Including Attachments With Return
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TaxAct® allows you to attach PDF copies of supporting documentation to your return. The program will determine which optional or required attachments apply to you. If any of the conditions below exist in the return, you will be prompted to attach the necessary documents during the filing steps.

You may include attachments in the following situations for federal returns:

  • Form 2210, Part II, Boxes A or B selected (optional attachments)
  • You are claiming a dependent that was born and died in 2016 and did not have a Social Security Number (SSN) issued. In this case you should type "DIED" instead of entering an SSN for that child during the Basic Info section of the Q&A. If the child did have an SSN, you are not required to attach a copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital records showing a live birth.
  • Section 83(b) Election statement (required)
  • You are treating a Nonresident Alien Spouse as a U.S. Resident (required)
  • Form 8949, when listing all transactions individually (optional)

Note that your state program may have additional documentation requirements.

Click Add next to an optional or required category to upload a new attachment. Choose the appropriate options from the available drop-down menus, and be sure to review the additional information provided. Click Browse to locate the PDF on your computer, then click Finish to attach the file to your return. You can click Back at any time to return to the first screen.

If you have already added an attachment to your return, click View to see the attachment, or click Delete to remove the attachment from your return.

If your attachment is invalid for any reason, you will see a red Invalid Attachments warning, as well as an Alert in the filing steps. You will need to remove the invalid attachment before filing.

Attaching a new PDF will not overwrite any older versions of the document. If you upload a new version of an attachment, make sure you delete any copies you have previously attached.

Only PDFs can be attached to your return, and an error message will appear if you attempt to upload a different file type. If you have a paper copy of your attachment, you will need to use a scanner to create a PDF version. If your attachment is in a different file format, you may be able to use "Print to PDF" to convert your document. See the steps below for two common methods for creating a PDF.

In Adobe Acrobat:

  1. Open Acrobat and click File, then Open
  2. Find and open the file you wish to convert. You may need to change Files of Type from Adobe PDF Files (*.pdf) to All Files (*.*) at the bottom of this screen in order to see your file.
  3. The file will be converted to PDF when it is opened. Save this file and upload it.

In Microsoft Word:

  1. Open your document in Microsoft Word
  2. Click File, then Print
  3. Under the printer options, choose Adobe PDF as your printer
  4. Click Print and the file will convert to PDF. Save this file and upload it in TaxAct.