I received a late unexpected K-1 after filing my taxes with TurboTax (desktop) and saving it as a PDF. They ar processed and the refund was deposited into my checking account.
Due to the late form I have a $200 deduction and could do an amended return using TurboTax except TurboTax won't open the 2021 PDF and allow me to file an amended return!
They need a .tax file which I have never ever saved. I have ten years of TT pdf files! Lesson learned. Sure I could do it manually but at a marginal tax rate of ~ 10% I don't think it is worth the bother for $20.
I'm sure the IRS won't care (or even know) I overpaid the $20 but I'm super annoyed with TurboTax. It has a button to file an amended return but ONLY if you have a .tax file.
I saw some fishy sites online that claim to convert PDF to .tax in a two step process but I'm not uploading all that info to some potential scammer.
Does anyone know a safe way to convert from PDF to .tax?
Post by anita bahth » Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:18 pm
TT desktop doesn't even let you exit without saving the .tax2021 file. Plus it saves it automatically while working. It uses the Documents/TurboTax directory as the default location. Is that also where your .pdf file is saved? If not, look around your disk for *.tax2021
also, when I reopen TT it shows me all the returns I have worked on this year. I can click one and then reopen it. It knows where the .tax2021 file is stored. otw you'd have to do the entire return in 1 pass!
(oh, if you mean you deleted the .tax2021 file, it might still be in your Recycle Bin. You can Restore it.
Topic Author Dregob Posts: 958 Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:45 pmPost by Dregob » Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:37 pm
I may have goofed up although I don't recall doing that. Oddly my daughter was half way through a tax form and I don't see that either. I saved my PDF to a flash drive.
Luckily it is a problem not worth fretting about. More annoyed than troubled-maybe with TurboTax, maybe with myself!
Post by Klewles » Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:15 am
VITA volunteer here. It is not uncommon that we prepare an amended return from a paper copy of the original return. You can do same using your PDF copy, if you're willing to paper-file the amended return. As follows.
The first step is to enter into the tax software a simplified replica of the original return. Not usually hard -- just enter fake documents as needed to get a line-by-line match on Form 1040 to the original return. Typically you can do that with a single fake document of each class -- W2, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, etc. Other tricks include: Schedule C where income equals net profit, no expenses; Schedule D with single transaction for long and single transaction for short; Schedule A with single deduction. Whatever it takes to get an exact match to original 1040. Sounds hard but it usually isn't. To a tax nerd, it's kind of fun.
Once you've entered this replica of the original return, amend it using the tax software in the usual way. In your case, you enter the missing K-1. The amended return you mail in consists of the 1040X and any new or changed forms/schedules. Check these carefully, in particular making sure they don't pull in any faked information -- if they do, refine the replica return as needed.
dbr Posts: 47328 Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:50 amPost by dbr » Thu Apr 07, 2022 9:36 am
Dregob wrote: ↑ Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:37 pm I may have goofed up although I don't recall doing that. Oddly my daughter was half way through a tax form and I don't see that either. I saved my PDF to a flash drive.
Luckily it is a problem not worth fretting about. More annoyed than troubled-maybe with TurboTax, maybe with myself!
There has to be a .tax file, as explained above. What happens if you open TT -- it should try to find any .tax files to continue.
The pdf is not your tax file; it is a print out in pdf format of your tax return which is in addition to having a tax file. I did the experiment of opening TT to a new return, starting it, and then exiting. It asks if you want to save the return and if you click yes it puts the file in Documents.Turbotax as 2021 Form 1040 Individual Tax Return.tax2021. So your probably want to search for any files with extension .tax2021.
talzara Posts: 5147 Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:40 pmPost by talzara » Thu Apr 07, 2022 1:33 pm
Klewles wrote: ↑ Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:15 am VITA volunteer here. It is not uncommon that we prepare an amended return from a paper copy of the original return. You can do same using your PDF copy, if you're willing to paper-file the amended return. As follows.
There is a year-long paper backlog at the IRS, including amended returns.
TurboTax cannot e-file amended returns yet. The feature will be added in an update to TurboTax 2021 later this year. If the OP can find the .tax2021 file and e-file in October, the amended return will be processed more quickly than filing a paper return today.
senex Posts: 1155 Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:38 pmPost by senex » Thu Apr 07, 2022 1:51 pm
I personally would not upload my tax pdf to any website. That screams scam.
You are going to do government paperwork in the hopes of getting an extra $20? That sounds like a low hourly rate on the value of your time and sanity.
Running Bum Posts: 395 Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:00 pmPost by Running Bum » Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:22 pm
Dregob wrote: ↑ Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:37 pm I may have goofed up although I don't recall doing that. Oddly my daughter was half way through a tax form and I don't see that either. I saved my PDF to a flash drive.
