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Solved

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

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 6, 2021
24 replies
0 views

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.

Show previous replies

kentwestphal

I was all the way to Federal review and had saved periodically as I progressed. Before the review it wanted to do an update, saved my return, but was corrupt after the update and could not open my return. I cannot imagine having to start over again. Really, is that the only answer?

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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kentwestphal

Customer service took 45 minutes working on uninstall/reinstall/and start completely over from scratch with advise to not upload from last year. There is no explanation why checking for TurboTax updates created a corruption to my file. Very disappointed.

r2chavez

Same here. Entered taxes for the 3rd time. Saved backup in different location, still corrupted. 2019 unable to import. Multiple issues. Verified I have the minimum required settings.

HeatherPLO

Please reach out to us directly at the link here. This will direct your inquiry to the correct department.

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ej1248

Same problem here with Home and Business version. I have been working on my return on and off since February. I just today let Turbotax perform an update, and now I'm getting the "looks like your tax file is corrupt, we're having trouble opening your return" message. This thread gives me the impression that this is neither an isolated nor "solved" issue.

Update: I worked with customer service and uninstalled/re-installed turbotax, which did not help. I then tried to repair the installation, but the repair process fails with an error code every time. Based on my experience plus a lot of other responses in this thread, It sure seems like the update caused the problem.

Jeniv

I am using windows version. Everything was fine when I updated the turbo tax home and business version on 04/10/2021, it started to giving me the message “ Looks like your tax file is corrupt, we are having trouble opening your return. Try opening again. if that doesn’t solve the problem, create a new tax return.”

I have created the new .tax2020 file 3 times, still same problem. I am 100% sure this has happened because of the update. The IT people messed it up. The IT of the turbo tax is not very efficient; they took huge time to add the new unemployment adjustment. Turbo Tax should hire good IT people. Please fix the mess up.

EbonyA

Please contact customer support via phone for troubleshooting assistance regarding this matter; contact details can be found here @Jeniv.

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bubbette01

I have received this File Corrupt message on 2 tax returns that have already been sent and accepted, but now I can't open any saved files to print and keep a copy for my records. I will need to reference items from my return next year and am unable to get a copy of them. I never had a problem before, but this year has been horrible. First I was unable to transfer last years return because there was a password lock added to it that I didn't do so I started from scratch and now I can't access my filed return. This needs to be fixed or I need you to find a way to send me a copy of my return

PaulaM

Employee

Can you still log into your account? If so, sign in to your account, then scroll down and select 'add a state' (this just opens the return back up for you), then navigate to the Print Center under Tools to save all worksheets (saves everything).

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oresteez

This is not a fix, but I have figured out the possible issue. Let me know if this info helps you...

Hello, I am extremely dissatisfied with the product this year. I had completed about 75-80% of my return and saved the file, thinking I'll finish the next day. Well last night I tried to open my return, and it tells me the file is corrupted. I tried rebooting, I reinstalled the program, it still tells me my return is corrupted and I have to start over.

I did some research on your problem forums and found other people with the same issues, and no one from Turbotax can offer a fix. Well, I think I found a fix, which I shouldn't have had to do. I tried restarting my taxes, saving, closing, reopening-again I get the message that the file is corrupted.

I used Turbotax online last year for my 2019 taxes. I had to run an export of a .2019 file, so I would have something to load into my locally installed Turbotax 2020 version this year. Well that file doesn't load properly, it just won't accept it. So I exported a PDF version of my 2019 taxes, and was able to import that. I can then import some info, start the taxes, but after saving, it will never reopen, it just says its corrupted. So this is the issue--you cannot import a 2019 PDF from turbotax online into a full locally installed 2020 Turbotax. My only option is to start over, and not import anything. This is the only way I can successfully save my return and then reopen it. Please use this info I have provided to help other people and fix your software. I can't believe I had to spend money to buy nonworking software, that can't import its own files from previous years, then troubleshoot my own issue and find my own fix. This is crazy.

loricoon

I am having the exact same issue. i have called support on 3/5, no solution but to start over. i finally decided to do this now (procrastinating) and AGAIN, SAME ISSUE. This is the second year this has happened. Telling me to call support, when i already have, really does not solve the issue. What is the solution? or tell me the direct person to call, because calling the general support line is not the answer. uninstalling and reinstalling the program did not help.

what is the solution? i've used turbo tax for decades. this will be the last year i use it if it is not resolved.

Htveras

Seriously has happened to me 3 times! Starting from scratch on my return takes 3.5 hours of my time to get everything re-entered. Not an easy return, as this has never happened in years prior.

Curtiss620

I've had the same issue. Finished return and it did get sent out. I saved to my laptop and an external hard drive. I saved a pdf thankfully. Tried to reopen my return and it said both copies on my hard drive and laptop were corrupted. I tried opening the previous two years. Corrupted

jcox7483

It is statistically improbable at best that in 2022 this many installations are getting corrupted on this many customer installs UNLESS INTUIT HAVE AN ISSUE THAT THEY ARE NOT TELLING US ABOUT?

Uninstalling and reinstalling TT is a platitude solution. I have already personally confirmed that my save files DID WORK prior to installing patches.

This indicates INTUIT have introduced some issue with their patches and are aware of it I suspect?!?

If reinstalling TT is the solution and INTUIT knows it because they are aware of a fault in your own system then please tell me - at that time I will take that step.

Until then I simply refuse to accept that 2+ yearly versions of this software have had corrupt installations in the year 2022?!? I haven't had a corrupted installation of something since the days of having to load multiple CD's and it simply doesn't happen these days with enough frequency for you to blame this on it for more than a tiny handful of cases.

Please let me know if you are actually aware of an issue and if reinstalling is a known fix for that issue!!! Otherwise I will go on the assumption that you are asking me to "turn it off and on again" hoping it fixes it or I give up. I will not do that and I expect a reasonable answer from you or your engineering staff!

MichelleLO

You are posting on an older thread, are you having an issue with installing your software? If so, please provide specific details about what you are experiencing so that we can better assist you.

You can also see the steps in this TurboTax help article: Troubleshoot installation and running TurboTax for Windows

@jcox7483

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tammyann12

i am also having the same issue with corrupted files never had issues before what is going on cant even open my 2020 taxes because it is telling me the same thing

Curtiss620

I had to disable firewall and antivirus during install. I'm not sure which one was the issue, but my saved files didn't show up as corrupt anymore. This worked for current year. I didn't try opening up an older file.

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