Turbotax desktop user. How to avoid Turbotax saving my tax documents online?

[Anonymous]

I am a long-time Turbotax desktop user. Starting from last year, Turbotax requires an online account to use the desktop edition. I read online that Turbotax will not save tax documents online. I just found Turbotax saved some of my documents online. Those documents are forms imported from other sources, including W-2 forms. I don't want to save them online. I have them saved locally. I am not happy that Turbotax didn't specifically tell/warn me about this.

Is there a way to stop Turbotax from saving my documents online when I use its desktop software?

Also, on the website, there is no delete option associated with those documents. You can only download them. Is that the precondition to using the Turbotax desktop edition?

[DoninGA]

This is the first I have ever heard of TurboTax storing imported documents online.  Is there a specific TurboTax website showing the documents?

[SteamTrain]

@DoninGA @Anonymous 

Yeah, a long discussion in here a month ago about that.

See my pictures that show where they show up in a download user's "Intuit" account.

If you use desktop.....you'll find them there...even if you don't want TTX to store them:

Re: Unable to remove document from the Documents tab

_______________________

TTX really needs to STOP doing that...and if the moderators haven't seen that older post yet, somebody there needs to get on INTUIT's case, as this is absolutely WRONG...IRRESPONSIBLE..... (I'm certainly P.O.'d too!!)

[DoninGA]

@SteamTrain Thanks...I must have missed that discussion.  Looks like we need to get some more information from TurboTax on why they are doing this and why they have not informed the users about this new "feature".

[SteamTrain]

@DoninGA    Pleaaaase make sure the Moderators see that older post.

When I looked at my list, it includes a lot of stuff back to 2016.....except for 2017 and 2019 that are missing.

Problem for many of us helpers, is that some of us use both Desktop, and also have some "Online" test accounts.  So I really can't tell which platform the forms came from (or both).    But I have never saved anything into the My Docs area of my Online test tax files either.   

Whichever they came from, to not have a delete selection....nor an option to NOT have them stored in the first place is really bad questionable programming.   The fact that they haven't told ANY of users what they are doing is  (endless Curse words)

[DoninGA]

@SteamTrain Done...both posts are in the message to the Moderators

[Mike9241]

I have the same issue. they're in my account under documents. I have never used online to prepare my returns and never consented to have Turbotax store imported docs on its server. maybe complaining to the FTC and lawsuits will stop this

[jl747]

@SteamTrain 

I just posted an answer on your link.

Just a FYI for this posting

I use TT Desktop only and I see Documents list there also.

[DoninGA]

This is the reply received from the TurboTax Moderators -

Thanks for your patience while I researched this. If a TTD user chooses to e-file their federal or state return, data will be collected and used in accordance with the Intuit Global Privacy Statement. This is covered under the EULA under Data Collection: https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/license/desktop.jsp.

1. USE OF YOUR DATA. The Software is a web-enabled desktop product. When you are connected to the Internet while using the Software, we may deliver product updates, message service information, and help content. With your lawful consent which you agree you provide herein and including as obtained within the Software, we may also collect data about your use of the Software, your computer, its operating system, application software, and any peripheral hardware. This data helps us determine, among other requirements, the Software’s operating performance. In addition, if you elect to use online options such as federal or state efile services, data will be collected and used in accordance with the Intuit Global Privacy Statement. You hereby give Intuit permission to combine any of this identifiable and non-identifiable information with that of other users of the Software and/or other Intuit services. For example, this means that Intuit may use your and other users’ data to improve the Software in future releases or design promotions and provide ways for you to compare your tax situation with other users, including through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning models and training.

[jl747]

@DoninGA 

But, there is still no way to those Documents that are listed without deleting ones account. As far as I can tell.

Documents that are from 3 or 4 years ago have no further use to anyone.

[Mike9241]

@SteamTrain @DoninGA @jl747 

you grant permission for Turbotax to do this by agreeing to the EULA (based on SuziM response). there is no way to avoid this for desktop users except not to import.   I understand Turbotax needing to see if importing is working but once satisfied it has no further need to retain the documents and should delete them immediately.  Next thing you know, because of how broad the EULA is, Turbotax could download the entire desktop return and store it on their servers.