H&R Block Business Unexpected Error or Previous Year Not Closed for Import. Works for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

By | January 12, 2021

Resolution

Note:  These steps require that you show hidden folders.  See How do I show hidden files, folders, or file extensions in Microsoft® Windows®?

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  1. Exit the program.
  2. Navigate to C:\ProgramData\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY (where 20YY is 2019 or newer).
  3. Rename DataStore to DataStore.old.
  4. Download the attached file: RestoreDatabase.dat.
  5. Right-click the file > click Properties > Select Unblock > Click Apply.
    • Note:  The Unblock option may not display.  If not, continue to step 6.
  6. Right-click the file > click Cut.
  7. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY (where 20YY is 2019 or newer).
  8. Right-click in an empty space > click Paste.
  9. Open H&R Block® Business.
    1. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 2019 (or newer) > right click on HRB.Business.exe and select Properties > Check the Compatibility Mode box > Select Windows 7 from the dropdown; then also check the Run as Administrator box. Click OK.
    2. Repeat the above for the C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 2020 (or newer) folder and the HRB.Business.exe file there.
    3. Open HRB.Business.exe in the H&R Block Business 2019 (or newer) folder to see the files from that year; then close the program.
    4. Open HRB.Business.exe in the H&R Block Business 2020 (or newer) folder; now from the menu, select File > Import Last Year’s Tax Data in order to import 2019 (or newer) information into the 2020 version.
  10. Click Help Customer Support > Restore Database.
  11. Click Close.
  12. Click File Open Saved Returns to verify returns are restored.
  13. Close H&R Block® Business.
  14. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY (where 20YY is 2019 or newer).
  15. Right-click : RestoreDatabase.dat > click Delete.

Rename the file extension below from .txt to .dat. The file is located right below called “RestoreDatabase”.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In Step 7 above, make sure you are navigating to: C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY and not: C:\ProgramData\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY

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Derived FROM: https://support.cch.com/sfs/solution/000107040/000107040

40 thoughts on “H&R Block Business Unexpected Error or Previous Year Not Closed for Import. Works for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

  1. MOHAMMAD S KHAN

    Hello,
    I have the same issue. Where can I locate RestoreDatabase.dat file?

    Reply
  2. Julie

    “Restore Database” is not an option…10. Click Help > Customer Support > Restore Database.

    Reply
    1. Orlando Mansur Post author

      Sounds like there might have been a missed step. Please confirm the file names RestoreDatabase.dat is in the correct directory and DataStore.old is in there as well.

      Reply
  3. MOHAMMAD S KHAN

    Hi,
    I tried but at step 10 the when I open customer supper tab, it don’t give me the option of restore database. Also since installing version 2020, the 2018 and 2019 business softwares also start giving the unexpected error. Before they were fine.

    Reply
    1. Orlando Mansur Post author

      Sounds like there might have been a missed step. Please confirm the file names RestoreDatabase.dat is in the correct directory and DataStore.old is in there as well.

      Reply
  4. Jeffrey Gillesse

    I’m having a similar problem. I’ve contacted customer support twice and midway through the conversation the line gets disconnected and they do not call back even though they have my number. I do not have the option to “restore database” in the software anywhere. There is a restore return option but it does nothing.

    Reply
    1. Orlando Mansur Post author

      Sounds like there might have been a missed step. Please confirm the file names RestoreDatabase.dat is in the correct directory and DataStore.old is in there as well.

      Reply
    2. Helen McGuire

      after 90 minutes on hold same thing happened. I was to get my free filings back since this is there error

      Reply
  5. TheMac

    The file RestoreDatabase.dat contains only the string {C131091B-9993-49A2-9D84-9B57F4538BBC} whereas DataStore is a folder that has other subfolders.
    I followed the steps listed and could only see the new 2020 business return that I started out of frustration that I could not import my 2019 business. 2019 is still does not show up after the steps. FYI: I uninstalled the 2019 software. I could not run it alongside the 2020 software. Is re-installation of 2019 a requirement? HELP!

