Difference between two TT files

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
January 20, 2019
1 reply
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How can I determine the difference between two TT files?

Two files show up when starting my new 2018 TT. One has a "~" in front of the name and is dated 4/16/2017, and the other is dated 4/17/2017. I'd like to make sure I import the one that I actually submitted online last year. They have a very, very slight difference in size, so I must believe that they are not identical. I do not recall which I used. I might have come back the next day and printed out a hard copy version, and also saved a pdf. I probably didn't change anything, but, because the sizes are not identical, I'd like to know how the two finished tax return files differ.

How can I determine this?

Thank you.

Forms

Carl

Level 11

The one with the tilde ~ in front of it is a backup file. TurboTax creates a backup every 10 minutes or so, and precedes the filename with a tilde mark. So take the one "WITHOUT" the tilde mark preceding the filename.

dgpretzelAuthor

Level 2

Thank you for the information. It makes sense. But, it also makes me wonder about past years. For over 10 years I have been using TT. In past years, it always finds only one previous TT file to use to initially prepopulate the current year's data. Never a file with a tilde. Just this year.

I do appreciate your response, and I am using your suggestion. But, I do wonder.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

About File Name heading. Sounds like you meant in the File Explorer, not in the TT itself. Am I correct?

Both places. Of course in the Windows file directory listing but also when you start a new return and it gives you a box listing the files to transfer from. You can sort that list so the ~ files are at the bottom.