Luckily it is a problem not worth fretting about. More annoyed than troubled-maybe with TurboTax, maybe with myself!
Did you start and finish your taxes in one TT session? Anytime I exit TT, it asks me to save the file (or not, if I was just playing with numbers or something else temporary), and resumes by reading the .tax2021 file. I think it may even do a forced save right before you file. You'd have to pretty explicitly try to not save the .tax file. Did you search your entire drive (and flash drive) for a "*.tax2021" file? If you don't have it, I don't think TT is the one to be annoyed at.
Topic Author Dregob Posts: 958 Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:45 pmPost by Dregob » Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:47 pm
Thanks for the various replies from the community!
I don't plan to bother to amend for a $20 refund. Not worth it.
I guess I deleted the .tax file but don't recall doing it. I guess I didn't even realize the difference?
I knew I could start my taxes by importing from the .pdf.
I am not uploading to a site to convert-I agree it smells of scam.
So lesson learned-going forwards I'll save both a .tax and .pdf file.
Once you are done, really done, you don't need the .tax file but it sure helps to have it if you do have to amend a return!
Post by MP123 » Thu Apr 07, 2022 11:12 pm
Dregob wrote: ↑ Thu Apr 07, 2022 10:47 pm Once you are done, really done, you don't need the .tax file but it sure helps to have it if you do have to amend a return!
It also helps so that you can import your previous return (with all your personal info, carry overs, and so on) into your next year's return. No reason to delete that I can see.
Klewles Posts: 134 Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2019 3:37 amPost by Klewles » Fri Apr 08, 2022 2:20 am
talzara wrote: ↑ Thu Apr 07, 2022 1:33 pmKlewles wrote: ↑ Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:15 am VITA volunteer here. It is not uncommon that we prepare an amended return from a paper copy of the original return. You can do same using your PDF copy, if you're willing to paper-file the amended return. As follows.
There is a year-long paper backlog at the IRS, including amended returns.
TurboTax cannot e-file amended returns yet. The feature will be added in an update to TurboTax 2021 later this year. If the OP can find the .tax2021 file and e-file in October, the amended return will be processed more quickly than filing a paper return today.
Yep, very long delay for amended returns. My understanding is delay is same for e-filed or paper-filed, as IRS FAQ suggests:
Will filing my Amended Return be processed faster when filed electronically?
Currently, the normal processing time of up to 16 weeks also applies to electronically filed Amended Returns.
Post by celia » Fri Apr 08, 2022 2:53 am
OP, If you didn’t intentionally delete the .tax2021 file, why don’t you have your computer search for it on your hard drive and thumb drive. I think TurboTax saves the file periodically. So you should be able to find it still, unles you intentionally deleted it after you filed and emptied the trash.
When you start your taxes each year, do you start by importing the previous year return? If so, you are likely importing a .tax20xx file. That saves you time, since your name snd address, employer and custodians are automatically filled in for you. And if you are carrying over part of a previous refund to the following year or have left-over basis from a previous year Backdoor Roth or carryover of Long Term capital losses, those values should automatically carry over for you.
Topic Author Dregob Posts: 958 Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:45 pmPost by Dregob » Fri Apr 08, 2022 9:54 am
celia wrote: ↑ Fri Apr 08, 2022 2:53 am OP, If you didn’t intentionally delete the .tax2021 file, why don’t you have your computer search for it on your hard drive and thumb drive. I think TurboTax saves the file periodically. So you should be able to find it still, unles you intentionally deleted it after you filed and emptied the trash.
When you start your taxes each year, do you start by importing the previous year return? If so, you are likely importing a .tax20xx file. That saves you time, since your name snd address, employer and custodians are automatically filled in for you. And if you are carrying over part of a previous refund to the following year or have left-over basis from a previous year Backdoor Roth or carryover of Long Term capital losses, those values should automatically carry over for you.
You can import from a PDF. I imported that info from my saved pdf for 2020 taxes.
I tried searching the hard drive but could not find it. I can only assume I believed a saved pdf was all I needed as it has been in the past.
Bottom line? $20 lesson. Going forward I'll save in both formats.
Thought I'd check TurboTax and found this info (First year for 1040-SR).
You can, if your 2020 PDF is a 1040 return generated through TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxACT software (Form 1040-SR is not supported for PDF transfer).
Be aware that in some cases TurboTax won't be able to read the PDF, for example if it's password-protected or is a scanned copy of a PDF instead of an actual PDF file.
Damn. Maybe TurboTax will allow import of 1040-SR from PDF next year?