Question

I have been using TurboTax for over 20 years. I logged in to start my 2024 return and all my prior year returns are missing.

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 14, 2025
3 replies
0 views

The Help bot is useless and won't even connect me to tech support so I have to post here in the Community.

You have to access your own account and/or print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

Start a 2024 return online and enter some personal information so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/27010

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them. Log out of the account you are in now.

Account Recovery

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-tax-file-computer/L0XJvPaJr_US_en_US?uid=lro5b507

You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30, an actual copy of your tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

SAVE YOUR TAX RETURNS !

EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records. That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900937-why-should-i-save-a-pdf-copy-of-my-return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899779-what-s-the-difference-between-the-tax-data-file-and-the-pdf-file

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912466-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-for-windows •

NOTE: TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years. Returns older than seven years are purged.

**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.**

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ferraro914Author

All prior year returns except last year were done online. But because TT Online has a limitation on the number of States that you can file electronically, I was forced to use the desktop version for 2023 (BTW I really disliked it. Online was so much better!).

Yes, I logged in with the same UserID I always use. But I will try to start a 2024 return and see if that recovers the old returns.

Thank you for prompt reply!

VolvoGirl

It sounds like you logged into the wrong online account. Try all those links posted above. Then to do 2024 you need to transfer from the .tax2023 file on your computer.

You will need the data file ending in .tax2023 to transfer into 2024 either to the Online version or the Desktop program. Are you on Windows or Mac? Be sure to save your return (go up to File-Save or Save As) and know where it is and it's name. On Windows it should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder. And you should copy it to a flash drive or backup incase your computer crashes.

If you already started an online return you will have to clear it and start over to transfer. How to clear and start over
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/how-do-i-clear-and-start-over-in-turbotax-online/00/26444

If you used the Desktop program last year here’s How to transfer into the Online version. You need to have the prior year .tax2023 file on your computer. Expand the link if you used the Desktop software last year........
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/transfer-last-year-return-turbotax-online/L279eUvY2_US_en_US?uid=l8w7nlbv

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gchavez916

Same thing. I've used the desktop version for 15 years. All Turbo tax file were stored on my hard drive. After installing 2024, all my files have been deleted!!!

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gchavez916

Same thing happened to me, the files were on my hard drive. I freaked out, luckily I had everything backed up but didn't need it.

The files are still there, when you try to open a tax return from previous year, Turbo search enters Tax Files(*.Tax2024) change it to All Files (*.*), then you will see all of the files