Turbotax deleted my return!

[nmagnet]

I have used TurboTax for so many years I cant even count them. When I bought my turbo tax for 2020, I noticed my 2019 file was deleted and I was not able to retrieve that year.  I had my 2019 Tax Return so I knew I had that and would use that to help me get started on my 2020. However it was so crazy for this to be missing from my computer, I actually called the IRS and asked them to confirms that they had received my 2019 filing before I started  my 2020 Tax's.  Thankfully they had my taxes.

I came into my office this morning to file my taxes (Which I finished last week) and BAM--My completed taxes were no where on my computer. I Have read some of the comments from TurboTax and I am appalled.  They are laughing at all of us. 

[mesquitebean]

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@ nmagnet wrote:

I have used TurboTax for so many years I cant even count them. When I bought my turbo tax for 2020, I noticed my 2019 file was deleted and I was not able to retrieve that year.  I had my 2019 Tax Return so I knew I had that and would use that to help me get started on my 2020. However it was so crazy for this to be missing from my computer, I actually called the IRS and asked them to confirms that they had received my 2019 filing before I started  my 2020 Tax's.  Thankfully they had my taxes.

I came into my office this morning to file my taxes (Which I finished last week) and BAM--My completed taxes were no where on my computer. I Have read some of the comments from TurboTax and I am appalled.  They are laughing at all of us. 

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I assume you are using the desktop version (CD/download).  Are you using the Windows version or the Mac version?   

Be sure you check your entire system for any file ending in *.tax2020, and also check the Recycle Bin.  I've seen a small number of users over the years report anecdotally that it moved it to the Recycle Bin after a TurboTax program update or a Windows update.  If you have more than one Windows user account, log into each Windows user account and do the file search and Recycle Bin check from within each one.  Also check any backup media that you might have used.

If your search happens to find a data file beginning with a tilde similar to this example:  ~my2020return.tax2020, the tilde means it is a temporary backup file, but it can be opened like a regular tax data file.

Because of stories I see occasionally in this user forum, I personally make a backup copy of the *.tax2020 data file after each work session onto a thumb drive or other external storage--just in case of such a scenario.  Then I at least have 2 instances of the data file in case of a hard drive crash or whatever.

You may get other comments in this thread.   Or here's how to speak to TurboTax Customer Support to see if they have any further advice:

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

You can use this contact form to get a phone number and incident number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

[adoolabi]

I did my 2020 tax return and save it. there was a 1099 that I had to add and was waiting for my vendor to send me the EIN so I can key that in and get done with it.

Today after almost two weeks, I tried to open Turbo Tax 2020  to work on my return ...and was prompted to do an update...it took a long time to update. After it finished, I tried to open my return (which I had opened it couple of  times after saving it two weeks ago), turbo tax looked different, it looked as if I have to start a new return and there was nothing to work on, and when I did file/open, could not find anything anywhere. The update deleted my return.

[mesquitebean]

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@adoolabi wrote:

I did my 2020 tax return and save it. there was a 1099 that I had to add and was waiting for my vendor to send me the EIN so I can key that in and get done with it.

Today after almost two weeks, I tried to open Turbo Tax 2020  to work on my return ...and was prompted to do an update...it took a long time to update. After it finished, I tried to open my return (which I had opened it couple of  times after saving it two weeks ago), turbo tax looked different, it looked as if I have to start a new return and there was nothing to work on, and when I did file/open, could not find anything anywhere. The update deleted my return.

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I assume you are using the desktop version (CD/download).  Are you using the Windows version or the Mac version?   

Was the *.tax2020 data file residing on your main system drive while you were working on it, or was it on an external drive or thumb drive?   It's recommended to be on the main system drive and not any external device.

Be sure you check your entire system for any file ending in *.tax2020, and also check the Recycle Bin.  I've seen a small number of users over the years report anecdotally that it moved it to the Recycle Bin after a TurboTax program update or a Windows update.  If you have more than one Windows user account, log into each Windows user account and do the file search and Recycle Bin check from within each one.  Also check any backup media that you might have used.

If your search happens to find a data file beginning with a tilde similar to this example:  ~my2020return.tax2020, the tilde means it is a temporary backup file, but it can be opened like a regular tax data file.   While it may or may not be the most up-to-date version of your data file, it might be used to reconstruct much of a return.

Because of stories I see occasionally in this user forum, I personally make a backup copy of the *.tax2020 data file after each work session onto a thumb drive or other external storage--just in case of such a scenario.  Then I at least have 2 instances of the data file in case of a hard drive crash or whatever.

You may get other comments in this thread.   Or here's how to speak to TurboTax Customer Support to see if they have any further advice:

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

You can use this contact form to get a phone number and incident number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

[mschaffert]

I Saved and printed my return.

