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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 4:27:59 PM

I'm trying to download a prior year return as a pdf but the only option I'm getting is a text file?

0 6 1951
1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:01 PM

That only happens in certain browser setups  (Edge for me)

Just rename the ".txt" extension to ".pdf" and it will open as a normal PDF file.  It actually is a PDF, but somehow gets the wrong extension.

You cannot change it as you are doing the download itself...only a .txt is available.....but you change it on your computer after the file is on your computer...in whatever directory you put it in.

OR...Just log in to your tax account using another browser and download it again.  IE 11 and Chrome both download with the proper pdf extension for me.

6 Replies
Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:01 PM

That only happens in certain browser setups  (Edge for me)

Just rename the ".txt" extension to ".pdf" and it will open as a normal PDF file.  It actually is a PDF, but somehow gets the wrong extension.

You cannot change it as you are doing the download itself...only a .txt is available.....but you change it on your computer after the file is on your computer...in whatever directory you put it in.

OR...Just log in to your tax account using another browser and download it again.  IE 11 and Chrome both download with the proper pdf extension for me.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:02 PM

I do use Edge.  I don't have an option to save it as any other than a txt file and I don't know how to save rename the extension (I can rename the file name but not the extension)

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:05 PM

I do use Edge.  I don't have an option to save it as any other than a txt file and I don't know how to save rename the extension (I can rename the file name but not the extension)

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:07 PM

True....You can't re-set the extension during the download process.

..….you change it on your computer after it has been already been downloaded.

(I'll adjust my answer above to make that clear(er).

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 4:28:07 PM

That worked.  Thanks!

Returning Member
Jan 22, 2021 10:05:16 AM

How to download 2019 tax return on my phone