Why are PDFs blocked from saving data?

[NicholasMDal]

This is the first year I am not able to save my IRS 941 quarterly report data for the next quarter. 

I have no use for a monthly subscription since I don't work on PDFs.  As a sole proprietor, I only submit a single 941 4 times/yr.  Not remotely worth $15/month.

I see posts recommending disabling javascript, but this does not currently work.  I tried working off of Google Drive and no luck.  Any way out of this trap?

[Thom Parker]

How are you trying to save the data? You need to provide specific information on exactly what it is you are doing.

[NicholasMDal]

Good point 🙂  Fill form and save on PC.  Want to reopen the PDF and have form fields still filled.

[Test Screen Name]

When you fill it, what app do you use? Please give the exact app version too (or let us know if you need help finding out)

[NicholasMDal]

Adobe Acrobat DC 20.009.20067.57037

[Test Screen Name]

I take it that's actually the free Acrobat Reader? It's up to date anyways. I wonder if you are able to share a link to the original IRS form you are filling so we can try it out ourselves?

[NicholasMDal]

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f941.pdf

Sorry it took so long.

[Bernd Alheit]

You can save the filled form with Adobe Acrobat. It is not possible with Acrobat Reader.

[NicholasMDal]

Please tell me when this was implemented.  I would appreciate it.  Last year, I could easily save a 941 for each quarter.

I can save a single 941 form each quarter for $150/yr for life?  Has Adobe not yet made enough from full version buyers who actually need the program?

[Bernd Alheit]

The PDF file has not the form save rights.

[Thom Parker]

Are there any messages or odd behavior from Acrobat when you save? Can you save the file to a different name?

[NicholasMDal]

Appears to be built in behavior.  A popup says you can't save but only print.  Thats why I tried the disable javascript suggestion.

Feels like Adobe is trying to get everyone to buy the full program, even those that have no use for it.

I'll bet 10s of thousands of quarterly returns are late just for this reason!

[Thom Parker]

You can save with Reader, so it is no a problem with the app. This is an issue with the form. It has security on it that is blocking the save. 

[NicholasMDal]

How can this be?  Since we have saved them every year up until now, would this not be discussed online?  No related search result.  No mentions anywhere of the IRS securing this form this way.

Higher in the thread, another users says the full Acrobat version is required.

[Test Screen Name]

There's a special app the IRS use to make PDFs so that you can save them in Reader. In fact the special app was pretty much invented for IRS to use. Looks like, unfortunately, someone at IRS forgot to use it this year.

[NicholasMDal]

Well this seems to solve the mystery.  I'll post to the IRS site.  Seems they have support for form use.  Thanks for the info!