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February 19, 2023
Question

Federal Taxes Rejected - TurboTax not opening return to let me correct them

  • February 19, 2023
  • 2 replies
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My federal taxes were rejected. I know the error, I know what to fix, and TurboTax won't let me open my return to correct it. The message I keep receiving says, "Looks like your tax file is corrupt. Try again, and if that doesn't work open a new return..."

 

How is the file corrupt? It was automatically saved through the TurboTax application. I'd rather not spend another 3-4 hours to redo the whole return. 

 

I've found a few threads here tied to seeing this message when importing last year's files, but I'm not doing that. I've tried importing other backups of my 2022 return, as well as a PDF version of my finished 2022 return, and none of them work. I can't be the only one experiencing this issue.

 

I'm assuming I need to change something in the file properties. I don't understand how a file could be corrupted when TurboTax is automatically saving in the background unless its a known bug. I've used TurboTax for 8 years, and have the last 3 versions on my Desktop. 

 

Note: My product has the latest updates

    2 replies

    Tomas5Author
    February 19, 2023

    Just to add - I found a non-Intuit site suggesting how to fix the corrupted file. I ran a scan of the folder containing these files and there weren't any errors. 

    February 20, 2023

    When your e-filed return comes back as rejected, it just means that the IRS has sent your return back to you for correction. To fix your reject, sign back in to TurboTax and follow the instructions to correct the error. Please see the information in this TurboTax FAQ here for assistance.

     

    If you need additional assistance, please click here to contact customer support. 

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    Tomas5Author
    February 21, 2023

    @KatrinaLO 

    Yes, I understand that. The issue was TurboTax would not open my return once I signed back in. 

     

    I purchased TurboTax Premier from Costco. Included in the installation instructions is a section stating, "For product and technical support, call [phone number removed]." 

     

    I called the number and was connected to a nice gentlemen who admitted he was a tax expert, and not a tech expert. When asked if he could route me to tech support, he was unaware there was such a number. He recommended against using the desktop version of TurboTax and told me I should try online next year. 

     

    After trying to resolve the "corrupted" file on my own for several hours, I went ahead and just redid my return. I had to pay an additional $20 to file the State return again, and now need to submit a refund request for the first time I tried to file. 

    April 14, 2023

    Same problem with my 2022 Turbotax. E-filing got rejected needs correction on the return, but unable to open the tax file anymore, the program kept saying the tax file is corrupted. Called turbotax and spend 3+ hours on the phone with technician tried multiple attempts to uninstall / reinstall and update the program, but still can't solve the issue. My tax return has more than 150 pages, it drives me crazy to start all over again:(  The technician said it might be something wrong with my computer. How could it be possible? I was using the same computer for my 2019-2021 turbotax files, never got the corrupt file issue before. TurboTax got to take a look into this issue seriously!

    CassLO
    April 15, 2023

    If you are using the Windows Desktop program see if you have the Tilde ~ file.  It is a copy of your file and it starts with a Tilde ~ sign. That's in case you lose the real file so you can restore it. These files should be under Documents then in a Turbo Tax folder or search your computer for all files ending in .tax or .tax2022.

    "VolvoGirl Level 152"

     

    For more information and instructions on how to fix your rejected return, please see the TurboTax FAQ below:

    @Jersey 08 

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