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Level 2

Solved

Turbotax deleted my return!

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 1, 2020
14 replies
0 views

I had a 1040 all ready to file. I printed it and closed Turbotax, intending to file it later. When I tried to open it again, it was gone. There is no trace of it on my computer. What happened? How can I get it back?

Other

Best answer by Critter

When using the downloaded/CD version you are prompted to save the return everytime you close the return. You also have the option to save the return anytime you wish ... I always suggest you do so when you finish a section since only the online version autosaves automatically.

Program updates do not lose saved tax files ... do a system wide search for anything ending in *.tax if you did indeed save your progress at some point.

And if the update was to WIN 10 then those have a tendency to put things in the trash so look there as well.

Show previous replies

Gregory Nichols sr

Level 2

please show me my turbo taxes for 2020

DoninGA

Level 15

@Gregory Nichols sr wrote:

please show me my turbo taxes for 2020

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 current or 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 section Your tax returns & documents. Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

If you still cannot access your account, you can contact TurboTax customer service/support through their contact website during business hours.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for a contact link and hours of operation - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3401489

Submit your question/problem during business hours and then use the option for Call (a phone number will be provided for Call) to speak directly with a TurboTax agent -

Note: The Call option will not be available when TurboTax Support is closed.

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

cjdelane

Level 2

The same thing happened to me again this year. I installed a digital copy, and when I went to find my 2020 return, it was missing! I had the exact same thing happen last year when looking for my 2019 return. Last year, I chalked it up to user error - I found it hard to believe that TurboTax was the cause, so it had to be me right? But when the SAME thing happened again this year and my 2020 file disappeared, I am confident that it’s TurboTax. I just don’t know how to fix it. I plan to contact support

MichelleLO

Level 15

Can you please clarify the issue you are experiencing? Did you use TurboTax CD/Download and are having trouble finding the saved tax file on your PC or are you using TurboTax Online and don't see your 2020 return?

@cjdelane

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cjdelane

Level 2

Hello Michelle,

I downloaded TurboTax from Amazon.com. It was a digital download. I did the same thing for both the 2020 and 2021 editions of TurboTax. I left all of the defaults when installing the products, and I installed both versions to my C: drive.

I didn't have any trouble with the installation (no error messages), and I don't recall seeing any messages about deleting files.

When I pulled open the "blank" 2021 return, I had TurboTax browse to find my 2020 tax return file. It didn't find it. So I went to Windows Explorer, and I tried multiple searches using different criteria to find my prior year tax return file. I even tried to look for hidden files. I tried looking in my recycle bin. I logged into OneDrive online and searched that Recycle bin. The 2020 tax return files are just gone.

The same exact thing happened to my 2019 return when I installed Turbo Tax 2020 last year. So, I was definitely aware of this issue, but thought it was a one-time glitch in TurboTax.

I used TurboTax 2020 Deluxe last year to upload my federal and state returns. I have the emails from TurboTax acknowledging the e-filing and later providing me with status updates.

I would truly like to know what happened to my data.

rkkirkwood

Level 2

I just nearly completed my federal return on my Mac so I clicked on state return and down loaded the Ca. state software. When the down loaded completed I was asked if I wanted to import last years return, so I did that (with a .pdf file from last year). I warned me that this would delete all date in the present return, but I assumed that meant the Ca. return (which had not data yet), and clicked ok. Now all data from federal and state returns is gone! How can I get it back?

xmasbaby0

Level 15

@rkkirkwood Bad news. You deleted it and cannot get it back. You cannot perform tax file transfer after you have already begun to enter 2021 data. If you try--you lose everything you have entered so far---as you just discovered the hard way. The transfer was not just going to be for the CA return. Trying to transfer a 2020 tax file after you were already in progress with preparing your 2021 return deleted it all. You will have to start over. Sorry.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

jivefive99

Level 2

Turbo has been deleting my returns routinely for several years. I thought it had something to do with me and my co-users using up the 5 returns we can do per disk (we pass the disk around so it would be easy to accidentally start too many returns), but Im still not sure. I have them all filed in the same folder and this happens constantly.

HeatherPLO

Level 14

If you are using the CD/Download version, you can try to locate your tax data file by following the steps in our Help Article.

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

@jivefive99

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

jivefive99

Level 2

Like I said, the file is sitting in my tax folder one day and its gone the next day. Shouldnt have to search for anything. Turbo Tax purposefully deletes it.