TurboTax can save your tax return as a tax data file (also called a tax file, data file, or a .tax file) and as a Portable Document Format (PDF).
- Your tax data file can be opened, read, and edited in TurboTax.
- Your PDF is a noneditable "snapshot" of your tax return that can be opened, read, and printed in a PDF viewer program.
| Tax data file | ||
| Can be amended | Yes | No |
| Can be transferred | Yes | Limited |
| Can be edited | Yes | No |
| Can be used for troubleshooting | Yes | Limited |
| Saved on your computer (TurboTax Desktop) | Automatically | Optionally |
| Saved on your computer (TurboTax Online) | Optionally | Optionally |
| Saved on our secure servers (TurboTax Desktop) | No | No |
| Saved on our secure servers (TurboTax Online) | Automatically | Automatically |
| 24/7 access (TurboTax Desktop) | Yes | Yes, if you save the PDF |
| 24/7 access (TurboTax Online) | Yes, if you purchase a 2023 TurboTax Online product or add PLUS to the Free Edition. | Yes, if you purchase a 2023 TurboTax Online product or add PLUS to the Free Edition. |
| Can be opened with | TurboTax CD or downloadable software | Adobe Reader or other PDF viewer |
