Finding your 2023 tax return in TurboTax is a common need, whether for financial planning, loan applications, or simply for your records. The process varies slightly depending on how you filed – using TurboTax Online or the desktop software (CD/Download). Don't worry, we'll cover both scenarios in detail to make sure you can easily access your important tax documents.
Unlocking Your 2023 Tax Return in TurboTax: A Comprehensive Guide
So, you're looking for your 2023 tax return filed with TurboTax? Perhaps you need it for a mortgage application, a student loan, or just to keep your financial house in order. Whatever the reason, retrieving your past return is a straightforward process, and this guide will walk you through it step-by-step. Let's dive in!
Section 1: For TurboTax Online Users
If you used TurboTax Online to prepare and file your 2023 tax return, your return is securely stored in your TurboTax account. You can access it anytime, anywhere, with an internet connection.
Step 1: Engage with Your TurboTax Account
Alright, let's get started! The very first thing you need to do is head over to the official TurboTax website. Have you logged in recently? If not, no problem! We'll guide you through it.
Visit the TurboTax Website: Open your web browser and go to
turbotax.intuit.com Sign In: Look for the "Sign In" button, usually located in the top right corner of the page. Click it to proceed.
Step 2: Navigate to Your Account Dashboard
Once you've successfully logged in, you'll be directed to your TurboTax account dashboard. This is your central hub for all things TurboTax, including your current and past tax returns.
Find Your "Tax Home": On the left-hand menu, you should see a tab labeled "Tax Home." Click on this. If you don't immediately see it, especially if you've already started a 2024 return, you might need to answer a few preliminary questions to fully load the Tax Home interface.
Scroll Down to "Your Tax Returns & Documents": Once on your Tax Home screen, scroll all the way down the page. You'll find a section titled "Your Tax Returns & Documents." This section often appears collapsed, so you'll need to expand it by clicking on it or an arrow next to it.
Step 3: Select and Download Your 2023 Return
Now that you've located the "Your Tax Returns & Documents" section, it's time to pinpoint your 2023 return and download it.
Choose the Correct Year: Within the expanded "Your Tax Returns & Documents" section, you'll see a list of tax years. Select "2023" from the available options.
Download Your PDF: After selecting 2023, you should see an option to "Download tax PDF" or "Download/Print Return." Click on this link to download a PDF copy of your complete 2023 tax return. This PDF will include all the forms and schedules you filed.
Save and Print: Once the PDF downloads, you can save it to your computer for future reference and/or print a physical copy. It's always a good idea to keep a digital backup and a hard copy in a secure location.
Troubleshooting Tip for Online Users: Multiple Accounts
It's surprisingly common for users to have multiple TurboTax accounts, especially if they've used different email addresses or user IDs over the years. If you can't find your 2023 return after following the above steps, you might be logged into the wrong account.
Account Recovery Tool: TurboTax provides an account recovery tool that can help you locate all user IDs associated with your email addresses or phone numbers. Log out of all Intuit accounts first, then clear your browser's cache and cookies. Reopen your browser and use the TurboTax account recovery tool (you can usually find a link for this if you click "Sign In" and then "Forgot User ID or Password"). Try using your phone number first, then any email addresses you may have used.
Section 2: For TurboTax Desktop (CD/Download) Users
If you used the TurboTax desktop software (installed from a CD or downloaded directly to your computer) to prepare your 2023 tax return, your return files are stored directly on your computer. They are not automatically uploaded to an online TurboTax account unless you explicitly saved a copy there.
Step 1: Locate the Software on Your Computer
The first crucial step is to ensure you have the 2023 TurboTax desktop software installed on the computer you used to prepare your taxes.
Check Your Applications/Programs: Look in your computer's applications folder (macOS) or Program Files (Windows) for the "TurboTax 2023" application.
If Not Installed: If you've uninstalled the 2023 software, you'll need to reinstall it. You can usually download past versions of the desktop software from the TurboTax website if you purchased it digitally, or use your original CD.
Step 2: Open the 2023 TurboTax Software
Once you've confirmed the software is installed, it's time to open it.
