How To Access Previous Tax Returns On Turbotax

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Navigating your past financial records can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially when you need specific tax documents for a loan application, financial planning, or simply for your personal records. If you've used TurboTax for your tax preparation, the good news is that accessing your previous tax returns is often a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you can retrieve those vital documents with ease.

How to Access Previous Tax Returns on TurboTax: Your Complete Guide

Step 1: Are You Ready to Dive In? Let's Get Started!

Before we embark on this journey to retrieve your past tax returns, let's make sure you're properly equipped. Do you have your TurboTax login credentials handy? This includes your User ID and password. If not, don't worry, we'll cover how to recover them. The key to accessing your returns on TurboTax is almost always through your account. So, take a moment to gather that information, and then we can proceed!

Understanding Where Your Returns Are Stored

It's important to differentiate between how TurboTax stores your returns depending on the product you used:

TurboTax Online: If you used the online version of TurboTax, your returns are typically stored in your online account for up to seven years. This is incredibly convenient as you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection.
TurboTax CD/Download Software: If you purchased and installed the CD or downloaded software version of TurboTax, your tax files are saved directly on the computer you used to prepare them. TurboTax does not store these online. This means you'll need to access that specific computer to retrieve your files.

This guide primarily focuses on accessing returns through the TurboTax Online platform, as it's the most common method for retrieving past returns for many users. If you used the CD/Download version, we'll provide guidance for that too.

Step 2: Logging into Your TurboTax Account

This is the gateway to your tax history!

Sub-heading: Navigating to the Login Page

Open your web browser: Launch your preferred internet browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.).
Go to the official TurboTax website: In the address bar, type www.turbotax.com and press Enter. Always ensure you are on the official TurboTax website to protect your sensitive financial information. Look for the "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon, indicating a secure connection.
Locate the "Sign In" button: Usually, you'll find a "Sign In" or "Log In" button in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Click on it.

Sub-heading: Entering Your Credentials

Enter your User ID: Input the User ID you used when you originally filed your taxes with TurboTax.
Enter your Password: Type in your associated password.
Click "Sign In": Once both fields are correctly filled, click the "Sign In" button.

Sub-heading: What if You Forgot Your User ID or Password?

Don't panic! It happens to the best of us.

Forgot User ID: Look for a "Forgot User ID" link on the login page. TurboTax will guide you through a process to recover your User ID, usually by verifying your email address or phone number associated with the account.
Forgot Password: Similarly, there will be a "Forgot Password" link. Clicking this will initiate a password reset process, often requiring you to confirm your identity through email or text message.

Step 3: Navigating to Your Tax Returns & Documents

Once you've successfully logged into your TurboTax account, you'll land on your "Tax Home" or a similar dashboard. This is where the magic happens!

Sub-heading: Finding "Your Tax Returns & Documents"

Look for the main menu or dashboard: On your "Tax Home" screen, you'll typically see a menu on the left side or a main section in the center.
Scroll down (if necessary): Look for a section titled "Your tax returns & documents" or something similar. This section might be further down the page, so you might need to scroll.
Expand the section: This section often appears as a collapsible menu. Click on it to expand and reveal the years for which you have filed returns.

Sub-heading: Selecting the Desired Tax Year

Within the "Your tax returns & documents" section, you'll see a list of tax years for which you have filed using that specific TurboTax account.

Identify the year: Carefully locate the specific tax year for which you need a copy of your return.
Click on the year: Click on the desired tax year. This will usually expand to show options for that year.

Step 4: Downloading or Printing Your Return

You're almost there! Now it's time to get your hands on that PDF.

Sub-heading: Locating the Download/Print Option

After selecting the tax year, you should see options like:

"Download/print return (PDF)"
"Download tax PDF"
"View PDF"

Click on the appropriate option.

Sub-heading: Saving and Printing Your Return

Download the PDF: Your tax return will typically open in a new tab or window as a PDF file. Look for a download icon (often a downward arrow) in your browser's PDF viewer. Click this to save the PDF to your computer.
Choose a save location: When prompted, select a secure and easily accessible location on your computer to save the file (e.g., your "Documents" folder or a dedicated "Tax Returns" folder).
Print a physical copy: If you need a physical copy, after downloading or viewing the PDF, locate the print icon (often a printer symbol) in your browser's PDF viewer or within your PDF reader software. Ensure your printer is connected and loaded with paper, then proceed to print.

