I can't find any of my tax returns and I can't talk to a tax specialist.

[mijcarin]

When I try to find my previous year returns, I am told there are no returns to view.  I am directly to click on a link that isn't there.  And I have no access to assistance!!!

[DoninGA]

You have to sign onto your online account using the exact same User ID you used to create the online account.

Close all TurboTax windows on your web browser (including this one).  Copy and paste the account recovery website link onto a new web browser window and run the tool.

Use this TurboTax account recovery website to get a list of all the User ID's for an email address.  Run the tool against any email addresses you may have used - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If none of the user ID's received will access your account, then use the option shown in blue on the account recovery website, "Try something else"

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

To access your prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

See this TurboTax support FAQ on how to contact Support - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-contact-turbotax/00/26991

Or -

Use this website to contact TurboTax support during business hours - https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

Or -

Support can also be reached by messaging them on these pages https://www.facebook.com/turbotax/ and https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax

[mijcarin]

I have used the downloaded paid-for edition of TurboTax every year for over a dozen years.

Recently, in response to an IRS query, I have opened a complete copy of a 2018 return that was saved by Turbotax in PDF form after it was accepted by the IRS.  When I open the TAX version of the same return in my Turbotax software for that year, it does not match the PDF copy.  I need to know which one was actually submitted to the IRS.  I purchased the audit protection, but I am not being audited.  I am merely responding to a query.  How do I get the info I need.

[DoninGA]

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@mijcarin wrote:

I have used the downloaded paid-for edition of TurboTax every year for over a dozen years.

Recently, in response to an IRS query, I have opened a complete copy of a 2018 return that was saved by Turbotax in PDF form after it was accepted by the IRS.  When I open the TAX version of the same return in my Turbotax software for that year, it does not match the PDF copy.  I need to know which one was actually submitted to the IRS.  I purchased the audit protection, but I am not being audited.  I am merely responding to a query.  How do I get the info I need.

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When you start the 2018 TurboTax program, the first screen shows the 2018 tax returns that are available on your computer.  The tax returns that were e-filed will have a check mark in a blue circle.

Click on Continue for your 2018 tax return that was e-filed.  Click on the File tab and  then click on Print/Save for Your Records.  Click on Save a PDF.  Click on Preview Print Copy to review the tax return.

[mijcarin]

I am using a new computer.  I reinstalled Turbotax.  It finds no previous returns.  I can direct it to the TAX copy or to the PDF copy that I brought over from my backups.  There is no way to correlate the "real" submission.

What happens if I get audited?  Doesn't whatever entity is responsible for providing the service have the actual copy for which I am insured?

[DoninGA]

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@mijcarin wrote:

I am using a new computer.  I reinstalled Turbotax.  It finds no previous returns.  I can direct it to the TAX copy or to the PDF copy that I brought over from my backups.  There is no way to correlate the "real" submission.

What happens if I get audited?  Doesn't whatever entity is responsible for providing the service have the actual copy for which I am insured?

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If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

Hopefully your backup copy of the tax data file, which will have a file extension of .tax2018, was made After you e-filed your tax return.

Note - By default the TurboTax software stores all tax data files and any saved PDF's in the TurboTax Folder in the Documents directory.

Open the tax data file in the 2018 TurboTax program by clicking on File in the upper left of the desktop program screen.  Click on Open Tax Return.  Browse to the location of the data file.

With the tax return opened, click on File in the upper left of the desktop program screen.  Click on Electronic Filing and on Electronic Filing Status.  If the copy made was after e-filing the status should show as Accepted if the IRS accepted the e-filed return.

If the status is Accepted then the tax return from this data file is the one sent to the IRS.

[SteamTrain]

2018 was one of those unusual years (like 2020 is now)

1) the PDF you prepared and printed right after your file was accepted is likely the correct one.  This step is critical to be done by everyone, and you did that part correctly.  Always create a separate PDF copy right after filing and acceptance.

2)   IF you ran any TTX software updates , after that acceptance date, there could have been changes implemented in the software that changed some lines/fields and the resulting refund, or owed $$ amounts.  Thus opening the .tax2018 datafile after an update has been done, may result in differences in your file when opened again.  Many of us lock-off our updates right after filing to prevent that from happening so that we can always see what we originally filed.  (I update and check my file on a separate laptop installation first, then only update my main desktop computer if my tax file doesn't change on that separate TTX installation. )   Of course, a new installation of the software done now will contain every update, including any issued long after you submitted your original file.

3) For 2018 taxes, the IRS made an unusually late calculation change that affected some people (I seem to recall it was even after AFTER the April filing deadline .  The change was on the Schedule D tax calculation worksheet...  It made me owe them $7 more, but I've ignored it so far).  But if you filed before April of 2019, or updated or re-installed your software sometime after April 2019, that might be why opening your .tax2018 datafile now, doesn't match exactly what your as-filed original PDF shows.

4)  Creating a new PDF now, and examining values on the lines, may show you what has changed between the two filings, and might lead you to the reason for the difference...one hopes it is a minor one.

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5)  I hope you did not do this....but  Some people see a change, because they experimented later with their original tax file.....never do that...only mess with a "copy" of the original.

[mijcarin]

You put your finger on it!  Everytime I load the renamed original (so, yes, I do have a master saved), it gets updated, which is a useless and dangerous feature.  A submitted return should never be modified without the user's permission; and Turbotax does register that it has been submitted because that info is displayed the moment it opens the file.

The problem is I needed to amend that return and the parallel original included with the amended return does not actually match the original submitted return; which means the differentials are incorrect and will create a flag with the IRS!

So how do I amend the return if Turbotax won't leave it alone?

[mijcarin]

An additional comment.

I noticed that Turbotax perpetually updates.  The moment it updates a submitted return, the status of the new return must move it to an amended category and must be notated in the name or suffix of the file.  After that, it is up to the user to decide whether or not to submit the amended return.   In my case, a credit card that applied to a business account was not updated in Quicken, so did not make its way to the expense column of my business.  Amending the return resulted in a substantial decrease in liability and I should have received an additional refund.  As it is, my actual refund is less than it would be because the updated return was the one that got amended, and that return also had a reduced liability compared to the original, but which I lost out on because of the process.  Moreover, the IRS has not responded with the expected refund and that's probably because they can't make sense of the amendments as shown on the amended form.

[SteamTrain]

Yeah, hard to know what to do in your situation.

But yes, at least with the Windows desktop software, you can turn off the updates by going to the top menu, and using the "Online" pulldown menu, then "Updater Preferences", select how you want to do updates the next time you start the software.  I choose either of the last two choices and only update when I'm sure I am ready to do so.    Of course, this won't help for a new installation fort he software, since at least  one update will usually be required

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