My 2023 turbotax file was deleted. How do I manually import the information from the tax return info I downloaded from the IRS website?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 26, 2024
2 replies
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I'm trying to determine if I can do so before purchasing turbotax 2024. To test this in turbotax 2023 I created a new return but the only options to import previous returns appears to be only allowed in turbotax format or pdf. I imported the 2022 pdf from the IRS for testing and it failed to import. What is bets practice when we lose our previous years data?

DoninGA

Employee

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your 2023 tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created. TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

If you have the 2023 tax data file which has a file extension of .tax2023 or a saved PDF from TurboTax and you have the 2023 TurboTax desktop edition, then you would need to start the 2023 program and then click on the File menu at the top left of the desktop program screen. Then click on Open Tax Return

Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

For a fee of $30 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

RuzindlaAuthor

It's my fault when I reformatted my computer the .2023tax file I thought was backed up to cloud never synced so it is gone. Yes it was the desktop version and I plan on using desktop version again.

Testing in 2023 Turbotax didn't appear to give me a place to input the information manually. I have the free transcript from the IRS. That is what I would like to do for adding my previous tax years. Is it as simple as I want it to be?

If I start from scratch in 2024 Turbotax how exactly do I get all of my information into it from the free IRS transcript?

xmasbaby0

Employee

@Ruzindla If you are hoping to "transfer" the transcript from the IRS in to your new 2024 return--no, you will not be able to do that. You are going to start 2024 from scratch if you do not have a tax file. Your entries will all have to be keyed in manually.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

xmasbaby0

Employee

Did you use the desktop software and somehow delete your own tax return----or are you just having trouble finding it on your own hard drive?

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax? If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-tax-file-computer/L0XJvPaJr_US_en_US?uid=lro5b507

If you used desktop software downloaded/installed from a CD to your own computer, then the tax files are stored locally on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive. They are not stored online. If you cannot recover them due to a hard drive failure, etc. you can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30 an actual copy of your tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

You cannot "import" the return from the IRS into the next year's software. When you move information from the previous year to the new tax year, that is called "transferring" the data, and you need to transfer the tax file. If you really cannot get to the tax file, you will just start 2024 from scratch and will need to re-enter your personal information, etc.

How to transfer last year’s return? https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900883

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/transfer-last-year-return-2021-turbotax-windows/L0JcyjyrG_US_en_US?uid=m3kb7cyv

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/transfer-last-year-pdf-2021-turbotax-windows-cd/L3EOuaOAL_US_en_US?uid=m3kbbaci

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/entering-importing/help/transfer-last-year-s-return-to-turbotax-for-windows/00/26145