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Why am I receiving corrupt file messages for my PC based 2020 program?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 6, 2021
24 replies
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I couldn't transfer from my 2019 e-filed return, despite following directions received here. So I started a new return from scratch. It is almost finished, but when trying to access it I received a "file corrupted" message. This is the second time this year this has happened and it never happened before in all my years using Turbotax. I hate to have to re-enter everything again.

TurboTax Online

Best answer by Mike9241

while others have reported issues with installing and updating the app, you are the first to report multiple file corruptions. one possibility is a corrupted installation that corrupts the file when you save it. you can try to uninstall the app. reboot and try reinstalling. no assurances this will solve your file corruption issue since there are many other things that can cause file corruption, search the web for possibilities. also make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for windows 10.

Minimum system requirements for TurboTax Windows software
SOLVED•by TurboTax•TurboTax Windows•5179•Updated 7 days ago
Here are the minimum system requirements for TurboTax 2020 software for Windows operating system before installing. More info

Administrator rights are required to install and run TurboTax.
Processor: Pentium 4 or Athlon or later
Hard Drive Space
• 2020: 1 GB for TurboTax (plus up to 4.5 GB for Microsoft .NET 4.5.2 if not already installed)
RAM
• 2020: 2 GB or more recommended
CD/DVD drive if installing from the CD.
Internet connection
• 2020: 1 Mbps modem (broadband connection highly recommended). Required for product activation, software updates and optional online features
Monitor resolution: 1024x768 or higher recommended
To view your tax forms onscreen, you'll need adobe 11 or higher and a compatible printer if you want to print paper copies.
Note: If you just meet the minimum system requirements, TurboTax may run slowly on your computer. We recommend exceeding these requirements for best performance.

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Mike9241Answer

while others have reported issues with installing and updating the app, you are the first to report multiple file corruptions. one possibility is a corrupted installation that corrupts the file when you save it. you can try to uninstall the app. reboot and try reinstalling. no assurances this will solve your file corruption issue since there are many other things that can cause file corruption, search the web for possibilities. also make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for windows 10.

Minimum system requirements for TurboTax Windows software
SOLVED•by TurboTax•TurboTax Windows•5179•Updated 7 days ago
Here are the minimum system requirements for TurboTax 2020 software for Windows operating system before installing. More info

Administrator rights are required to install and run TurboTax.
Processor: Pentium 4 or Athlon or later
Hard Drive Space
• 2020: 1 GB for TurboTax (plus up to 4.5 GB for Microsoft .NET 4.5.2 if not already installed)
RAM
• 2020: 2 GB or more recommended
CD/DVD drive if installing from the CD.
Internet connection
• 2020: 1 Mbps modem (broadband connection highly recommended). Required for product activation, software updates and optional online features
Monitor resolution: 1024x768 or higher recommended
To view your tax forms onscreen, you'll need adobe 11 or higher and a compatible printer if you want to print paper copies.
Note: If you just meet the minimum system requirements, TurboTax may run slowly on your computer. We recommend exceeding these requirements for best performance.

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SteveAdamsGP

Mike, Mike, Mike ... I'm sure you're a champ and all; and you did your best to answer the question, but Intuit can hardly say that your answer "solved" the problem. The lady worked all day figuring out her taxes, and Turbo Tax screwed up the file so now she has to do it all again. And then, after you responded, another guy says this happened to him three times! That's not a solution, Intuit. That's a problem that you can't solve because you are just a bunch of imperfect human beings who don't know why are these files are getting corrupted and don't want to spend the $$ to find out. (You didn't ask, for example, that these files be sent to Intuit to take a look at them and see what was going on.) And why should you? You are just a corporation out to make money and you already got the money so why spend it trying to fix a few corrupted files and correct the program to keep it from happening again? But Mike didn't solve the problem, Intuit, so don't pretend he did. Well, I gotta go. Its been fun pointing out the issue but now I have go redo my taxes because the file became corrupted on a computer with about 8X the minimum system requirements listed by Intuit.

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LeslieW

Same issue here. I got a software version from Costco, I had to enter everything because it couldn't transfer my 2019 file, I thought ok, something's wrong with my pdf file, then after spending three hours going over my paperwork and got everything in, saved my file so I could review it later before e-file and now I got a "looks like your file is corrupted" error message and please try again or start over? What's with the intuit/turbo tax this year? And the wait time to talk to a CS is over one hour long? This issue is definitely not resolved! Someone please fix this! I can't believe I spent over than $60 for a broken software!

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CO33

I have the same problem. I have received a corrupt file message three times and am getting frustrated having to restart my return.

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rapatton

I am receiving the same corrupt file notice and have to restart my return. I do not want to take the risks again and want my purchase price back unless there is a surefire way to resolve NOW.

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KatrinaLO

If you are having issues and need assistance, please contact customer support. Please see the Customer Support phone number here. If you would like to reach out through our website, please see the TurboTax FAQ below for contact information: https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

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Redc

Same problem with 2020 Turbotax Home and Business. Couldn't import properly saved (on home computer) 2019 return file so I started from scratch. I've completed my 2020 return but not yet filed it. Saved it multiple times during input and again when I stopped. Went to call it up today to review and I get this message: "Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return. Try opening again. If that doesn't solve the problem, create a new tax return."

Never happened in any prior years. I do returns for family members and I'm going to suspect I won't be able to access their 2019 files and might not be able to successfully save their 2020 returns. Not acceptable!

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shellbhawaii

I'm tagging into this thread because I can't find another that is close to my issue.

I am on a MacBook Pro, having used TT for years on a Mac. I am now using the Home & Business pkg, and have for years. As I was going through the steps to e-file, TT crashed with an "Oh dear" message, telling me it had an issue and to save and relaunch. That never resolved the issue. My file will not open. I loaded the file onto my husband's PC and loaded TT, but I get the message that the file is corrupt.