    Reply
  6. Rob

    After loading premium and business 2020, previous versions now corrupted as well. Datastore.dat files are missing now from all versions. Therefore cannot rename the file. Restoredatabase.dat does nothing. Restore Data not an option through Help > customer support>. Do you have any idea where the Datastore.dat files went? Contacting HR Block tech support virtually impossible. Thanks

    Reply
  7. John Cusick

    As with others, I do not have any “Restore Database” option under Help -> Customer Support. My only choices are “Online Customer Support” and “Refresh App Configurations.”

    Reply
  8. Cathy

    Hi, same problem here, for 2020.
    I do not see a DataStore file in my H&R Block Business 2020 folder. I followed all the rest of the instructions, but when I choose to Restore Database, nothing happens.
    Previously, I had uninstalled and re-installed the program, did that get rid of the DataStore file?

    Reply
    1. Jason Bell

      It’s probably to late for your answer but, I ran into the same issue and found you have to make sure the .txt file you down load is renamed with the file extension .dat or it will not work. Also, make sure to delete the .dat file from the folder before reopening the program.

      Reply
  9. Dilip

    I followed all these steps but run into an issue at step 9 – H&R Block Business 2019 will only begin to run, but will shut down before loading anything besides the File/Help etc. tabs. I cannot select any of the tabs before the program shuts itself down, with no error message showing. What can I do to restore the database?

    Reply
  10. Ashley Nakajima

    Don’t make the mistake I made! Be sure not to miss the step of renaming the “restoredatabase.txt” to “.dat”

    Reply
  11. Blair Williams

    For those that do not see the option Restore Database: Please note that the folder in step 7 is different than the folder in step 2.

    Thank you, Orlando!

    Reply
  12. LF

    In step 7 above, make sure you are navigating to:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY

    and not:
    C:\ProgramData\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 20YY

    Reply
  13. Bill from New Jersey

    Worked perfectly …. you need to make sure you can see hidden files …. a great shout out to Orlando for making this work … I generally find HRB to be hard to work with but you made this much easier …..

    Thank you .

    Reply
  14. Penny

    I changed my view to see all but I still don’t have a file called DataStore. Could it be called something else? Do you have any other suggestions?

    Reply
  15. Maharaj Sood

    These instructions solved the problem with the Unexpected Error. I tried deleting the H&R Block Business 2020 program and then re-loading the software, without success. I then called H&R Block Support and after 50 minutes of waiting I was transferred to the Software Center and then after being on hold for 15 minutes, I was disconnected.
    It is incredulous that H&R Block has not posted a solution to the issue on their website Help section. Thankyou.

    Reply
  16. frustrated1

    This worked until I downloaded the State forms and now I’m getting the error again. I tried to redo the steps above, but am still not able to resolve this. I do notice that by Restoring Database it is creating additional data files, so when I go to rename those to .old it wants to merge those. I’m thinking that might be causing an issue. Any insight? I did get an extension filed before having all these issues, so I am glad about that but just ready to finish this already!

    Reply
  17. Bill from Florida

    Chiming in late, but this may help people who are still working on their 2020 taxes and for whom the instructions did not work, or only provided a partial solution. My PC is running Windows 10. After applying the above fix to both HRB Business 2019 and 2020, I still could not open 2019 or import my 2019 information into 2020. After a lot of time hacking around I found that performing the following, modified version of Step 9 of the instructions, worked for me:

    9a. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 2019 > right click on HRB.Business.exe and select Properties > Check the Compatibility Mode box > Select Windows 7 from the dropdown; then also check the Run as Administrator box. Click OK.
    9b. Repeat the above for the C:\Program Files (x86)\H&R Block Business\H&R Block Business 2020 folder and the HRB.Business.exe file there.
    9c. Open HRB.Business.exe in the H&R Block Business 2019 folder to see the files from that year; then close the program.
    9d. Open HRB.Business.exe in the H&R Block Business 2020 folder; now from the menu, select File > Import Last Year’s Tax Data in order to import 2019 information into the 2020 version.

