Tax season can be a bit of a maze, and sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where you've already filed your taxes (perhaps directly with the IRS or through another service), but then you log into TurboTax and it seems to think you haven't. Don't worry, this is a more common scenario than you might think, and there are clear steps to navigate it.
So, you've filed, you're confident in that filing, but TurboTax is still nagging you to submit. Let's get this sorted out, shall we?
Understanding Why TurboTax Might Think You Haven't Filed
Before we dive into the "how-to," it's helpful to understand why this might be happening.
Separate Federal and State Filings: Perhaps you filed your federal return, but not your state, or vice-versa. TurboTax might be prompting you to complete the remaining portion.
Using a Different Service: If you started your taxes on TurboTax, then decided to file through another platform (like HR Block, IRS Free File, or a tax preparer), TurboTax won't automatically know you've completed the process elsewhere.
Unfinished Process within TurboTax: You might have gone through most of the steps on TurboTax but didn't hit the final "File" button or complete the e-filing authorization.
Account Confusion: In rare cases, you might have multiple TurboTax accounts, and the one you're currently logged into isn't the one where you initiated or completed the filing process.
Rejected Return: While less common for the "already filed" prompt, if a previous e-filed return was rejected by the IRS/state, TurboTax would show that you still need to file. However, this is usually indicated clearly.
 |
| How To Tell Turbotax I Already Filed |
Step 1: Confirm Your Filing Status (The Most Important First Step!)
Are you absolutely sure your return was successfully filed and accepted? This is the cornerstone of addressing the TurboTax prompt.
Federal Return Confirmation:
If you e-filed: Check the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool (irs.gov/refunds). You'll need your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount. This will show you if the IRS has received and processed your return.
If you mailed a paper return: It takes longer for paper returns to be processed. The IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool might not show status updates as quickly. Check your records for proof of mailing (e.g., certified mail receipt).
State Return Confirmation:
Most states have their own "Where's My Refund?" or "Check My Tax Status" tools on their Department of Revenue websites. You'll typically need similar information as the federal tool.
Check Email Confirmations: Look for emails from the IRS (for federal) and your state tax agency (for state), or from the tax software/service you actually used. These emails typically confirm receipt and acceptance.
Once you've confirmed your return was successfully filed and accepted by the respective tax authorities, you can proceed. If it was rejected, you'll need to follow a different path to correct and re-file, which isn't the focus of this guide.
Step 2: Navigating TurboTax After You've Filed Elsewhere (Federal or State)
This is the most common scenario. If you completed your taxes outside of TurboTax, you simply need to indicate that within the software.
QuickTip: Pay close attention to transitions.
Sub-heading: For Federal Returns
Log in to your TurboTax account.
Locate your tax return for the relevant year. It will likely show a status like "Not Started," "In Progress," or "Ready to File."
Look for an option to "Clear & Start Over" or "Delete My Return." This might sound drastic, but if you truly filed elsewhere and do not intend to file this return through TurboTax, this is the cleanest way to prevent the prompts.
Important Note: Only do this if you are absolutely certain your federal return has been filed and accepted elsewhere and you have no intention of using TurboTax for that specific federal return.
Confirm the deletion/clearing. This will remove the "unfinished" federal return from your TurboTax dashboard for that tax year.
Sub-heading: For State Returns (After Federal is Filed Elsewhere or Directly)
Sometimes, people file their federal return separately (e.g., through a professional or another free service) but then want to use TurboTax for their state return. TurboTax is often designed to pull federal information to populate the state return.
Log in to your TurboTax account.
Open your federal return within TurboTax. Even if you don't intend to file it, you'll likely need to input your federal information into TurboTax manually to generate the state return correctly.
Why? State tax forms often start with your Federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and other federal figures. TurboTax needs this data to accurately calculate your state taxes.
Enter your federal tax data. Go through the federal interview questions in TurboTax and input the information exactly as it appears on your already filed federal tax return.
Tip: Have a copy of your filed federal return handy for accurate data entry.
Navigate to the "State Taxes" section.
Proceed with preparing your state return. Since you've entered the federal data, TurboTax should now be able to accurately prepare your state return.
At the end of the federal filing section (before you would normally transmit), look for an option to indicate you've "already filed your federal return elsewhere" or "print federal return for mailing." Choose the option that allows you to not e-file the federal return through TurboTax, but still proceed with your state filing. This might be phrased differently depending on the TurboTax version you are using (online vs. desktop).
For TurboTax Online: Look for a prompt or a specific button related to federal filing status. You want to make sure you only pay for and transmit the state return.
For TurboTax Desktop: You'll usually have more direct control over which returns you print or e-file. Ensure only the state return is selected for e-filing (if that's your intention) or printing.
Step 3: Dealing with a TurboTax "Already Filed" Status That's Incorrect
What if TurboTax itself is saying you've filed, but you know you haven't (e.g., you paid but didn't hit transmit, or thought you did but there was an error)?
