Find Your Tax File (Windows)

Updated: 5/02/2012

Article ID: GEN12462

This article explains how to find a tax return file created in TurboTax CD/Download software for Windows. Click here if you're looking for your TurboTax Online return. Which TurboTax version am I using?

Important: To open your tax file in TurboTax, you'll need the same tax-year version as the tax file. For example, you'll need to open your 2010 tax return in TurboTax 2010. Lost your software?

Windows 7 and Vista

Click the Start menu button.
Type .tax2011 in the Start Search field at the bottom of the menu. As you type, matching files will appear in the Search pane.
- Replace 2011 with the relevant tax year if you're looking for your 2008 – 2010 tax file.
Make a note of the file's location or path. By default, TurboTax saves tax files in the My Documents > TurboTax folder.
From the TurboTax File menu, choose Open, and then browse to the file's location on your computer to open it.

Windows XP

Click the Start menu button, choose Search > For Files or Folders and then click All Files and Folders.
Type .tax2011 in the All or part of the file name field.
- Replace 2011 with the relevant tax year if you're looking for your 2008 – 2010 tax file.
Click Search. Matching files will appear in the Search pane.
Make a note of the file's location or path. By default, TurboTax saves tax files in the My Documents > TurboTax folder.
From the TurboTax File menu, choose Open, and then browse to the file's location on your computer to open it.

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