    Reply
  18. Sundar Balakrishnan

    Entire discussions were very useful except that I am not able to locate 2019 Business (1120S) returns to retrieve in to H&R Block Business 2020. I must call H&R Block tomorrow, since they are closed today, Labor day. I searched for *.t19. None came up in search result except my 1040 of 2019. Any help is appreciated.

    Reply
    1. Max

      Search for *.atx19Export
      SOLUTION FOR NO RSTORE OPTION !
      Launch program with win 7compability mode FROM program folder, NOT start menu shortcut or else.

      Reply
  19. Ernesto

    This worked for me, and it saved us a lot of headache form redoing a lot of taxes that we have.
    One thing for people who are not getting the option under Help > Customer Support > Restore Database that worked for me is if you just rename the RestoreDatabase.txt to RestoreDatabase.dat it may still be a .txt file, so you have to open it in notepad and save it with .dat at the end and you might have to save it to a different location then copy it back the Hr Block folder, then the option in HR Block will be there.

    Reply
  20. Tom

    Thank you, this worked perfectly! It is a shame that HR Block software is so buggy because when it is working it does a great job.

    Reply
  21. Louise

    Thank you! I had issues too with changing the .txt file. I had to copy the text into a new notepad document and save it as a .dat file. Renaming the file wouldn’t change the file type on my system. Once that was done and pasted, the restore database option was available and my previous files restored!

    Reply
  22. CNewton

    I know this post is rather old – but I was having the same issue with 2021 that I has having with 2020 last year. I followed the steps that “Bill from Florida” stated and worked perfectly! I had been able to access 2021 HR Business when I first installed it by again this year (same as last) when Microsoft pushed through updates I couldn’t get into it. After following Bill’s steps I am able to get in and found all my previous years files along with those that I had already started this year.

    Reply
  23. ken

    I followed the instructions exactly and after two hours, still could not pull in my 2021 business return into the 2022 software. These two steps finally led me to success:

    1. After you click the Unblock box on the RestoreDatabase file you downloaded, you must double-click the file to open it in Notepad. In Notepad, you Click File, Save as, and then add the .dat to the end of the filename, but you must also select the All Files option to save the file, not the Text documents (*txt) selection. This will save as a true Dat file, which you will not be able to open.
    2. After adding this file to my 2021 H&R Block Business and opening the program, I still could not see the files.
    3. I opened the 2022 H&R Block Business, and I still did not have the Online Customer Support, Restore database option.
    4. I returned to my 2021 H&R Block Business program, opened it up, and Help, Online Customer Support, Restore database option did pop up. I selected Restore database.
    5. I returned to my 2022 software, and sure enough, I will able to import the 2021 file.

    Praise God!

    Reply
  24. Jason Bell

    So it’s 2022 tax season and I had this same error and I did the below step by step from a really old post I found from 2018 to 2019 and it opened my 2022: Not sure if it will work for everyone but, it did for me…

    1.) Close all HRBB programs.
    2.) Load your previous HRBB 2021 program and do a full software update before opening the any previous return.
    3.) Next, open your saved 2021 tax return and re-save it.
    4.) Once you saved the return, close HRBB 2021 and open HRBB 2022.
    5.) In HRBB 2022 do the same thing, before opening the prior year return and make sure your up to date the program.
    6.) Import 2021 return and hope it works for you….

    Note: this wont help you for the corrupt database issue seen in the thread above. If you can still open your HRBB 2021 edition and pull up your previous return then this should work. If your program crashes and both versions are corrupt then you will have to do the step by step for repairing the database.dat file and the step by step at the top of the thread is your answer.

    Reply
  25. Rob

    I love how I have to do this process every single year for the H&R Block Business software to work. Truly a fabulous product.

    Reply

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