missing .tax file

[mitchmoss2]

I received an updated 1099 dividend form and cannot locate the 2021 .tax file to start an amended return.

Please help

[RobertB4444]

If you filed online then you will just log in to your TurboTax account and tell it you want to amend the return.

If you filed using the desktop program if you open it it should open the return you created with it.

[mitchmoss2]

I used the desktop version but it cannot locate any .tax file.  When I tried to import the data from the pdf copy saved when I completed the return it says it cannot import and gives me an error message.

Is there any way to recreate the file from Intuit?

[ErnieS0]

Did you file your original 2021 return with TurboTax Online or CD/Download?

If you used TurboTax Online and are amending with CD/Download, then you can download your .tax file from your online account.

See How do I switch from TurboTax Online to TurboTax CD/Download?

Otherwise your .tax file should be on your computer. It's usually in either your Documents or Downloads folder. You should also see a link on the CD/Download opening page called Continue Your 2021 Tax Return.

[mitchmoss2]

I've searched all my drives and cannot locate the file or any backup files.

I'm getting an ERROR 102346 that also says to follow a link but when I click on the only link in that message I get  "We're sorry, the page you requested could not be found"  

[RobertB4444]

Unfortunately TurboTax does not store a copy of the .tax file from your computer.  If you can't locate it you will have to recreate the return and then amend it.

[Nan2C]

did you try opening Turbo Tax on your desktop and clicking "open a different return"

it might search that way.

Make sure you are using the same extension.

my desktop TT files save automatically with   ".tax2021"

I had trouble the first year distinguishing and finding files also.

I started saving them with the date and inside file folders labeled "working files" 

and "FINAL" within the file I actually filed.

I do scenarios before the end of the year and was really confused!!!

Hope you find it!

[Nan2C]

CHECK THE EXTENSION!!!

it isn't   ".tax" on my version!!!

and when I search I don't come up with anything!

if I search with .tax2021 I can find some but not all of them.

If you are on a Mac and using an external drive .... 

I use an external that is formatted for both mac and windows.  I don't think it is journaled and by that I mean (or I think I mean... not searchable ? maybe that is indexed... more to learn there!)

Try to remember where you saved it.

I bet it is there! using search may not give you the answer!  

When I look into my file structure I find more than are available in "search" 

AGAIN (Mac with an external) 

[Nan2C]

the external is formatted with "exFat"

not very searchable.

[DawnC]

That is an excellent idea @Nan2C.   Thank you for sharing that tip!    Also, saving it to multiple places (your pc, thumb drive or cloud locations) is a good idea too.   

I had to learn about this the hard way too :( 

Find your tax data file (.tax file) in Windows

How to make a test copy of your return 

[Nan2C]

Thanks Dawn, yes I learned the "duplicate" trick.

File structure is vital in my life!  

Mac doesn't automatically tell you the file path.  You have to change it in settings.

That helps.

So Question: do all versions of turbo tax (online, cd, download ... are there more?...)

save the file as xxxxx.tax2021 for example.

On this thread everyone is referring to .tax file.

Is that a valid extension?

[mitchmoss2]

I'm working on a Dell laptop and there are no TT files under *.tax or *.tax2021 on any of my drives.  I am able to locate prior years' files but not 2021.

Is there any way to get the program to import the information from the pdf file the program created when I asked it to print the return?

[Nan2C]

Thank you for this question.  It made me dive deeper.

I did a search and as I said in a previous post only some files showed up (grrrr)

So I tried connecting my external (exFat) drive to my mac.

I opened Turbo Tax

Clicked on "open a different return"

then went to the external

some files were dark black some grey.

I looked inside the active or Black files ... drilling down (again, it helps to remember where the .tax2021 file might have been saved)

some files were dead ends.

Some had Turbo Tax files nicely nestled at the end of the file path.  

So even my Turbo Tax .tax2021 files which were NOT SEARCHABLE

showed up in my file folder that I LUCKLY had made.

TAX PREP

2021 Turbo tax files  

2021 TT preliminary

2021 TAX FINAL

DRILL DOWN!  you will find them

be sure to be the drive where you think they will be then open turbo tax and search from the "open a different return" button

If it was recently opened on the same computer with the same version of turbo tax it should just pop right up.

After updates and reinstalls it most likely will be a hunt!

One more Idea:      if you are on a MAC.  

When I click on the turbo tax logo on the bottom bar a list of .tax2021 files show up in the pop up (TT is open and I was about to close it when I noticed this)

also are some .tax 2020 files.

[Nan2C]

Darn wish you were on a mac.

You have helped me learn things.

FYI and incase you have some similarities on your Dell:

when I right click on the icon I get a pop up box with lots of files, with "show Recents" 

LOTS and lots of tax files there.

If you saved your file as a pdf (i think I have done this and overwritten my original with .pdf.... then it won't open with TT So I made this same mistake my first year using TT)

Such a learning curve!

In windows:

Go to your RECENT files and see what you can find.

Remember next time to save as and make duplicated before saving as a pdf. 

If outside of turbo tax, in your files you clicked on it and renamed it with .pdf you (as the turbo tax expert who originally responded to your question says) you will have to re- in - put everything. At least you have the pdf as a guide.

Holy Moly Happy Tax time and Tally Ho!  

[Nan2C]

are your externals formatted in exFat or ?