How to delete incomplete return file from Turbotax desktop

[kevinbaker2275]

I am doing my 2015 to 2019 tax returns right now. Since Turbotax no longer provides software or online filing for 2015, I had to purchase the desktop software from a third party. Since I made a mistake, when I open the software, I am given two options: Continue your 2015 Tax Return OR Start a New Return. I want to start a new return. How do I delete the previous, unfiled tax return. I see the icon (folder) for the incomplete and unfiled return but no delete option. Can you help? Thanks!

[DavidD66]

By default, TurboTax saves tax data and PDF files in the Documents (or My Documents) > TurboTax folder on your PC.

To move the return to your PC's Recycle Bin, browse to Documents > TurboTax, select the file, and tap Delete on your keyboard (you can also right-click the file and choose Delete). There may be a corresponding PDF file which you can also delete.

To permanently remove it from your system, delete the file from your Recycle Bin.

[dchdlh]

When I clicked to open Turbo Tax I had three partial federal returns for myself. One return was mostly blank and the other two were identical, containing info I entered to date. I thought all I would have to do select a return file, open it,  exit, and indicate I did not want to save the file.  However, this did not remove the unwanted partial file.  Any suggestions?

[VolvoGirl]

Nope,  the Save is just to save the new changes.

You can delete a tax return from within the TurboTax Windows Desktop Program on the very first screen after starting the program or go to File-Open. Click on the large square icon representing the file you wish to delete (avoid clicking the blue "Continue" button). Then just hit your delete key and answer the prompt.

OR Start the program and on the first page click the blue Find A Tax File link at the bottom of the box. Then in the list that pops up you can right click on the file and choose delete.

Or you can delete it from Windows. You can delete the wrong return like any other file on your computer. The tax files end in .tax2021 and should be in your Documents folder and then in a Turbo Tax subfolder. Or search your computer for all .tax or .tax2021 files.

You should also have the Tilde ~ files. Those are temporary files that you normally don't see and normally are deleted. But now Turbo Tax is leaving them in the folder in case something happens like if your file gets corrupted or lost or your computer crashes. Then you can go back.

[Carl]

By default, TurboTax saves tax data and PDF files in the Documents (or My Documents) > TurboTax folder on your PC.

The TurboTax CD program does not save to PDF by default. You have to explicitly elect to save it in PDF format.

The default filename ends with a filename extention of .tax2015 for the 2015 tax return. Close the TTX program, then delete the .tax2015 file. It's located in the documents\turbotax folder.

When you restart the program, it's "as if" you just installed the program for the very first time.

[Speedslug]

I would open the file folder viewer and add the letters REM1, REM2 to the beginning of the file names you don't want used anymore. The software will go looking for its own standard naming routine and won't recognize the renamed file(s). This leaves you with the old versions in case you want to get some information from them through the PDF viewer. Once you are satisfied that you don't want them anymore (like next year just to be safe) you can delete the files in the folder viewer. Good Luck.