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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 7:35:26 PM

CA state tax form has a watermark that says do not file form not final

ive tried clicking download all forms and documents but that doesnt work

0 22 3228
1 Best answer
Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:27 PM

The California forms are not yet available for printing.  You'll have to wait.   Many of the CA forms should be available on January 27.   Some will take longer.  You can view the projected availability dates for specific California forms at the FAQ below:

Availability dates for state forms:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908857-state-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-per...


22 Replies
Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:27 PM

The California forms are not yet available for printing.  You'll have to wait.   Many of the CA forms should be available on January 27.   Some will take longer.  You can view the projected availability dates for specific California forms at the FAQ below:

Availability dates for state forms:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908857-state-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-per...


New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:29 PM

It says California form 540 resident available on windows,  today is 1/28/17 and I still have  do not file watermark on my California tax returns. How do I get rid of that?

Level 2
May 31, 2019 7:35:30 PM

Yes, the form website for CA says 540 is now available (1/28), I have updated my TT and still get the watermark "Do Not File" when I go to print out state return to mail.

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:32 PM

i called TT and they did not have an answer for me. So you are alsoexperiencing the same thing?

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:34 PM

California"do not file" still on mine but other tt users ok in same city.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:35 PM

jrhutton2:
Online version or CD/download version?    Did you efile and has it been accepted?  Or are you printing to file by mail?

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:38 PM

cd version. printing to mail.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:38 PM

Have you already run a program update?

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:40 PM

just before I signed on

Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:41 PM

OK.  I have nothing else to add.   You're welcome to phone TurboTax if you wish, and see if you can learn anything.  If enough people call, they may put out an announcement about the issue.  

You can use the form at this link to be assigned a phone number during business hours.  This time of year hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific (8AM-12 Midnight Eastern.)

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact">https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact</a>

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:42 PM

I am also experiencing the same - my CA forms still showing up the watermark

Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:44 PM

@elxnasir
Are you needing to print for filing by mail, print for review prior to filing, or printing after filing for your records?
And are you using the Online version or the CD version.  There may be a workaround if you are using Online TurboTax.

If you have already filed, has your CA return been accepted?

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:45 PM

This is the first time i am filing tax return for year 2016. I need to file by mail as i have to apply 2 ITN as well. I am using the Online Web Version

Level 15
May 31, 2019 7:35:45 PM

elxnasir:
First be sure the forms you need are shown as "available" in this table:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908857-state-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-personal-tax-products">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908857-state-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-personal-tax-products</a>

Here's how to open your return back up and print by another method.  I don't know if the watermark will be there or not.  I know that for people who have already filed the CA return and been accepted, this may print without the watermark.

Log in and go to the 2016 Tax Timeline.
If TurboTax thinks you are finished, there will be no "Take me to my return" button.
So scroll down to "Some things you can do."
Choose "Add a State."  (you don't really add one; that's just to get the program to open back up.)
Once the return is open and past the blue "Simple and accurate" screen, click on MY ACCOUNT at the top.
Then choose PRINT CENTER.
Then "Print/save/view this year's return."
There should be a couple of options--the basic PDF and one with "all forms and worksheets."
See if your CA forms in one of those PDFs no longer have watermarks.

This is mainly a user community forum.   For any further assistance with this issue you will need to phone TurboTax Support, using the link I provided above to get a phone number.

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:46 PM

It is now 1/31 and I still get the watermark "do not file" on my CA forms in the PDF print mode. I have updated daily and am using the CD version. I also use Vista OS, TT says vista should still work but this is the last year. TT has been no help in giving me any solutions

Level 2
May 31, 2019 7:35:48 PM

I aml also still getting the DO NOT FILE watermark on CA 540. I called TurboTax support on Sunday and they finally agreed that yes the website says the form is available for printing and that in fact it is not available. But they couldn't provide an answer as to why or when it would be. I am using TT Premier for Windows.  I did another search yesterday among the help files and did see that someone from TT said for some reason the date was changed from 1/27 to 2/3 although they had no idea why or why the website still showed it as "available" if it isn't, but I'm hoping I can finally get my state return printed out by this weekend. FWIW.

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:49 PM

Thanks I thought I was the only person having this issue. I guess I will wait until 2/3.  Get back to this question on or after 2/3 and let me know if you still have the problem. I wonder if it is happening on operating systems other than vista

Level 2
May 31, 2019 7:35:51 PM

Yes, I'm using Windows 10, so it's not just Vista.

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:35:53 PM

today is the 3rd of Feb. Do you still have the problem?

Level 2
May 31, 2019 7:35:55 PM

I waited until this morning 2/4 since there was no update yesterday. This morning it did an auto update and it was for California and now the watermark is gone and form can be printed.

New Member
May 31, 2019 7:36:02 PM

Me too just updated and everything fine now. If only TT would have said something about this, I could have saved myself a lot of anxiety

New Member
Feb 7, 2025 5:50:11 PM

If the return has a Form 568 included on it, the Form 568 is not available until February 27th.