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Level 2
posted Oct 17, 2019 4:00:33 PM

Turbotax 2018 Crashes on Mac when saving pdf or printing no matter what I do

I've found solutions that have worked for other people and followed their instructions. I've deleted the preference files and restarted computer. I've uninstalled turbotax entirely and reinstalled and restarted. Nothing seems to work.

 

I'm using High Sierra and the web download.

 

What else can I do?

0 17 3905
1 Best answer
Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 6:09:17 PM

You can click on the error description or use the Applications -> Utilities -> Console

and select User Reports which should have the latest crash log.

 

I was just interested to see it it was the TurboTax application itself that was crashing or an associated Mac system call that crashed.  The latter could indicate an internal Mac problem and not a TurboTax crash.

 

One test that you can do is switch user accounts to another administrator account (if you don't have one, you can use System Preferences -> User & Groups to create one - it can be deleted later).   Then install TurboTax under that user.  If the crash does not occur then there is probably a problem with the first user account and a trip to a Apple store Genius Bar would be warranted.    If the crash still occurs then I can only suggest contacting TurboTax Customer support, but it might be take a while to get to a Mac tech person why understands what you are talking about.   The phone support person that answers the call knows nothing about a Mac crash.

 

Here is a TurboTax FAQ for contacting customer support.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

17 Replies
Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 4:11:16 PM

Are you using the CD or a download?   If a CD, did you install the program onto the Mac and remove the CD?  Do not leave the CD in the drive.

 

Did the program update normally when you launched it after installing?   

 

What OS X are you using on your Mac??

 

I use Windows so I'll ask @macuser_22 to also follow this thread when he's next in the forum.

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 4:13:21 PM

Have you totally uninstalled using this procedure and restarted the Mac?
Here is a FAQ for how to uninstall Mac
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901210-remove-uninstall-turbotax-for-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901209-reinstall-turbotax-mac

 

What Mac OS are you on?

Level 2
Oct 17, 2019 4:16:58 PM

I'm using High Sierra and the web download. 

 

Yes, I've done both of those solutions. One thing of note, is many of the library files, I was unable to find. Even when I did a search for them. 

Level 2
Oct 17, 2019 4:18:22 PM

I'm using High Sierra and the web download. After reinstalling, it launched normally and looked for updates. And a whole bunch of error messages pop up because it happens over and over...

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 4:34:25 PM

What type of error messages?  Did you re-download it?

 

I know of no known problems installing and running on 10.13. That is what I am running and I use TurboTax constantly for teasing and printing many times a day had have never had a crash or any problem at all.

Level 2
Oct 17, 2019 4:42:37 PM

The error messages are the turbotax crashed messages to send to turbotax. 

 

Yes, I uninstalled, following those instructions (except for deleting the files I couldn't find in library) and then redownloaded, reinstalled, and restarted. 

 

Glad to hear you haven't had any problems, but that doesn't solve mine! 😕 

 

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 5:00:13 PM

You say "And a whole bunch of error messages pop up " is that always the same crash report?   And only when you  try to print?

 

In the crash report, what is the Exception type &  Exception note?

 

What is the Application Specific Information:

Level 2
Oct 17, 2019 5:52:49 PM

I'm not really sure how to see exception type and note... it's the same crash report. I think so many due to the number of times it has crashed. (I haven't submitted to turbotax more than a few times.) Here are pics...

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 6:09:17 PM

You can click on the error description or use the Applications -> Utilities -> Console

and select User Reports which should have the latest crash log.

 

I was just interested to see it it was the TurboTax application itself that was crashing or an associated Mac system call that crashed.  The latter could indicate an internal Mac problem and not a TurboTax crash.

