You've completed your taxes with TurboTax Online – congratulations! But what if you want a local copy for your records, or perhaps to share with an accountant, or even just for peace of mind? While TurboTax Online automatically saves your return in their system, having a copy on your desktop is a smart move. Let's walk through exactly how to do that, step by step.
How to Save Your TurboTax Online Return to Your Desktop
Are you ready to gain full control over your tax documents? Excellent! Let's get started.
Step 1: Accessing Your TurboTax Online Account
The first crucial step is to log in to your TurboTax Online account.
Head to the TurboTax Website: Open your preferred web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, etc.) and navigate to the official TurboTax website.
Locate the Sign In Button: Look for the "Sign In" or "Log In" button, usually found in the top right corner of the page. Click on it.
Enter Your Credentials: You'll be prompted to enter your User ID or email address and your password. Make absolutely sure you're using the correct credentials for the account where you prepared your tax return. If you have multiple TurboTax accounts, ensure you're logging into the one associated with the return you wish to save.
Two-Factor Authentication (if applicable): If you have two-factor authentication enabled (which is highly recommended for security!), you'll need to complete this step, usually by entering a code sent to your phone or email.
Step 2: Navigating to Your Tax Returns & Documents
Once you're successfully logged in, you need to find the section that holds your completed tax returns.
On Your Tax Home Page: After logging in, you'll typically land on your "Tax Home" or a similar dashboard. Look for options like "Your tax returns & documents" or "Documents." This is where your filed and in-progress returns are stored.
Locate the Desired Tax Year: If you have multiple years of tax returns with TurboTax, you'll see a list or a dropdown menu to select the specific tax year you want to save. Double-check that you're selecting the correct year!
Step 3: Choosing to Download/Print Your Return
This is where you initiate the process of getting your return onto your desktop.
Find the Download/Print Option: Within the "Your tax returns & documents" section for the chosen year, you should see an option like "Download/print return (PDF)" or simply "Print/Save". Click on this.
Consider Your Options: TurboTax often provides a few choices here:
Download/Print Return (PDF): This is generally what you want. It creates a Portable Document Format (PDF) file of your entire tax return, including all forms and schedules. This is a static, uneditable snapshot.
Save as Tax Data File (if available): In some specific scenarios, TurboTax might allow you to download a
.taxdata file (e.g.,.tax2024). This file is editable and can typically only be opened with the corresponding TurboTax desktop software for that tax year. While useful for transferring data between TurboTax versions, for a general record, the PDF is usually sufficient. Note: As of current information, directly exporting a.taxfile from TurboTax Online to the desktop for easy import into TurboTax Desktop isn't always straightforward or universally supported across all versions and years. The primary method for saving a record is often the PDF.
Step 4: Saving the PDF to Your Desktop
Now that you've initiated the download, it's time to save it locally.
The PDF Viewer Will Open: Typically, clicking "Download/print return (PDF)" will open your tax return in a new browser tab or window as a PDF.
Locate the Save Icon: In this PDF viewer, look for a "Save" icon (often a floppy disk icon or a downward-pointing arrow). Click on it.
Choose Your Save Location: A "Save As" dialog box will appear. This is where you decide where on your computer you want to save the file.
Recommended: Choose a location that's easy to remember, such as your "Documents" folder, a dedicated "Taxes" folder, or even your "Desktop" for quick access.
Name Your File Clearly: It's a good practice to rename the file to something descriptive, like "YourName_TaxReturn_2024.pdf". This makes it easy to find later.
Click "Save": Once you've selected the location and named your file, click the "Save" button.
Step 5: Verifying Your Saved Return
Congratulations! You're almost done. This final step is important to ensure everything worked correctly.
Navigate to the Saved Location: Go to the folder on your desktop where you chose to save the PDF.
Open the File: Double-click on the saved PDF file.
Review the Contents: Quickly scroll through the PDF to make sure it's your complete tax return and that all pages are legible. This confirms the download was successful and the file isn't corrupted.
You now have a secure, personal copy of your TurboTax Online return right on your desktop! You can store it, print it, or share it as needed.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to access my prior-year tax returns on TurboTax Online?
You can access prior-year tax returns by signing into your TurboTax Online account, navigating to "Your tax returns & documents," and then selecting the desired tax year from the available options. TurboTax typically stores PDF copies for several years.
How to print my tax return from TurboTax Online?
Once you've downloaded your tax return as a PDF to your desktop (following the steps above), simply open the PDF file with a PDF viewer (like Adobe Acrobat Reader or your web browser) and use the print function (File > Print) within that program.
How to transfer my TurboTax Online data to TurboTax Desktop?
While you can't directly "export" a .tax data file from TurboTax Online for direct import into an existing TurboTax Desktop file, you can often "switch" from TurboTax Online to TurboTax Desktop at the beginning of a new tax year. This usually involves installing the desktop software and selecting an option to "Continue From TurboTax Online," which will then import your data. For prior years, you'll mostly rely on the PDF.
How to save only specific forms from my TurboTax Online return?
When you save or print from TurboTax Online, it usually generates the entire tax return as a single PDF. If you need only specific forms, you can download the complete PDF and then use a PDF editor (or online PDF tools) to extract or print only the pages containing the forms you need.
How to password protect my saved tax return PDF?
After saving your tax return as a PDF, you can use a PDF editor (many free and paid options are available) to add a password to the file. This provides an extra layer of security for your sensitive financial information.
How to find where my TurboTax Desktop files are saved?
If you've used TurboTax Desktop, your .tax files (e.g., .tax2024) are typically saved in your "Documents" folder under a "TurboTax" subfolder. You can also use your computer's search function to look for files ending with .tax followed by the year (e.g., *.tax2024).
How to amend a tax return after saving it from TurboTax Online?
To amend a tax return, you'll need to go back into your TurboTax Online account for the specific tax year. There will be an option within your filed return section to "Amend" it. You cannot amend a tax return simply by editing the saved PDF or .tax file on your desktop without re-engaging with the TurboTax software.
How to know if my TurboTax Online return was successfully filed?
TurboTax Online will provide you with a confirmation message after successful e-filing, including an IRS or state acknowledgment. You can also check the status of your return within your TurboTax Online account, usually under your "Tax Home" or "My Returns" section.
How to get a copy of my tax return if I no longer have access to my TurboTax account?
If you can't access your TurboTax account, your primary option for obtaining a copy of your filed tax return is to request a tax transcript directly from the IRS (or your state tax authority). This process usually takes a few weeks.
How to back up my TurboTax files regularly?
Beyond saving your return as a PDF to your desktop, consider backing it up to an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or a secure cloud storage service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive). This protects your files in case of computer failure or accidental deletion.
