves its date & time)
3. Open TT with the tax file in the new location (either click on the tax file OR open TT and File-Open and find it)
4. Exit TT and save the tax file when prompted.  You may then want to re-open TT from the Start menu to prove that the tax file icon is now listed on the TT "home" page.  Re-Exit TT.
5. Back in Windows Explorer, you will see the tax file date/time has been updated (in the new location).
6. Delete the file in the new location and copy the file over from the Tmp folder.
7. Open TT from the Start menu, and you should see the tax file icon to select, AND the tax file date & time should be as it was.
8. Note: I had to do this twice, but it worked after the second try.

I realize my scenario adds the twist of preserving the date & time of the tax file, but I trust this is helpful anyway.

Take care

You are the most patient person!  I absolutely agree - TurboTax needs to have a default directory option.  It's always Save, when you go to open, it'll default to the last opened file (which is nice).  It's the Save As that needs to default - at the very least to the last opened file location, then you only have to back up once or twice

Mine is saving to One drive . Driving me crazing....

When you save the return, it should prompt you to save the return to the directory you choose. 

Does it open a box to save the return? @Porter14k

same problem here on Apple MacBook, I can select iCloud (with some difficulty) but Turbo Tax refuses to allow me to save to my 2022 Tax folder.  

Turbo Tax BLOCKS us from selecting a subdirectory on Apple MacBooks, it only allows you to select the parent directory it won't drill down.