Why does TT2016 list 2 entries for every individuals return to select for transferring with one being a TT file and the second sub-entry a PDF copy?

[jghiller]

For every return processed last year, there are 2 files listed for transferring, the first one is a TT file and the second sub-entry is the PDF copy. This can be verified by the date stamps on the files.

[SweetieJean]

Are you a paid tax preparer?

[Trevor N · Accepted solution]

TurboTax Desktop can and does generate temporary PDF files. This is not unexpected and is how the program is designed to function. You can hide these files by following the instructions in rertiree's answer (just uncheck the box). 

[Carl]

The PDF file is necessary if you want to "look" at your return in the future, when the TT program for that year is no longer available. The .tax file is what's transferred from the previous year's TT program, into the current year's TT program. You can only open a .tax file with the appropriate year's version of the TT program that tax file is for. You can open and view a PDF with the adobe reader on any computer platform.

[jghiller]

I assume this new change is documented up front. Kind of concerned when first screen in TT has changed.

[Carl]

This is not a new change - as it's been around for at least 3 years I'm aware of and probably longer. When looking at your prior year's tax returns online, there's always a PDF for each year, along with a corresponding .taxnnnn file where "nnnn" is the tax year that .tax file is for. This is assuming you used the online version to file that tax return with. If you used the desktop version and then switched to online, then to import you had to upload the prior year's .taxnnnn file. In that case, there would be no corresponding PDF file.

[jghiller]

I always used the downloaded version and it NEVER showed the PDF copies. That is why I was concerned when it showed both versions which corresponded to the date stamps in the TT doc folder. That is how I verified the second entry was the copy.

[VolvoGirl]

When you start a new return the only files that should show up in the Transfer Box are the data files ending in .tax2015 and not the pdf files.  But now there are actually 2 data files showing up for each return.  The second file starts with a Tilde symbol ~ and is only a temp file in case your real file gets corrupted.  Ignore the files starting with the ~ .

Where are you seeing the pdf files?  Your tax return data files and pdf files should be in your Documents then in a Turbo Tax folder.  The Transfer box does not show the end of the file like the pdf or .tax2015 so I think you are seeing the extra ~ files.  What I did was click the file name heading in the Transfer box to sort the files so all the ~ files get sorted to the bottom of the list then I don't see them.

See on my screen when I scroll down, the files starting with the ~

[jghiller]

What is happening is that this version of TT which supports formats of PDF for the other products from H&R and TaxAct has no way of differentiating my TT backup PDF files so they too are listed. All TT files are saved in the TT document folder under the Documents folder as it always has done. Probably should be noted to TT support about this slight 'glitch' which can obviously confuse folks and me.

[jghiller]

I didnt know you could sort these names so I will try that to avoid picking a TT PDF copy.

[jghiller]

What I forgot to mention was that yes these 'sub entries' have the tilde.

[VolvoGirl]

I'm still not clear on where you are seeing the pdf in the listing unless you are clicking on the Browse button and looking at the actual directory listing on your computer.  I don't get any pdf files in my transfer box.  And the Transfer box doesn't even show the file extension like .tax2015.  Are you trying to transfer from a H&R pdf file, etc.?

[VolvoGirl]

The tilde files are not pdf files.  They would be files ending in .tax2015

[jghiller]

This is the end of my comments. After selecting BEGIN it lists everyones files that were saved by TT in order as they are listed in the TT directory, with the TT file first and the tilde PDF file second. The saved PDF file has additional name qualifiers which always places the TT files ahead of the PDF 'records' file in the directory. So when transferring I have to make sure I select the tax file which can be confirmed with the date stamp. This is new. This was not done with TT2014 Premier downloaded software.

[VolvoGirl]

Right, the 2014 program did not do that.  But last year for 2015 it did.