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seanusmc.
Participating Frequently
June 2, 2020
Question

How to edit IRS documents

  • June 2, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 15678 views

I paid for this software so that I can fill in forms from the IRS. I only want to edit this PDF https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw2_18.pdf but it says that "This XFA form cannot be edited using Adobe Acrobat". What software can edit it? How do I get that software? I see that there is a how to for work arounds that remove the forms and make it so that you cannot edit the document here: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/edit-xfa-form.html#EditXFAforms but I want to fill in the forms, not workaround which flattens and removes the forms.

    5 replies

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    Carl26461314ihs5
    New Participant
    October 6, 2022

    Absolute crap! Did Biden forget to get rid of Trumpers in the IRS? I am able to enter data in some forms, in others I can't. I will just have to put the numbers in in pen in the forms that don't let me write. I hope when they get handwritten forms they will fix the problem. Will also try another pdf editor. 

    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Brainiac
    October 6, 2022
    quote

    I am able to enter data in some forms, in others I can't.

    By @Carl26461314ihs5

     

    Check that the form you're using is really an active form, and not a sample from IRS.

     

    |    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
    try67
    try67
    Adobe Expert
    June 2, 2020

    You would need Adobe LiveCycle Designer (now part of the Adobe Experience Manager suite, I believe), but you should NOT try and edit this file. Not only is it probably secured and won't let you edit it even if you had this specialized (and expensive) software, but doing so might actually be an offense and could get you into a lot of legal problems.

    O
    outcyde
    New Participant
    September 25, 2020

    I think you misunderstood the OP when he said 'edit the form'. I am running into the same issue when trying to complete this same IRS document. All works fine until I try to add in the date. The form won't let me and gives me that error 'This XFA form cannot be edited using Adobe Acrobat". All I am trying to do is add the date next to my signature. Not an attempt to do anything nefarious, but put the date in like the form requests.

    try67
    try67
    Adobe Expert
    September 25, 2020

    You can only fill in data into the fields added by the IRS. Anything else is considered editing and is not allowed, regardless of your motives.

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Brainiac
    June 2, 2020

    Clarification: having downloaded the form I see the IRS grants you specific rights to do things with the black (not red) form. You must not submit it to IRS (they mention a penalty if you do) but there are some specific legal purposes. 

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Brainiac
      June 2, 2020

      1. You can't edit this kind of form with Acrobat

      2. You don't need to pay for anything to fill the forms in

      3. Do NOT try to edit forms, or remove security, or change the design or setup in ANY WAY. Do not print to PDF. Do not use prepare forms. The IRS takes a bad view of thism and forms are automated as they were originally made. At best, your form may be rejected, lost or not seen. At worst, they may consider it fraud or some other crime.

      Work with the form you have, don't try to make it anything different.

        S
        seanusmc.Author
        Participating Frequently
        June 2, 2020

        What is the right way to fill in this form?

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Brainiac
        June 2, 2020
        Since they have not made it fillable, and you cannot make it fillable, you can print it out, write on it, and scan it.
        Old_Salt
        Old_Salt
        Participating Frequently
        June 2, 2020

        Not sure where it is you are getting an XFA form. I clicked your link and it downloaded the form as PDF (fw2_18.pdf). If I understand correctly, you're wanting to open this in Adobe Acrobat and add fill in form fields? As I said it downloaded ror me as PDF and can be edited to add form fields..

        S
        seanusmc.Author
        Participating Frequently
        June 2, 2020

        Yes, I just want to fill in the form.

        If I click on the "Edit" button on Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, I get this error message:

        Is there some other mode other than "Edit" that I need to be in to fill in the form? When I click on the fields without changing to edit mode, I just get an error alert "ding".

        Old_Salt
        Old_Salt
        Participating Frequently
        June 2, 2020
        Hmmmm. I don't get that message. When I click the "Prepare Form" icon I get a dialog asking me to select the file or do a scan. Of course I select the file and that's when I get the security error message telling me "You cannot edit this file as a form due to its security settings.. The file I downloaded is not a fill in form. I could be wrong, and someone else can chime in, but I think you're stuck with what you have. So you know, when I did use the "adobe PDF" printer then opened it, I got the same choice to open it for editing or do a scan. This time, I opened it and Acrobat added most (but not all) of the fill in fields for me. Sorry I couldn't be of any help.
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