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Level 2
posted Feb 5, 2020 1:21:59 PM

Unable to print, preview or export to pdf from TT Premier 2019 using MacOS Catalina on 2 computers (different homes)

I've read a lot (all?) of the previous year's suggestions.

On one Mac I was able to efile federal form & print it, but not able to see the MN state form (tho I can see the worksheet version). I can't print using any method; I can't preview; I can't pdf it; in most cases, TT crashes. I eliminated ~/Library files via Finder as per one suggestion (but it didn't appear to completely uninstall TT); I reinstalled Turbo.

On the other computer, I have the same issues. I downloaded Acrobat Reader, but no luck with a pdf. I also eliminated the suggested Library files & restarted the Mac but didn't reinstall TT on that one.

What am I missing here?

Thanks!

6 47 8827
24 Replies
Level 2
Feb 7, 2020 9:42:59 PM

I am having the same problem! It allowed me to print the first federal return, but it won't allow me with a new one. I can't preview, print, or save as a pdf, and I had to force quit the app (not responding) with every attempt. I completely uninstalled it, reinstalled it, and still have to force quit to stop the spinning beachball of death with any attempt at printing or preview.

 

I wish I could say I've figured it out, but this is way above my pay grade. Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

Level 2
Feb 8, 2020 8:49:29 AM

I'm having the same problem with TT Home & Business using MacOS Mojave.  I cannot preview or print the IL State return! Whenever I attempt to do so, I get the spinning beachball and have to force quit TT. This problem is only with the state return, as I am able to preview or print the Federal return.

I tried some of the suggestions in the Community, but to no avail. I contacted TT support and after almost two hours, they could not solve the problem. 

TT support said this problem has been reported by many users with various state returns. They are generating a Defect Submission and will actively try to resolve the problem.

I suggest than anyone else having this problem contact them to report the issue.

 

New Member
Feb 8, 2020 5:37:22 PM

Also unable to print or preview.  Application: 2019.r14.032  Build Date: Feb 7, 2020 at 8:09:26 PM  macOS Catalina Version 10.15.3  Macmini6,2 (Late 2012)  App instantly quits with no messages.

Intuit Alumni
Feb 8, 2020 7:58:21 PM

When opening TurboTax for Mac after installation, you may see the TurboTax checkmark icon bounce a few times before disappearing from the menu bar. This can be accompanied by the error: TurboTax 20xx can't be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software. Please click TurboTax for Mac won't open when installing for help in solving this problem. 

 

See the answers provided below for more information.

 

Please reach out to Customer Support via the Contact Us link below if you continue to have a problem:
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

 

Post [Edit 02/13/20 3:00 PM]

 

Level 2
Feb 9, 2020 10:55:38 AM

Thank you so much, Mr. TT expert for giving us all advice on Windows software!

 

Any help for the Mac software we are all asking about on this thread? That'd be great.

Intuit Alumni
Feb 9, 2020 12:55:40 PM

For some tips on updating MAC systems, please click here. For some additional tips click here

Level 2
Feb 9, 2020 2:08:08 PM

Just so I understand... when the TurboTax updater says "You're up-to-date!" when opening TT, it really means it may not be.  Then it says "No Tax Form Updates at This Time" which is restating the false "You're up-to-date!" because in reality there ARE updates but you don't know this until you do a special thing. 

 

So the special thing to actually get updates is to hold the option key and click on the TurboTax menu, which goes from "Check for Updates..." to "Download Latest Updates" and "Quit TurboTax" to "Quit and Keep Windows" (not even sure what the latter even means).  

 

Click "Download Latest Updates" and then click the "Next" button. It says it is downloading and applying  updates...then it says "TurboTax Updates Applied" and "Select 'Continue' to work on your tax return.

 

This was what allowed me to be able to print.

 

My confusion came from the first link "Why does TT for Mac keep saying there are updates when I check for updates?" (doesn't apply to me, mine says "You're up-to-date!") and the second link "Troubleshoot TT for Mac updating issues" (doesn't apply to me, see above), neither of which says anything about forcing an update to fix a printing problem.

 

So TT tells some that there are updates when there aren't and tells others there aren't when there are; and doesn't say they patched a printing issue through a FORCED update.

 

New Member
Feb 13, 2020 7:38:22 AM

I had this same problem, called TurboTax, and they were no help. They told me to uninstall and reinstall the program. But I found a much quicker fix.

 

Mac apps are supposed to use the system for print settings. If you select Page Setup… from the File menu in TurboTax it probably says "Any Printer." That should work, but it doesn't with TurboTax (at least not unless they have fixed it by the time you are reading this). Your Mac goes off into la-la land, and the system reports the application is not responding. Basically, what is happening is the software is asking for information from the system in a way Apple no longer supports, so it just sits there, waiting for an answer that will never come. That answer has to do with identifying the printer to which the job should be sent.