BUT I got an email from TT the day this happened originally, saying my return was accepted!! Same with the State return. How that's possible, I don't know, since I never got to any of the verification steps, much less confirming where to draw the payment.

When I log into IRS.GOV, there's nowhere to confirm receipt of the return. BUT under Payments, it shows my supposed payment amount??!!

So my question is, how do I confirm my file has been received and can be "used" by the IRS? I can't find a way to talk to them and I can't find any FAQs that address this oddity of being in limbo due to the crash.

I have now redone the return, but do I send it as an original or amended??

I'm really hoping someone at TT can help me navigate this.

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CarissaM

It would be best to reach out to us by phone so we can pull up the return and provide a confirmation number. Please follow the instructions here to contact us. @shellbhawaii

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BDU48

Same issue, corrupt files.

reloaded software a couple of times.

used two different computers with Windows 10.

tried to bring 2019 returns into 2020. Received corrupted file notification.

used file backups created last year of 2019 returns, corrupt file notification once again.

started returns and saved to find newly created returns were identified as corrupt when trying to reopen.

Getting frustrated! Tried all of the listed possible remedies with negative results.

When is the update to correct this flaw going to hit the street?

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BirdyMaker

Please fix this issue. I have done this 10X. Everyone is corrupt no matter what I do.

I hope Intuit goes out of business because of this. This is hopeless. Where is my money back? I will never ever purchase anything from these idiots again!

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TerukoL

Employee

@BirdyMaker Please click How do I request a refund for my TurboTax product? and select your product to request a refund.

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mgarula

I have the same problem as others have reported. I used TurboTax Deluxe. I could not import my 2019 taxes, said the file was password protected, when it wasn't. The forgot password recovery does not work because there is not question provided to give the answer to. I reentered all information, completed and filed my taxes, but I can not reopen my 2020 tax file. I get the error, Your Tax File is Corrupt.

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CarissaM

Please check the answer provided by SteamTrain, he appears to have found a great workaround to this issue.

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mgarula

Your suggestion does not work, and your suggestion does not address the fact I cannot reopen my 2020 return. Please try again.

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chachazoo

Same here... Keep having to re-enter my information. Everytime I attempt to save and comeback to my 2020 filing on the CD TurboTax Deluxe software. It gives me the corrupt message.

Piece of junk without a solution to this issue.

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P025017

I received the same message after installing a required update 1 day after spending 6 hours on my return. The program also asked me to re-verify my license #. This is my first time using TurboTax in years, I got the Software because it was supposed to be the best. I'll spend time uninstalling and reinstalling but I hate to think I have to reenter the tons of data I input again.

My CPA retired and this into a Turbo S*** Storm.

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mgarula

In my opinion, It’s becoming fairly obvious that intuit doesn’t care about its customers I turned in a ticket and the response was, “this isn’t happening to anyone else” my option was we will refund your purchase. It’s obvious this is a problem from all the others showing the same symptoms. At first I thought it was an old incompatible DLL from a previous TurboTax installation, but there was a post where the person had never used TurboTax before.

We are going to have to solve this for them. I made several attempts with a cd install, and then with a downloaded install. I had three TurboTax installs, 2018, 2019, 2020.

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Jmarc

I purchased the software TurboTax Premier from Costco on March 7. Completed and saved my return but did not file. A week later attempted to open my return for review and to file. Turbotax software was updated. My return was not able to open, Turbotax reported my return corrupted and suggested starting a new return. Starting a new return, Turbotax was unable to import prior years return. Phone support was utterly useless.

Decided to wait until there was another software update, perhaps the problem was the update. Tried again today, started Turbotax and updated the software. Still unable to open my return, Started a new return, at least this time I was able to import last years return. Completed my return (again), saved it in two different locations, plus saved a PDF version. Unable to reopen any copies of my return. What is wrong with this software???

Turbotax: I am logged in to my account to post this issue so you know who I am and how to contact me. You have exactly until noon ET 3/22/2021 to contact me with a solution. After that I will contact Costco for a refund. This will be my final year using Turbotax.

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BDU48

Since I have never e-filed and always printed, signed and mailed my return, was able to print the return. This is all fine and dandy, however, learned to not save/close the file prior to printing. All attempts to save and close the file resulted in the corrupt file notification when attempting to reopen. 2019 returns would not import. Please keep in mind that all of my previous year returns were resident on my hard drive, nothing downloaded from TurboTax. There are numerous blogs discussing incompatibility issues with Windows 20H2/Windows Installer and TurboTax. When will a SW patch be available? Are you working with Microsoft to determine the cause? Since I’ve printed and mailed my return, I’m not worried about it now. Many others would like this issue resolved and a patch provided prior to the final hour. I’ll try a test run on 15 April and see if this issue has been corrected. If not, I will no longer be a TurboTax customer.

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Jmarc

I have had the same problem. Created and saved my return but unable to reopen the return. Tells me the file is corrupt. I uninstaller and reinstalled the software, still no luck opening the file. Started a new return and saved it twice in different locations. Same problem again, not able to reopen, Turbotax claims the file is corrupt.

I spoke with very nice people at tech support who unfortunately did not have a solution. They promised to email but never did.

Here is the solution: I called Costco and received a full refund. The amount of time spent trying to resolve this problem defeated the point of using this software. It is faster and easier to file manually. Really, if your income is documented on a W-2 and you have your 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, etc. it's really not that difficult. If your income is not in the stratosphere you can use the IRS free file. Google it. Don't waste time and money on Turbotax.

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Margie111

Why I am receiving corrupt file when I try to reopen file to complete my taxes? I have never had this happen in the years I have been using turbo tax.

Thank you, Margie