This reject indicates that you have attached a document to the return that is not a PDF document. Identify the document that caused the reject. Recreate it as a true PDF document and reattach it before resubmitting the return.
This reject is caused by a non- PDF document that that has been saved or renamed with a .pdf file extension. An example would be a document that was scanned as a JPG image file, where the file extension was subsequently changed to .pdf. Such a file will not open in Adobe Reader and will be rejected as a binary attachment.
Thank you for responding. I understand that I need to fix a PDF but, despite looking all over in TurboTax and using the search feature, I have no idea where to see a list of the numerous PDFs I uploaded nor, if I could find them, how to delete one and replace it.
TurboTax, this is a significant failure in your usual excellent functionality. Your error message should say which PDF and offer an easy way to replace it with a fixed one. I give up trying. I printed out my returns and will mail them in old school. :(
How do I find the PDF's uploaded with my return that are causing the errors?
To find the PDF files uploaded with your return follow these steps.
There is no place on my screen that says "E-File." Besides, I didn't create or attach any PDF files myself; I just answered TurboTax's questions and TurboTax filled out the forms. Anything else I can try?
@jfis Please reach out to customer support for more assistance: Customer Service Support
I also received the same reject code. I do not have any PDF files attached to my return, and so there are no attachments fix. The customer service rep I spoke with on the phone was very nice, but did not know how to solve the problem either. Please advise if there is some way to address this.
Please call TurboTax Customer service. Here is a link: Turbo Tax Customer Service
Thanks for responding but I decided to print out and mail in my tax return instead.
You might want to take the same route as clkinwi and mal your return in.
Please see the TurboTax Help articles "How do I print and mail my return in TurboTax Online?" or "How do I print and mail a return in the TurboTax for Windows CD/Download software?" as appropriate for the instructions on filing your return by mail.
hopefully this helps, I posted my interactions with this exact reject code here:
How do i fix "A binary attachment submitted in the... (intuit.com)
Regards
I am having the exact same problem and agree that this is a major oversight on turbotax's website. So frustrating.
From what I could gather, the issue is caused by the software the 1099 form provider used to create the .pdf. In some cases you may get a binary .xml or similar file type 'disguised' as a .pdf. The IRS software looks for a metadata file header that indicates the file type is a .pdf; some .xml to .pdf conversion software may not include this.
The layman quick fix: Print out your 1099 (1099-B) in most cases of concern here, from your broker or advisor and rescan it as a .pdf document and use that upload. Most multipurpose printer/scanners can do this or there are numerous free mobile applications.
Turbo Tax can't remedy this (without using the same checksums as the IRS, which is likely their intellectual property) , but maybe they can add their own metadata check to weed it out. Basically the .xml disguised as a .pdf is encrypted binary and not editable for your security (<- makes sense). Just rescan it as a .pdf 😉