Just started taxes this year, only to find that I have two tax returns saved for 2021. I'm not sure what I was doing last year, but I need to make sure I pick the right one to transfer over. How do I figure out which one is correct? Do I contact the IRS to get the submitted return?
For Desktop Software only....sounds like what you have.
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Depends on what you see.
IF one of them has a tilde "~" in front of it? Then that is just a temporary file in case of an unplanned shutdown or computer crash....and you just use the one without a "~" in front of it.
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IF you see two actual differently named files?
Then you need to start up your 2021 desktop software.
Open each tax file...one at a time.
Go up to the "File" menu item...
Select "Electronic Filing" from the drop down...and then "Show Electronic Filing Status History"
IF there is no history, then that form wasn't filed....try the other one.
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Once you ID which is which......then the one not used may need to be renamed to something else..."2021 Test" ? or deleted. (Of course, this does assume you checked your filing status last year)
I keep several files of my own each year...one as "2022_Initial" early in the season....one "2022_Intermediate" for mid season (i.e. Now), then I'll have "2022_Final" for when I get all my forms in and I'm ready to file.
For Desktop Software only....sounds like what you have.
______________
Depends on what you see.
IF one of them has a tilde "~" in front of it? Then that is just a temporary file in case of an unplanned shutdown or computer crash....and you just use the one without a "~" in front of it.
___________
IF you see two actual differently named files?
Then you need to start up your 2021 desktop software.
Open each tax file...one at a time.
Go up to the "File" menu item...
Select "Electronic Filing" from the drop down...and then "Show Electronic Filing Status History"
IF there is no history, then that form wasn't filed....try the other one.
______________
Once you ID which is which......then the one not used may need to be renamed to something else..."2021 Test" ? or deleted. (Of course, this does assume you checked your filing status last year)
I keep several files of my own each year...one as "2022_Initial" early in the season....one "2022_Intermediate" for mid season (i.e. Now), then I'll have "2022_Final" for when I get all my forms in and I'm ready to file.
You can request a transcript of your 2021 tax return from the IRS to compare and determine which file is correct. You can proceed to Get Your Tax Record on the IRS website to see your return.