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Level 5
October 13, 2023
Solved

TurboTax does not respect the "read only" permission and makes my tax files writable.

  • October 13, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 27 views

I keep changing the permission on the TurboTax files to not permit writing at the filesystem level.

TurboTax properly shows the return as "Locked".

But when I exit the program after having made exploratory or modeling changes, it asks if I want to save or "revert".  I choose "revert".

 

On exit of the program, the file now has writable permissions in the filesystem.

 

This is really scary since I strenuously do not want to accidentally modify my as-filed return.

 

I have started making otherwise unnecessary copies of the tax file "just in case".

 

After observing this behavior with the modify of the file permissions and the update of the filesystem modified time, I used "sum" to verify that the contents had not in fact changed.

 

This behavior was true for both TT 2021 and TT 2022 on a Mac.

 

Please don't fiddle the permissions and modify time if I don't want to save the file.  And if for some reason I did accidentally hit "save", confirm with me that I want to make the file writable intentionally.

 

As it is, I have to work overtime to protect myself.

    Best answer by Anonymous_

    I will forward the issue you outlined. Thank you.

    2 replies

    Level 15
    October 13, 2023

    I will forward the issue you outlined. Thank you.

    VolvoGirl
    Level 15
    October 13, 2023

    You should be saving your file as another name to test in.  Go up to File-Duplicate.  I think it's Duplicate,  I don't use Mac.   Don't work in your actual file.  And save/copy/backup your  actual return to a usb drive or external device to save it.