What does PDF mean?

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BillM223Answer

Level 15

PDF means "Portable Document Format". Developed by Adobe, this data format allows someone to publish documents electronically (like for the Internet) with a high degree of portability - i.e., it will look the same on all platforms.

The IRS uses PDF on all the forms it has for download on its website, and TurboTax uses this format to create tax returns that can be viewed on a wide variety of PCs and Mac products.

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VolvoGirl

Level 15

@jasctalmt why do you ask? A PDF file is an image/picture of your return. Any computer or mobile device should be able to open and view a pdf file. The other file Turbo Tax saves is the actual tax data file. It ends in .tax2018 and can only be opened in the 2018 Desktop program installed on a full Windows or Mac computer.

BillM223Answer

Level 15

The IRS uses PDF on all the forms it has for download on its website, and TurboTax uses this format to create tax returns that can be viewed on a wide variety of PCs and Mac products.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

dakotasmommy07

Level 2

To state it simply, it is a type of file that cannot be edited, as opposed to a word document or spreadsheet. It looks like a picture of a document. This type of file is used often because the author and viewer know that it has not been changed. Adobe Acrobat is the program used to read or make this type of file.

terrysonline

Level 2

When you are about to print a copy of the completed forms for yourself, you can also save those forms on your computer, as a pdf file. Clicking "pdf" indicates you want to save a copy on your computer.