 

One test that you can do is switch user accounts to another administrator account (if you don't have one, you can use System Preferences -> User & Groups to create one - it can be deleted later).   Then install TurboTax under that user.  If the crash does not occur then there is probably a problem with the first user account and a trip to a Apple store Genius Bar would be warranted.    If the crash still occurs then I can only suggest contacting TurboTax Customer support, but it might be take a while to get to a Mac tech person why understands what you are talking about.   The phone support person that answers the call knows nothing about a Mac crash.

 

Here is a TurboTax FAQ for contacting customer support.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 6:12:13 PM

Here is a screenshot of a typical crash report with the information I was asking about.

Level 2
Oct 17, 2019 6:37:07 PM

I don't see any turbotax looking stuff under user reports, but there's a bunch under library logs? I dont' know which one if they might even have info...

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 7:30:39 PM

I can only suggest trying a different user account and/or contacting TurboTax support and trying to get to a Mac tech.   Only a programmer that has access to the source code can properly analyze a crash report.  I would try a different user account first because if it is a Mac issue with your computer then calling TurboTax will be a waste of time.

 

(Assuming that you totally uninstalled and reinstalled with a new download as I described above and emptied the trash and restarted.)

 

I have never heard of another Mac user with a similar problem so your problem seems unique to your Mac.

Level 15
Oct 17, 2019 7:41:51 PM

BTW your log file seems to be indicating a problem with updating TurboTax.   Are you sure that ALL the files (that exist)  in the uninstall FAQ were deleted and the trash emptied and the Mac restarted, with a new download?    The log seems to indicate that the update cannot be properly installed.  There *might* be a permission issue in your user account preventing the update to complete properly (just a wild guess). A different user account would prove that if it runs correctly.

Level 2
Oct 18, 2019 6:33:38 AM

1. Yes, I uninstalled and deleted according to instructions. But as mentioned before, I was unable to find some of the files they said to be deleted. Then emptied the trash and restarted and reinstalled...

2. Your suggestion to try a different user proved fruitful. I followed your instructions and set up a new user. The program was already installed under the user, so I started it, and without doing anything else, tried to preview it, and also print it. Both worked.

3. I wonder if I can share the file I've worked so hard on with the other user and print/save it from there? What might my next steps be? Thanks for your help...

 

Level 15
Oct 18, 2019 8:43:08 AM


@mschumpert wrote:

1. Yes, I uninstalled and deleted according to instructions. But as mentioned before, I was unable to find some of the files they said to be deleted. Then emptied the trash and restarted and reinstalled...

2. Your suggestion to try a different user proved fruitful. I followed your instructions and set up a new user. The program was already installed under the user, so I started it, and without doing anything else, tried to preview it, and also print it. Both worked.

3. I wonder if I can share the file I've worked so hard on with the other user and print/save it from there? What might my next steps be? Thanks for your help...

 


#2 - That indicates that there is indeed a problem with the first user account.   You might want to take the Mac to an Apple store Genius Bar for help.

 

#3 - Sure you can.  There are several ways.

 

Just move the .tax file to the first users Public -> Drop Box and use the File -> Get Info (or use the Command key and I when the file is selected), then at the bottom of the pop-up Info Box change the permissions so the file is Read/Write for Everyone (you will probably need the admin password to unlock the box.)     The new User can then navigate on the Macintosh HD -> Users -> first User name -> Public - Drop Box and locate the file.   And move it where you want.

 

https://www.imore.com/mac-help-sharing-files-between-users-same-mac

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/10/06/how-to-share-files-between-users-same-mac/

 

Also file sharing:

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-file-sharing-on-mac-mh17131/mac

Level 2
Oct 21, 2019 6:56:42 AM

Thanks...I got it printed and saved using the other user account. It was a major pain though, but at least it's done! I'm not sure if it's necessary to go to Genius Bar now, but I'll be sure to test the next iteration of Turbotax early in the process!

Level 15
Oct 21, 2019 4:08:16 PM

Glad you got it printed.    Unless you missed a file to uninstall then it would appear that there is some other basic problem with that user account that could affect other things as well, so beware.