How to Delete a TurboTax File

Deleting a TurboTax file is a straightforward process, but the exact steps differ depending on whether you’re using TurboTax Online or the CD/download desktop version. Before you click delete, it's important to understand the implications, especially regarding record-keeping obligations. This guide will walk you through how to safely delete your files on both platforms and explain exactly what you need to back up first.

Before You Delete: Crucial Considerations

Once a tax return is gone, it can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recover. Before taking that final step, pause and consider a few key points. Deleting a tax file shouldn't be a casual decision, and preparing properly can save you from a major headache later on.

1. Understand Your Reason for Deleting

First, clarify why you want to delete the file. Your motive determines the best course of action.

• Starting Over: If you've just begun a return and made a significant error, you don't need to delete your entire account. TurboTax Online has a "Clear & Start Over" feature designed specifically for this.
• Privacy Concerns: If you are concerned about your data being stored on Intuit's servers, you may want to permanently remove your information. This is a more complex process that involves submitting a formal data deletion request.
• Cleaning Up Your Account: If your account dashboard is cluttered with old or duplicate returns, you can often "hide" them from view without permanently deleting them.

2. Know Your Record-Keeping Responsibilities

The IRS has specific guidelines for how long you should keep tax records. Deleting your file from TurboTax does not absolve you of this responsibility. In case of an audit, or if you need to amend a return, you must have access to your tax documents.

The general IRS recommendation is to keep your tax records for at least three years from the date you filed your return. However, there are circumstances where you need to keep them longer:

• For six years: If you underreported your income by more than 25%.
• For seven years: If you filed a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
• Indefinitely: If you did not file a return or if you filed a fraudulent return.

For these reasons, it is absolutely essential to save copies of your return outside of TurboTax before you delete anything.

3. Always Back Up Your Tax Return First

Before you proceed, always download two types of files for your records: a PDF copy and the tax data file.

• The PDF (.pdf): This is a readable, printable copy of your completed tax return as it was filed. This is the document you would provide to a lender, financial advisor, or an IRS agent during an audit. This is your official record.
• The Tax Data File (.tax): This file (e.g., MyReturn.tax2023) contains all the underlying data for your return. You cannot open it with a normal program, but it can be imported into the corresponding year's TurboTax desktop software. This is useful if you ever need to amend your return because it repopulates all the forms instantly, saving you from re-entering everything manually.

Save these two files in a secure location, like an encrypted external hard drive or a secure cloud storage service, before you even think about deleting the original file from TurboTax.

How to Delete Files in TurboTax Online

Managing files in TurboTax Online is different from the desktop software because your data is stored on Intuit’s servers. Your options depend on whether you have already paid for or filed your return.

For Returns You Haven't Paid For or Filed

If you've started a return but want a clean slate, the "Clear & Start Over" feature is what you need. This option deletes the data you've entered for the current year's return so you can begin again, but it doesn’t delete your account or past years' returns.

1. Sign into your TurboTax Online account.
2. On the right side of the screen in the "Tax Home" dashboard, find the return you wish to clear.
3. Underneath your return's status, you should see a "My Docs" or similar tab. Click it and look for the option to "Clear & start over." In some versions, this can be found in the left-hand navigation menu under "Tax Tools."
4. A confirmation window will appear, warning you that this action cannot be undone. Confirm your decision to proceed.

This will erase all the data for that tax year's return, giving you a fresh start.

For Filed Returns or Your Entire Account History

Once you file a return using TurboTax Online, you cannot simply delete it from your account dashboard. For security and legal reasons, Intuit retains copies of filed returns. To have this data permanently removed, you must submit a formal request through Intuit's data privacy portal.

Warning: This process deletes all data associated with your TurboTax account, including returns from previous years. It's an all-or-nothing action and is irreversible.

1. First, make absolutely sure you have downloaded PDF and `.tax` data files for all the tax years you need to keep.
2. Go to Intuit's official account management or privacy portal. You typically find this in the "My Account" settings under "Data & Privacy".
3. Look for the option to "Permanently delete your Intuit data." Be aware that this can affect other Intuit services you use with the same login, such as QuickBooks or Mint.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your data deletion request. You will likely have to verify your identity.
5. Intuit will process the request in accordance with applicable privacy laws (like the CCPA). This can take several weeks to complete.

How to Delete Files in TurboTax Desktop (CD/Download)

The process for deleting a TurboTax file from the desktop version is much simpler because your files are saved locally on your computer’s hard drive, not on Intuit's servers.

1. Locate Your Tax Data File

The first step is finding where your computer stored the file. By default, TurboTax saves files in a designated folder.

• On Windows: Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\TurboTax
• On Mac: Open Finder and go to Documents/TurboTax

The file will have a name like `YourName-2023.tax2023`. If you're not sure where you saved it, you can open the TurboTax software, go to the File menu, select Open Tax Return, and note the folder path shown for your recent files.

2. Delete the File

Once you've located the file and have backed up both a PDF and the `.tax` data file, you are ready to delete it.

1. Close TurboTax. Ensure the application is not running to avoid any "file in use" errors.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your `.tax` file using Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder.
3. Right-click on the file you wish to delete and select "Delete" (on Windows) or "Move to Trash" (on Mac).
4. For permanent removal, right-click on your Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac) and select "Empty Recycle Bin" or "Empty Trash." Once you've done this, the file is permanently gone from your computer, recoverable only with specialized software.

Alternative: Hiding a Return in TurboTax Online

If your goal is just to declutter your "Tax Home" view without losing the data, you can hide a return. This is useful for accidental duplicate returns or returns you started but no longer need.

1. Log into TurboTax Online.
2. In your list of tax returns for the year, click the three-dot menu icon next to the return you want to hide.
3. Select "Hide this return."

The return will disappear from your main list, but it is not deleted. You can view your hidden returns at any time by selecting the "View my hidden returns" option, which is usually located at the bottom of the page.

Final Thoughts

Successfully deleting a TurboTax file boils down to knowing which version you're using and taking the critical first step of backing up your data. Desktop files are stored locally and are easy to delete from your computer, while online files require a more formal process for permanent removal, especially after filing. By saving a PDF and a `.tax` file beforehand, you ensure you meet your record-keeping duties and can access your information if needed in the future.

While managing old client data is one part of tax workflows, the more pressing challenge is often getting fast, reliable answers for the returns you're working on now. Instead of spending valuable time hunting for IRS code sections or revenue rulings, you can handle your in-depth work more efficiently. Our platform gives you this power; when questions about filing requirements or complex deductions arise, get quick, citation-backed answers with Feather AI, your assistant for professional-grade tax research.