Why does my e-file not appear in my account?

[namuhapah]

Why is my e-file not in my account?

[mesquitebean]

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@ namuhapah wrote:
Why is my e-file not in my account?

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What does that mean?   Does the term "my efile" mean your tax return?    Did you use Online TurboTax to prepare and efile your 2021 return, and are you logging into your Online TurboTax account and seeing no evidence of the 2021 tax return you efiled?   Is there no evidence of the 2021 Online return, and is it acting like it wants you to start one?   If so, you may have multiple accounts and signed into the wrong one.

If that's what you mean by your question, here's how to look for multiple accounts. 

You can have up to 5 accounts that use the same email address for notification purposes.  A User ID may be an email address, but it doesn't have to be.  It might be only part of an email address, or it can be anything at all.

To get a list of your User IDs, reset password, and recover account access, etc., you can use the tool at the link below.  When using the Account Recovery tool, try using your phone number first if you can still access it.   After that, if necessary, then run the tool on your email address(es) you can access.

NOTE: Before running the account recovery tool below, log out of all Intuit accounts including this user forum, or you might end up in a loop.  Then clear your browser Internet cache, close your browser, then reopen it, and go to the link below.  You may wish to copy this link so you can paste it into the new browser session.

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If still no luck after running that on your phone number you can still access and email address(es) that you can access,  here's another method:

Go back to the tool again, but this time leave the data field blank, scroll down a bit, then choose the small blue link that says "Try something else", and it will look you up by SSN and other parameters.

[namuhapah]

Hi,

Thank you for your detailed reply.

Unfortunately it did not work.

Here's the thing:

I completed my return on my computer via the TurboTax CD disc. Then, after signing into my account, I e-filed my Federal and State taxes. I have a screenshot of TurboTax stating both, " You just filed your taxes", and "Your returns have been sent."

That was about 5 hours ago. I received an email confirming my payment for my State e-file. (The Fed e-file is included in my disc version of TurboTax.) BUT I never received a Filing Confirmation email, confirming that the returns were actually transmitted. (In previous years TurboTax had always sent this confirmation email, immediately after my completion of the e-file order)

That's why I wanted to check my e-file status. But there is really Nothing in my account. My personal data is there, but there is no way to get any other data. TurboTax treats me like a newcomer in my account. When I click on  "Checking e-mail status" it takes me to a newcomer page.

When I completed the e-file, TurboTax had all of my direct deposit info for my refunds and all my other info. But none of this is in my account. I am really worried that something went wrong on TurboTax's end, and I will be paying late fees to the Feds and the state. (The extended filing deadline is Monday, 17 Oct)

Thanks again for your help. I am really stressed-out.

P.S. There was no blue "Try something else" at the bottom of the tool.

[Critter-3]

OK ... if you used the downloaded program OPEN that program to check your status ... the ONLINE program instructions will not work for you.  

When you efile you get back 2 emails.  The first email only confirms the transmission.  The second email says if the IRS (or state) Accepted or Rejected your efile.  And check your spam folder for them.

To check the status of your federal tax return go to Where's My Refund? at IRS.gov.

Or go to our e-file status lookup tool to get your current status (pending, accepted, or rejected).

Your status is also prominently displayed when you sign in to TurboTax Online or open your return in the CD/download version on your computer.

[namuhapah]

Thank you for your response.

Yes, I know about the two emails. The reason I want to check my e-file status is I did NOT receive the Transmission Confirmation email.

(I only received the payment confirmation for my payment of my State e-file. That's just the banking thing. I got no email confirmation that the returns were transmitted.)

And the "e-file lookup tool" just takes me to a newcomer welcome page. (I have e-filed with TurboTax for several years.)

***And my e-file status is NOT "status is also prominently displayed when you sign in to TurboTax Online or open your return in the CD/download version on your computer."

I would not be here stressed out about this if my e-file status was "prominently" displayed anywhere. It's NOT ANYWHERE.

It's really frustrating.

[Critter-3]

OK ... if you used the downloaded program OPEN that program to check your status ... the ONLINE program instructions will not work for you.  Stop trying to use the ONLINE tool.  

Your status is also prominently displayed when you open your return in the CD/download version on your computer.

[namuhapah]

As I previously wrote,  I used the TurboTax program disc. After completing my return, I was prompted to log-in to my Intuit account and completed the e-file for my return.

The point is I never received the transmission email, and there is no indication in my Online TurboTax account of any e-file whatsoever.

I don't mean to be rude, but once and for all, my e-file status is NOT displayed when I open my return.

But I really am grateful for you attempt to help. I think this is a special case of TurboTax screw-up. The point really is that if TurboTax had sent the transmission confirmation email, I would not be here writing this. They have failed to confirm transmission, so it's not unreasonable to assume they may have screwed the rest of my order.

[Critter-3 · Accepted solution]

Once again ... if you used the CD/Downloaded program to complete your return OPEN that program to see your filing status ... it will be right on the landing page.  You do NOT go online for any reason.   In fact you cannot start the 2021 return in the downloaded program then switch to the online version to finish and file the return without starting the entire process again from scratch and why would you want to pay the online fee when you already bought the downloaded version.

Was the return efiled at all ?   What is the exact filing status for the return ?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

If you used desktop software you are never going to see any information about your e-file in an online account.   You will only see information by opening up your own software program on your own computer and checking your filing status.   Go to the tool bar at the top of your TurboTax program and click on the word File.

And.....did you get the emails?

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax.  The first one will say that your return was submitted.  The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected.  If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

[namuhapah]

Hooray!

I just tried for the third time opening my return, and this time I managed to download the e-file status.

Honestly, for some reason the two previous attempts failed. My internet connection seems to have been OK.

I have no idea what the deal was.

But I want to thank you for insisting I continue to try opening my return. Because that's why I tried again.

Take care.

[namuhapah]

Critter-3,

Thank you very much for your persistent advice.

As I wrote previously, thanks to you, I tried opening my return for the third time, and it revealed my e-file status.

I don't know why it failed to work the other two times. But I really appreciate your help, and everyone else who cared enough to contact me.

I can sleep now.

Take care

[kaseibert]

It's there but you don"t know it. I find it sad that many people do not know what should be common knowledge.  Unfortunately you can not rely on your E-file history or status, as after 2-3  years ( and I was told even after 1 year) double clicking  to open the file  often creates errors and the status reverts to no e file or paper file , at least for the CD download.  I called a turbo tax expert and he was able to get into my computer and confirm what he called  the one and only thing that is a for-sure you filed successfully on a CD.  He said the Electronic Filing instructions are your receipt or proof of filing. If rejected the Filing Instructions go  back to telling you to file by paper format.  It confirms you e-filed and states a signed PE is attached . It specifies  you must keep this form as part of your permanent record. It should be called confirmation of successful E file not Instructions. But it does tell you it is a permanent record to keep and it cannot be generated after the deadline to e-file in that year specified on the form.  And always get a hard  PDF and  print copy if your computer dies or the  CD . Thats  why you always want to print your final forms after acceptance, ( and why the email is only recommended to keep for your records). If it tells you to mail a paper copy, you did not successfully e file . Im very disappointed that the e-file confirmation is NOT reliable and inaccurate in as little as a year! this needs to fixed Turbo tax .