[formula_one]

Mine did the same. Win10, desktop CD version, many hours of work and was saved to main drive every time. Started up to finish up and “obeyed” the turbotax update. Voila! There is no .tax2020 return to be found on the drive. No .tax2020 in my Recycle bin. All gone! Like Magic! I’ve been using turbotax for over 20 years now with no issues until now. WTH???

[Critter-3]

This is a WIN 10 issue ... make sure you have installed all the updates to the program and reboot more than once.  Then go searching for the tax file ... make sure you are using the same account as you did before and make sure the file is on the hard drive and not a peripheral storage medium or hard drive as the program only looks for it on the C drive. 

As stated already on this thread ...

Was the *.tax2020 data file residing on your main system drive while you were working on it, or was it on an external drive or thumb drive?   It's recommended to be on the main system drive and not any external device.

Be sure you check your entire system for any file ending in *.tax2020, and also check the Recycle Bin.  I've seen a small number of users over the years report anecdotally that it moved it to the Recycle Bin after a TurboTax program update or a Windows update.  If you have more than one Windows user account, log into each Windows user account and do the file search and Recycle Bin check from within each one.  Also check any backup media that you might have used.

If your search happens to find a data file beginning with a tilde similar to this example:  ~my2020return.tax2020, the tilde means it is a temporary backup file, but it can be opened like a regular tax data file.   While it may or may not be the most up-to-date version of your data file, it might be used to reconstruct much of a return.

Because of stories I see occasionally in this user forum, I personally make a backup copy of the *.tax2020 data file after each work session onto a thumb drive or other external storage--just in case of such a scenario.  Then I at least have 2 instances of the data file in case of a hard drive crash or whatever.

You may get other comments in this thread.   Or here's how to speak to TurboTax Customer Support to see if they have any further advice:

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

You can use this contact form to get a phone number and incident number.
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

[kumstadter]

Updates DO delete your tax file. I had completed my return in March. Went back to it in April to do final check and was prompted for an update. The file is gone!  I searched for .tax and also for all files created/modified on the same date as the pdf I made in March AND the day the update occurred.

How do I get my information from my pdf back into TurboTax. Your pdf import does not work either.  I can send the file and you can re-enter?

[Critter-3]

Speak to TurboTax Customer Support :

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern) 7 days/week.

[KOinVA]

Any resolution?  I have same problem.  I can see my saved return, but when I click on it and it opens, it has no saved information.  It starts with the "Welcome" screen.

Please help.

[KOinVA]

I saved my return twice and even changed the name the second time.  But opening either one just takes me to the welcome page as if all the information I entered is gone.

Please help!

[mesquitebean]

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@ KOinVA wrote:

I can see my saved return, but when I click on it and it opens, it has no saved information. It starts with the "Welcome" screen.

I saved my return twice and even changed the name the second time.  But opening either one just takes me to the welcome page as if all the information I entered is gone.

Please help!

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Are you using the Windows version or Mac?

Are your tax data files located on your main drive (recommended), or do you by any chance have them on a USB thumb drive or other external drive?

You should not be opening the tax data files by clicking on the *.tax2020 file.    Instead, you should first open the TurboTax interface, and use the interface to open the tax data file ( if the shortcut icons are missing from the interface, see the steps below).

What are you referring to as the "Welcome page?"  Are you referring to the main screen of the TurboTax program right after opening TurboTax, where you would normally have some large rectangular icons which are shortcuts to the tax data files?   And instead of the icons for the started files, does it say "Hi, Welcome to TurboTax"  and has a blue button "Begin?"

If so, your tax files may simply be disassociated from the interface.

What happens when you do this?

• Close TurboTax.
• Re-launch TurboTax. 
• If you're using the Windows version, at the main screen in the top left corner of the interface click on the FILE menu and in the dropdown choose Open Tax Return.
• Then in the little Explorer window browse to the location of the saved  *.tax2020 data file.  Does it open normally and has your data?

If so, once you save it, then the rectangular icon shortcut should be back in the TurboTax main screen.

[Janet44]

Thank you!  Found my file in the recycle bin!

[mesquitebean]

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@Janet44 wrote:

Thank you!  Found my file in the recycle bin!

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Good news!
Be sure to save a backup copy of the *.taxYYYY data file in a safe location, such as an external drive, etc.   I save a backup copy on a flash drive after every session when I work on the return.   In addition, after filing, I save PDFs as well for easy viewing throughout the year.  I usually save a PDF "as filed" and a larger PDF with all the worksheets and extra pages.

Also be sure to protect and guard the tax files appropriately since they have your personal info, financial data, and in many cases, bank account numbers, etc.

[DLL58]

I went to look at my return and to check for extensions I filed for family and the desktop prompted me to update and wouldn’t let me bypass the update. Now all the files are gone and they have been there. I always save the files separately and didn’t this time and the desktop program did eliminate the files as someone else suggested. This should be resolved within the software since it appears to be an ongoing issue.