Launch the Program: Double-click on the TurboTax 2023 icon to launch the application.
Access Your Saved File: When the program opens, it should typically default to showing your most recent return or a list of recently opened returns. Look for your 2023 tax file, which will usually have a
.tt23extension (e.g.,YourName_2023.tt23).
Step 3: Open, View, and Print Your Return
With the 2023 software open and your tax file loaded, you can now view and print your return.
Open the Return: If your 2023 file isn't automatically displayed, go to "File" in the top menu and select "Open Tax Return..." Navigate to where you saved your 2023
.tt23file on your computer. Common locations include your "Documents" folder or a specific "TurboTax" folder.View Your Return: Once opened, you can navigate through your return, viewing all the forms and schedules.
Print Your Return: To print a copy, go to "File" in the top menu and select "Print..." You'll typically have options to print specific forms, only the federal return, or the entire return including state. You can also choose to save it as a PDF if you prefer a digital copy. It's highly recommended to save a PDF version as a backup, even if you print a physical copy.
Troubleshooting Tip for Desktop Users: Lost Files
Search Your Computer: If you can't find your
.tt23file, use your computer's search function (Windows Search or macOS Spotlight) and search for*.tt23. This will help locate all TurboTax 2023 files on your system.Backup Locations: Did you back up your files to an external hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage? Check those locations.
Section 3: When All Else Fails - Requesting from the IRS
If for some reason you cannot access your 2023 tax return through TurboTax (e.g., you forgot your login, lost your desktop file, or an unforeseen technical issue), you can always request a copy or transcript directly from the IRS. This process takes longer but is a reliable fallback.
IRS Get Transcript Online: The fastest way is often through the IRS "Get Transcript Online" tool on their website. You'll need to verify your identity.
Mail Request (Form 4506-T or 4506): You can also mail in Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) for a free transcript or Form 4506 (Request for Copy of Tax Return) for an exact copy of your return (which may have a fee). Be aware that these requests can take several weeks to process.
Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 common "How to" questions related to viewing TurboTax returns, with quick answers:
How to access my TurboTax account if I forgot my User ID or Password?
Go to the TurboTax sign-in page and click "Forgot User ID or Password." Follow the prompts to recover your credentials using your associated email or phone number.
How to get a copy of my 2023 tax return if I used the TurboTax Free Edition?
If you used TurboTax Free Edition Online, log into your account as described in Section 1. Your return will be available for download as a PDF.
How to print only my Federal tax return from TurboTax?
When you are in the "Print" option within TurboTax (either online or desktop), you will typically have the choice to print "Federal," "State," or "All forms." Select "Federal."
How to view my tax return forms and schedules in TurboTax Online?
After logging in and navigating to "Your Tax Returns & Documents" for the 2023 year, downloading the PDF will give you a complete copy with all forms and schedules.
How to know if I used TurboTax Online or the desktop version for my 2023 return?
If you paid a subscription fee online or accessed TurboTax through a web browser, you likely used TurboTax Online. If you purchased a physical CD or downloaded software directly to your computer and installed it, you used the desktop version.
How to save my 2023 tax return as a PDF from TurboTax Desktop?
Within the TurboTax Desktop software, go to "File" > "Print..." and then select the option to "Save as PDF" or choose a PDF printer from your printer options.
How to get a tax transcript from the IRS if I can't access TurboTax?
Visit the IRS "Get Transcript Online" tool on IRS.gov or complete and mail Form 4506-T to request a tax return transcript.
How to find my TurboTax 2023 file on my computer if I used the desktop version?
Search your computer for files ending with the
.tt23extension (e.g.,YourName_2023.tt23). They are often saved in your "Documents" folder or a "TurboTax" subfolder.
How to re-install an older version of TurboTax Desktop software?
If you purchased a digital download, check your TurboTax account's download history on their website. If you have the original CD, use that. Ensure your operating system is compatible.
How to get help from TurboTax support if I'm still having trouble viewing my 2023 return?
Visit the TurboTax support website (
support.turbotax.intuit.com