Check Your TurboTax E-file Status:
Online: Log in to TurboTax. Your Tax Home screen should clearly show the e-file status (e.g., "Accepted," "Rejected," "Pending," or "Not Sent").
Desktop: Open your TurboTax software. Go to the "File" menu and look for "Check E-file Status."
Understand the Status:
"Accepted": If it says "Accepted" by both Federal and State, then your taxes were filed through TurboTax. The prompt you're seeing might be a general reminder, or you might be looking at an older year. Double-check the tax year.
"Rejected": If your return was rejected, TurboTax will explain why and guide you through correcting the errors and re-filing. This means you haven't filed successfully yet.
"Pending": This means your return has been sent to the IRS/state but they haven't yet processed it. Give it some time (usually 24-48 hours for federal, longer for state).
"Not Sent" / "Not Filed": This indicates the filing process was not completed. You need to go back into your return and follow the steps to review, pay (if applicable), and transmit your return.
Contact TurboTax Support (If Confusion Persists): If you're certain you didn't file through TurboTax but it shows an "Accepted" status, or if you're stuck in a loop, it's best to contact TurboTax customer support directly. They can access your account and help clarify the situation.
Step 4: Amending a Return (If You Filed Incorrectly with TurboTax)
This is a separate but related scenario: you filed your taxes with TurboTax, and then realized you made a mistake or forgot something. You do not "tell TurboTax you already filed" in this case; instead, you tell it you want to amend your return.
QuickTip: Look for contrasts — they reveal insights.
Wait for Acceptance: Crucially, do not attempt to amend a return that hasn't been officially accepted by the IRS/state. If your original return was rejected, you simply correct it and re-file.
Access the Amend Feature:
TurboTax Online: After logging in and selecting the correct tax year, look for an option like "Amend (change) a return" or "Amend a filed return." It might be under "Your Tax Returns & Documents" or a similar section.
TurboTax Desktop: Open your return in the software. Go to the "Tools" menu, and you should find an option to "Amend a filed return."
Follow the Amendment Interview: TurboTax will guide you through making the necessary corrections. You'll enter only the information that has changed.
File the Amended Return (Form 1040-X):
Federal amended returns (Form 1040-X) cannot be e-filed in most cases. You will need to print, sign, and mail your amended return to the IRS. TurboTax will provide instructions and the correct mailing address.
State amended returns often have their own specific forms and may or may not be e-fileable depending on the state and the tax year. TurboTax will guide you.
Keep Records: Always keep a copy of your original return, the amended return, and any supporting documentation.
Final Thoughts
The key is to understand the status of your tax return with the relevant tax authorities (IRS/state). TurboTax is a tool to facilitate that filing. If the tax authorities confirm your return is filed and accepted, then any lingering prompts in TurboTax are simply a matter of updating or dismissing the software's internal tracking for that tax year. Patience and careful review of your actual filing status are your best allies!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if my federal tax return was accepted by the IRS?
You can check the IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool on irs.gov/refunds. You'll need your Social Security Number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your return.
How to check my state tax return status?
Visit your state's Department of Revenue or Tax Commission website. Most states offer an online tool similar to the IRS "Where's My Refund?" where you can check your state refund/filing status.
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
How to delete a tax return in TurboTax Online if I filed elsewhere?
Log in to your TurboTax account, select the tax year, and look for an option like "Delete my return" or "Clear & Start Over" on your Tax Home screen. Confirm the action to remove the unsent return.
How to file only my state tax return if I already filed federal outside of TurboTax?
You'll need to enter your federal tax information into TurboTax manually (exactly as it appears on your filed federal return) to allow TurboTax to accurately prepare your state return. Then, ensure you only proceed with the state filing/payment options.
How to amend a tax return I filed with TurboTax?
Log in to your TurboTax account for the relevant tax year. Look for an option like "Amend (change) a return" or "Amend a filed return." Follow the prompts to make corrections and generate Form 1040-X for mailing.
How to know if my e-filed TurboTax return was rejected?
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
TurboTax will send you an email notification if your e-filed return was rejected. You can also log in to your TurboTax account, and your Tax Home screen will display the "Rejected" status along with instructions on how to fix and re-file.
How to re-file a rejected tax return in TurboTax?
If your return was rejected, do not amend it. Instead, log back into TurboTax, review the rejection reason, make the necessary corrections within the software, and then re-transmit your return.
How to find my AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) from a previous year?
Your AGI is on Line 11 of your Form 1040 from the previous year. You can also access your tax transcripts from the IRS website (irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) or through your TurboTax account if you filed with them previously.
How to contact TurboTax customer support?
You can usually find contact options (phone, chat) by navigating to the "Help" or "Contact Us" sections on the TurboTax website after logging in to your account.
How to prevent TurboTax from prompting me to file if I'm not using them this year?
If you're not using TurboTax for a particular tax year, you can simply ignore the prompts. If you started a return but decided not to use it, you can often "Clear & Start Over" or "Delete" that specific return within your TurboTax account to remove it from your dashboard.
 |
