You've just wrapped up another tax season, breathed a sigh of relief, and now you're wondering, what happens to all that tax data? Specifically, "how long does TurboTax keep tax returns?" It's a common and incredibly important question, as managing your tax records properly is crucial for future financial planning, potential audits, and simply having peace of mind. Let's dive deep into TurboTax's data retention policies, what it means for you, and how to ensure you always have access to your essential tax documents.
Understanding TurboTax's Tax Return Retention Policy
TurboTax, like most tax software providers, aims to align its data retention policies with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines. This is a significant benefit to you, as it means their standard retention period generally covers the most common scenarios for which you'd need your past returns.
Step 1: Ready to uncover the truth about your past tax returns?
Let's start by understanding the general rule of thumb. TurboTax keeps your online tax returns for the past seven years. This applies to returns filed using their online platform. This seven-year period mirrors the IRS's extended statute of limitations for certain situations.
Why seven years? The IRS generally has three years from the date you filed your original return (or the due date, whichever is later) to assess additional tax. However, this period can extend to six years if you omit more than 25% of your gross income. For claims of a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deductions, the IRS can go back as far as seven years. By retaining your returns for seven years, TurboTax provides a safety net that covers most, if not all, potential IRS inquiries or your own needs for amending past returns.
Step 2: Accessing Your Past TurboTax Returns (Online Version)
If you've filed your taxes using TurboTax Online, retrieving your past returns is a straightforward process.
Sub-heading: Log In to Your Account
Action: Go to the official TurboTax website (
TurboTax.com Action: Sign in using the same User ID and password you used when you filed those returns. This is crucial, especially if you have multiple Intuit accounts.
Sub-heading: Navigate to Your Tax Home
Action: Once logged in, you'll typically land on your Tax Home page. This is your central hub for all things TurboTax.
Action: Scroll down and look for a section titled "Your tax returns & documents" or similar.
Sub-heading: Select and Download
Action: In this section, you should see a list of the tax years you've filed with TurboTax.
Action: Select the specific tax year you need.
Action: Look for an option to "Download/print return (PDF)" or something similar.
Action: Click on it, and your tax return will be downloaded as a PDF file to your computer.
Important Note: It's always a good practice to save these PDF copies in a secure, organized folder on your computer and perhaps even a cloud storage service or an external hard drive. This creates your own personal backup.
Step 3: What About TurboTax CD/Download Versions?
The process is a bit different if you used the CD/Download version of TurboTax.
Sub-heading: Local Storage is Key
Understanding: When you use the CD/Download software, your tax files are saved directly on the computer where you prepared your taxes. They are not stored online in your TurboTax account in the same way as returns filed through the online platform.
Action: Look in your computer's "Documents" folder, specifically for a "TurboTax" subfolder. Within this, you'll usually find folders for each tax year (e.g., "TurboTax 2023," "TurboTax 2022," etc.).
Action: The actual tax file will typically have a ".tax" extension (e.g., "yourname2023.tax").
Sub-heading: Opening and Printing
Requirement: To open and view these files, you'll need the corresponding year's TurboTax software installed on your computer. For example, to open a 2023.tax file, you'll need TurboTax 2023 installed.
Action: Once the software is installed, you can open the .tax file and then print a PDF copy or a physical copy of your return.
Tip: If you no longer have the software for a very old year, you might need to purchase it or consider the alternatives mentioned in Step 4.
Step 4: When TurboTax Doesn't Have Your Returns (Older Than 7 Years)
What if you need a return from, say, 10 years ago, and TurboTax only retains them for seven? Don't despair! The IRS is your next best bet.
Sub-heading: Requesting IRS Transcripts (Free!)
Understanding: An IRS transcript is a summary of your tax return information. It's often sufficient for various purposes, such as applying for a loan, student financial aid, or verifying income. There are different types of transcripts:
Tax Return Transcript: Shows most line items from your original tax return (Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, etc.) as you filed it, along with any forms and schedules you filed. It does not show changes made after you filed the original return.
