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More information - I am working on two separate returns (one for me and one for my son). The problem started when I downloaded a large amount of stock transactions into my return. The menu is fast as ever when working on my son's return, which is much simpler. I can clear cookies but I'll bet that's not the problem since one return is fine and the other has the problem. I can switch without exiting TurboTax and experience the slow or fast behavior depending on which return I select.
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Perhaps I'm not being clear. I am not using a browser at all! I'm running the TurboTax application in Windows 10 on my desktop PC.
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Yes, after 3 large file-imports from financial institutions, the File menu is nearly unusable. (I was barely able to start the 3rd import). This is the desktop app, from a store-bought CD, on an up to date Windows 10 laptop with a fast disk. Clicking File or alt-F spikes the CPU to 30% for half a minute. The file pull-down doesn't display or displays in gray and never displays enough to select anything. There's no error message.
Closing other apps seems to help. I've been using ctrl-S to save and ctrl-P to print. If you can get through the imports, that mainly leaves File-Electronic Filing. One of the first screens in step-by-step appears to have Filing as a choice across the top. I haven't tried it yet (don't use step-by-step), but maybe this will cover most of what you need.
I am so glad to see your post so I know I'm not crazy! Yes! What you describe is exactly what I am seeing as well. I have been able to work around it by using ctrl+s for save as you say. To create PDFs (which I do from time to time to check things, rather than using the "Forms" selection, which has those annoying "Smart" boxes) I go into the "File" step and that "save as PDF" button seems to work fine.
Everything else does seem to be working okay. I have found that if I exit Turbo Tax and go back in it works once again, although you have to be patient for it to come up (the "File" menu).
I do hope that someone from Intuit monitors this community and this gets investigated as a defect. I do think there is a bug here that could be fixed.
Thanks for your response.
I'm having the same problem in Turbotax on a PC (not online version). It may have started after downloading a large file from a financial institution. I do not recall having the same problem last year when I also downloaded large file.
Right. It worked just fine last year. Similar investment information.
Please try to manually update the software by following the instructions here.
Please let us know if this resolves the issues. @schneider_101 @billb58 @kjc23
Thank you for the quick response and the patch. Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to try the patch.
I installed the super patch. I started TurboTax. It wanted to install updates. It installed Program Updates 3/8/2023.
The File Menu issue still occurred.
I figured the update may have overwritten the patch and installed the super patch again. It gave this error , appeared to rollback, and said Setup Failed. I can't paste the screenshot; it says '_gnp.ylno_def_fe_xfgtni_egamirepw' cannot be installed ... file not found in ... Data1.cab.
I rebooted, tried the super patch again, then with a fresh download of the patch, all with the same results.
Check for Updates says Up to date. View Installed Updates shows the 3/8/2023 update as the most recent.
TurboTax appears to be working, the same as before, no worse. But I don’t think the super patch is installed.
File menu still has the issue.
This is the Deluxe edition. I’ll be happy to try a different install if you want. Thanks again for your help.
Based on billb58's experience I am reluctant to try it, since I have been able to work around the problem and I'm almost done. I would hate to break turbo tax and have to switch to some other brand (I've used Turbo Tax for years and years) or do it by hand or something. For what it's worth, I'm running the Home and Business version. Perhaps the patch was constructed for the basic version?
I will download updates today and see how things are.
Please follow the suggested workaround by @VolvoGirl1 here, as this can help in getting things to work.
You can review the FAQ regarding the cryptocurrency guide. @schneider_101 @billb58
I see the workaround you've offered for those concerned with crypto data.
Just to wrap up on the File - Menu issue, I upgraded TT Deluxe to 3/16/23.
The super patch still fails.
The File Menu issue is still there but seemed a little better.
I'll proceed with the workarounds @schneider_101 discussed.
Thanks again.
I'm still having a lot of trouble with the file menu. When I click on File it takes a long time to display and then a long time to respond to Save etc.
I'm using TurboTax Home and Business 2022 desktop version with Windows 10. I uninstalled and reinstalled the program from the CD, and that helped a little. Still same problem.
I'm having this problem too with TurboTax Premier installed on my computer. It seems to work best for me if I select one of the other tabs, like "Edit", and then mouse over "File". Takes about 6 seconds for the File menu to appear. Not sure what is going on but there's another delay when trying to do something else, like selecting print. Or even grabbing the top of the turbotax window and trying to move it ... it won't move for a few seconds. I did import a number of brokerage tax forms but don't know if the problem only started after that or not. The delays are ANNOYING as all get out, but it seems like I'm able to keep working.
CarissaM, what does cryptocurrency have to do with this problem? I don't do cryptocurrency. But my File menu is not working right.
Please see this Turbo Tax help article for more information.
Manually Update TurboTax for Windows Software (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, Home & Business)
For further assistance, please contact support.
This FAQ will provide you with the steps to contact an agent.
Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time daily.
Two TruboTax experts have responded to threads on this issue with inappropriate information. They are pointing customers to manual software updates for tax years 2019 - 2021. The problem occurs in Turbotax product for 2022. The suggested manual updates are not for tax year 2022 products.
Turbotax Premier Windows 11 PC is doing the same thing. Definitely a bug. I have a lot of Fidelity stock transactions imported. Have to click File on the menu and wait about 10 seconds, then click Exit, wait another 10 seconds and Save on Exit pop up appears, not delay saving. Annoying but works. Surprised they have not fixed the bug yet. My guess is many people are seeing it and just not reporting.
Others have tried the manual update and it did NOT fix the problem. To be fair, I just now tried it again and it does NOT fix the problem.
I would think this is an easy enough problem to recreate. By doing so, tech support could see that the manual update doesn't fix the problem.
They do have an option there for TurboTax 2022. But it doesn't do anything for us.
R19 was released in Dec 2022 and is many versions back. The recommendation for manual update assumes you have had issues with automatic updates since earlier versions were released. After installing R19, TurboTax it should attempt to update to the most recent release, which is R22. But as others following this thread have experienced, it does not fix the 'File' problem.
I did an experiment of downloading my original TurboTax 2022 purchase from Amazon on a different laptop. I was previously using Windows 10. This time I'm using Windows 11. I installed the software, which was R19 from December 2022. It auto updated to R22. At this point, I have entered no data, nor imported data from a prior year return into the tax file. I can access the 'File' menu. It works as expected. I then initiated an import from my broker. After the import, the 'File' issue reported by many occurs. I then used the 'Remove Imported Data' feature. The 'File' menu issue goes away.
This is a bug in the Turbotax software triggered by importing data. Some noted it may be related to the number of transactions imported. Going back to R19 does not solve the problem, nor does the most recent R22 release, as of March 26, 2023.
I did an additional test. This time, when importing my data, I imported all except the 1099-B data. 1099-B contains stock trades. After the import, the 'File' menu works as it should.
I did one last test. I went back to import the 1099-B data I had excluded previously. The 'File' menu problem appears after the 1099-B import.
As others have noted, the issue appears to be related to import of brokerage trades. It may be the result of numerous trade transactions.