 

So here's the fix:

 

1. Select Page Setup… from the File menu in TurboTax.

 

2. Select the name of the printer to which you want to print from the pop-down menu, replacing "Any Printer."

 

That should fix the problem.

Level 1
Feb 13, 2020 10:59:08 AM

All Hail The Chuck!!!!

Your suggestion Worked and I got a Deluxe return printed after three days of trying; Thank You.  (I also, prior, plugged in my AirPrint enabled Canon MX922 and changed to print by USB -- the wife's suggestion; she's often right 🙂

So, Chuck, Thanks!

(I've used TT for over 10 years with a Mac; this is the third year for this MacBook and MX922 -- how did TT manage to change something this basic over the years?)

Level 1
Feb 13, 2020 11:14:22 AM

Heidi,

"the chuck" posted an answer to select your printer; see below -- his suggesstion worked for me; try it and see. 

Level 1
Feb 19, 2020 9:36:07 AM

Any ideas on how to save a PDF?

 

BTW, the Page Set Up trick didn't work for me.

Returning Member
Feb 19, 2020 1:04:24 PM

I’m running Turbotax Deluxe on a Mac desktop (macOS 10.15.3) and I’m also having printing problems.  The State return prints perfectly; however, the Federal return will not print at all and a Turbotax error message appears "TurboTax was unable to print your tax return”.  I called the “Help” desk and spent over an hour before they gave up and suggested waiting a few days and see if any Turbotax “bug” updates fix the issue.  Frustrating

Level 2
Feb 22, 2020 5:08:55 AM

(My mom was hospitalized, thus the slow response.) This has fixed itself on my computer after a recent update.

Level 2
Feb 22, 2020 5:11:54 AM

This definitely wasn't the problem, but has fixed itself for me, presumably from a recent update

Level 2
Feb 22, 2020 5:13:04 AM

Thanks, but it definitely wasn't my problem which fixed itself, presumably from a recent update/patch

Level 2
Feb 22, 2020 5:20:49 AM

Mine is now working, presumably from a recent update and/or patch. The Printing and/or PDF creation works from all possible places (such as File--Print, or File--Export to PDF or Forms View--Print--Print Preview--Save as PDF, etc)

 

I had also installed AdobeAcrobatReader (2 weeks ago) which definitely was not necessary in previous years. I was then able to print via 1 pathway only (can't remember how). (Mom was hospitalized and) I didn't check it out for a couple weeks, but now it magically works

Level 1
Feb 23, 2020 12:58:28 PM

Here is my solution.

 

After I upgraded to Catalina, I still had the same problem.  Here is how I fixed the problem.

 

1. Closed the app

2. Went to ~/Library/Preferences

3. Delete the file: com.intuit.turbotax.2019.plist

4. Removed the file from trash and re-start the app.

 

I saw these steps for an earlier version of TT with the same print problem and gave it a try.  Deleting the .plist file did the trick.

 
 
 

Level 2
Feb 24, 2020 1:45:45 AM

I had done that previously, but it didn't help. I'm guessing that an update patched the problem.

Intuit Alumni
Feb 24, 2020 8:37:54 AM

For immediate assistance, please reach out to our live Customer Service reps via telephone. Here's how you can reach someone: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

Returning Member
Feb 25, 2020 10:24:09 AM

Same problem with TT Deluxe 2019. Can't print TT hangs and I have to force quit it. Cannot preview or print. This needs to be fixed now.

 

New Member
Mar 15, 2020 2:38:24 PM

The Chuck is correct. That solution worked. Thank you!

New Member
Apr 18, 2020 9:18:43 AM

As described, was unable to print or save Intuit file as PDF. Simply clicking on the Turbotax menu with the option key held down solved the problem ?!  

Level 15
Apr 18, 2020 9:32:53 AM

There are many "solutions" because the last thing done before it prints is assumed to have fixed it.  Once it prints the state return (It always seems to be only the state that hangs) then subsequent prints seem to be fine.

 

This has not been fixed because nobody can figure out how to reproduce the problem and a problem that cannot be reproduced and analyzed cannot be fixed. 

 

It does appear that something external to TurboTax is blocking the Apple print function from completing, but without being able to preform analysis (such as a spin dump) *while* the problem is occurring then there is no way to see what is blocking it - and nobody can "make" it happen to do that.

 

 

Returning Member
Apr 18, 2020 2:04:49 PM

Let's all give a round of applause for thechuck. His fix worked. I had a hint that might be the problem because I tried to print while giving control to a TT person. It eventually printed because it took so much longer to get to the actual print. It just needed more time to find my printer. When I put the name of the printer in place of "Any Printer," it worked much faster. Thanks, Chuck.