Filed 2019 tax file online; attempted to download and open in TT Premier 2019 (.tax2019). Each of several downloads claim to be corrupt and will not open. Solution?

[KathrynG3]

Are you getting an error code or is it for the previous year and current tax return files are corrupt?

For Error 120

Previous year and current tax return file corrupt.

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[SteamTrain · Accepted solution]

@debstanulis   @KathrynG3 

Found the fix for that.

....One of the SuperUsers has reported that as a problem    when downloading in certain ways. 

If you are downloading from the Documents Home page...the file is corrupt.

IF you get back inside your tax file (After filing, you have to hit the "Add A State" from the left side of the documents screen to get back into your tax file)

......and then download it instead from the popup menu at:

<Tax Tools <<Tools    Then the .tax2019 datafile is OK.

[Dominicks_GolfR]

I had the same issue as the above, and your fix worked for me!  I installed on a Windows 7 machine and learned that the product support would not be there next year.  I prepared 2 tax files in Deluxe version and then decided to get a Windows 10 machine.  Downloaded Deluxe with my license key and installed.  Updated and then transferred my .tax2019 files so that I could continue my returns.  Couldn't open the file, wouldn't get an error message just wouldn't open.

I called TurboTax product support and after explaining and explaining my issue I was finally just told that my files were probably corrupted and I should have "Copy" not "Move" my files to my new machine, as I was wiping my data from my old machine.  She told me to delete the files and then "Copy" again.  I told her I couldn't COPY if they were MOVED in the first place - the files aren't there anymore.  I was also told when trying to open the .tax2019 from the Browse/Open menu to "Save As" first... when the only dialogue options were "OPEN or CANCEL".  Long story short, I hung up wondering why I wasted 20 minutes of my life on the phone, searched here and found the first link helpful.  

Bottom line is - EVERYONE at TurboTax product support should be aware of this workaround as they state there is no knowledgebase article regarding this error and they have no workaround.  Once I added my State Product (I thought I already did) then I had no problem opening my file.  

Product support should never be this helpless, as this is an easy fix!

[SForrestLO]

If you are downloading from the Documents Home page...the file is corrupt.

IF you get back inside your tax file, and download it instead from the popup menu at:

<Tax Tools <<Tools   

Then the file is OK. 

[Dominicks_GolfR]

If you read the post and the post I was replying to, you are wrong.  I am not downloading from Documents Home.  I copied files from one laptop to another as I upgraded machines.  

The file is not and was not corrupted.  My new TurboTax install did not have the State loaded, even though I thought I had clicked on NY.  Once I clicked through and added the State module, I was able to open the file that I had saved previously.

The above person who was the Super user, was correct.  Reading comprehension is key here.  You should add this to your knowledge base, as I am sure others are having similar issues and being told their tax files are corrupt.  This is incorrect.  

[lopez-post]

@SteamTrain 

Thanks, that worked!

[kraig]

I don't see the solution here. I am using the Deluxe application for windows and it says my file is corrupt. Please explain to me what you mean by opening the file and using the Tools pop up menu. I don't see this pop up menu.

[VolvoGirl]

Did you download the .tax file from the online version?  You need to log into your online account and download it.  

Then to open a .tax file.......

After you get the program installed the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW TAX RETURN)

Then go to FILE -Open and find your return.

[kraig]

Thank you for replying. I created the file using the deluxe desktop windows 2019 app. As soon as I finished my federal taxes it asked me to save the file. Then immediately afterward it said the file is corrupt and cannot be opened.

I’ve tried this work around without any luck. Opening a new return and then importing the file using “FILE” “OPEN”. It doesn’t work. 

I’ve also uninstalled and reinstalled the app without any luck.

[SteamTrain]

Not sure there is a way to fix that.

You may have to start over, or use a backup file (if you have one) or see if there is a "Temp" file you can open  (A Temp file starts with a "~") .

________________________________

Saving a file and having it immediately show as corrupted is very unusual.  Make sure you are NOT saving your tax file to a cloud drive, or to a USB key or USB-connected external drive, since saving them to those locations can result in file corruption....not always, but past history shows it commonly happens for those situations.  Only create and save your tax files to the main computer's hard drive.   

(Back-up copies can be separately copied/pasted to the other drive types cleanly....just not the Saves from within the tax software)

[Dominicks_GolfR]

@kraig Sounds like the issue that I was describing above, that I also confirmed a fix that worked for me.  Did you add a state product to your installation of TurboTax Federal?  If your prior save was created using Deluxe with a State, then when you try to open the file and you don't have the state product added, you will get a corrupt error.

When I called TurboTax on this error, they were quick to say that anything and everything under the sun corrupted my save file, which was transferred via USB stick from one Windows PC to another Windows PC.  In reality, this little known issue with a corrupt save is simply due to not having a state product selected if you created the save file with a state product.

Add a state and then attempt to open the file.  Good luck!

[SteamTrain]

@Dominicks_GolfR   @kraig 

Yep....to open an existing file after you uninstall and reinstall TTX, you do have to make sure you install any state(s) that were used to create the original file before you attempt to open that existing file..

.......but, kraig said that his/her corrupted file occurred right when he/she created and attempted to save the file in the first place.  That should have  little or nothing to do with the state installation

[Dominicks_GolfR]

@SteamTrain I was notified of this thread reply because of my previous posts regarding corrupt file and issue with States installation, something even Intuit wasn't aware of.

I only mention this because while @kraig may have a different issue entirely, the user didn't actually specify if they installed the proper state, only that they had a corrupt file and they Uninstalled and installed again.

I would not assume they reinstalled the state package so it's possibly it could be an issue linked to that. 

[lovestoswimanddance]

I need to download my 2019 taxes but I'm getting an error, saying download failed. I need to email it. Help!