Tax Account Transcript: Provides basic data from your original return, plus any changes or adjustments made by you or the IRS. It also shows payments, credits, and penalties.
Action: You can request these transcripts for free directly from the IRS in several ways:
Online: Use the "Get Transcript Online" tool on the IRS website (
IRS.gov By Mail: Use the "Get Transcript by Mail" tool on the IRS website.
By Phone: Call the IRS at 800-908-9946.
By Form: Fill out and mail Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.
Sub-heading: Requesting Copies of Your Actual Tax Return (Fee Applies)
Understanding: If you need an actual copy of your filed tax return (not just a transcript), the IRS can provide it, but there's a fee involved. This is less common but may be necessary in certain legal or financial situations.
Action: You'll need to fill out and mail Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return. Be aware that this option typically costs a fee per return requested.
Step 5: Best Practices for Your Tax Records
Beyond relying on TurboTax or the IRS, it's highly recommended to implement your own robust record-keeping system.
Sub-heading: Digital Backups
Action: After filing each year, download and save a PDF copy of your completed tax return.
Action: Store these PDFs in a dedicated "Tax Returns" folder on your computer.
Action: Crucially, back up this folder to at least one other location, such as:
Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud)
External hard drive or USB flash drive
A secure, encrypted online backup service
Sub-heading: Physical Copies
Consideration: While not strictly necessary in the digital age, some people prefer to print a physical copy of their tax return for their records.
Action: If you print, store these physical copies in a secure location, such as a locked filing cabinet or fireproof safe.
Sub-heading: Supporting Documentation
Importance: Remember that your tax return is only part of the story. You should also retain all supporting documentation for your income, deductions, and credits. This includes:
W-2s and 1099s
Receipts for deductible expenses
Bank and brokerage statements
Mortgage interest statements (Form 1098)
Property tax records
Records for any assets purchased or sold
IRS Recommendation: The IRS generally recommends keeping records that support an item of income, deduction, or credit shown on your tax return until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out. As discussed, this is typically three years, but can be longer in specific circumstances.
Action: Organize these supporting documents digitally (e.g., scanning receipts) or physically alongside your tax returns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions related to how long TurboTax keeps tax returns, with quick answers:
How to Check if TurboTax Still Has My Old Returns?
Log in to your TurboTax Online account, navigate to "Tax Home," and then "Your tax returns & documents" to see the available years.
How to Download a PDF of My TurboTax Return?
After logging in, go to "Tax Home," select the desired tax year under "Your tax returns & documents," and click on the "Download/print return (PDF)" option.
How to Find My TurboTax Return if I Used the CD/Download Version?
Your tax files (.tax extension) are stored on the computer where you prepared them, typically in your Documents folder under a TurboTax subfolder for that specific tax year.
How to Access Returns Older Than 7 Years from TurboTax?
TurboTax generally only keeps online returns for seven years. For older returns, you'll need to request transcripts or copies directly from the IRS.
How to Request a Free Tax Transcript from the IRS?
Visit IRS.gov and use their "Get Transcript Online" or "Get Transcript by Mail" tools. You can also call them directly.
How to Get a Copy of My Actual Tax Return from the IRS?
You'll need to submit Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, to the IRS. A fee applies for this service.
How to Keep My Tax Records Safe After Downloading from TurboTax?
Save PDF copies to a secure folder on your computer, and then back them up to cloud storage, an external hard drive, or both.
How to Know Which TurboTax User ID I Used in a Previous Year?
If you have multiple Intuit accounts, try the email addresses and phone numbers you've used in the past on the TurboTax sign-in help page to recover your User ID.
How to Deal with Supporting Documents Like W-2s and Receipts?
Keep all supporting documents for at least three years from the filing date, or longer if specific circumstances (like unreported income or bad debt deductions) apply. Digital scanning and organized folders are highly recommended.
How to Amend a Past Tax Return if I Find an Error?
You'll typically need the original tax return for the year you wish to amend. If you filed with TurboTax, you can access it through your account (if within the retention period) or obtain a transcript/copy from the IRS, then use TurboTax's "Amend a Return" feature or the IRS Form 1040-X.