Step 5: What if You Can't Find Your Returns Online?

This can be frustrating, but there are still avenues to explore.

Sub-heading: Checking Multiple Accounts

It's surprisingly common! Many users create multiple TurboTax accounts over the years, sometimes with different email addresses or user IDs.

Try different login combinations: If you have other email addresses or potential user IDs, try logging in with them.
Use the account recovery tools: TurboTax often has a "Find all my accounts" or similar feature that can help you locate other accounts associated with your personal information.

Sub-heading: If You Used the CD/Download Software

As mentioned earlier, if you used the desktop version, your files are on your computer.

Locate the software installation: Find where you installed the TurboTax software on your computer.
Search for .tax files: Tax files prepared with the CD/Download version typically have a .tax extension (e.g., 2023TaxReturn.tax2023). Use your computer's search function to look for these files.
Open the file with the correct year's software: You'll need the specific year's TurboTax software installed to open the corresponding tax file. For example, to open a 2023TaxReturn.tax2023 file, you need the 2023 TurboTax software installed. Once opened, you can print or save a PDF copy.

Sub-heading: Requesting a Transcript from the IRS

If all else fails, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can provide you with a tax transcript or a copy of your tax return.

Tax Transcript: This is a summary of your tax return information. It's often free and can be accessed more quickly than a full copy of your return. You can request a "Tax Return Transcript" or a "Tax Account Transcript" (which shows changes made after filing).
- Visit the IRS "Get Transcript Online" page: www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
- You'll need to verify your identity.
Copy of Your Tax Return: For a complete copy of your actual tax return, you'll need to file Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, with the IRS. There's a fee for this service, and it can take up to 60 days to process.
- Download Form 4506 from the IRS website: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
- Follow the instructions on the form carefully, including payment and mailing address.

Important Note: TurboTax typically retains online returns for the past seven years. If you need a return older than seven years, you will likely need to request a transcript or copy directly from the IRS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 10 common questions related to accessing your previous tax returns on TurboTax, along with their quick answers:

How to access a tax return from more than 7 years ago on TurboTax?

TurboTax generally stores online returns for the past seven years. For returns older than that, you'll typically need to request a tax transcript or a copy of your return directly from the IRS using their official website.

How to download multiple years of tax returns at once from TurboTax?

TurboTax usually requires you to download each year's return individually. There isn't a direct "download all" option; you'll need to select each year and then download its PDF.

How to find my TurboTax User ID if I forgot it?

On the TurboTax sign-in page, look for a "Forgot User ID" link. Follow the prompts, which often involve verifying your email address or phone number to retrieve your User ID.

How to reset my TurboTax password?

On the TurboTax sign-in page, click the "Forgot Password" link. You'll be guided through a process to reset your password, usually by confirming your identity via email or text.

How to access a TurboTax return if I used the CD/Download software?

If you used the CD/Download software, your tax files are stored on the computer where you prepared them. You'll need to access that specific computer and open the .tax file with the corresponding year's TurboTax software to view or print your return.

How to get a tax transcript from the IRS for free?

Visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript and use their "Get Transcript Online" tool. You'll need to verify your identity to access your tax return or tax account transcripts.

How to get a physical copy of my tax return from the IRS?

To get a full copy of your tax return from the IRS, you need to complete and mail Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, along with the required fee.

How to ensure my tax returns are always accessible in the future?

Always save a PDF copy of your completed tax return to a secure location on your computer or cloud storage, and consider printing a physical copy for your records each year.

How to check which TurboTax account my past returns are linked to?

If you suspect you have multiple accounts, try logging in with different email addresses or user IDs you might have used. TurboTax also has account recovery tools that can help identify accounts linked to your personal information.

How to know if I filed with TurboTax Online or the CD/Download version?

If you paid for and downloaded software to your computer, or purchased a physical CD, you used the CD/Download version. If you primarily worked within your web browser on the TurboTax website, you used TurboTax Online.

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