Convert TAX2017 to PDF

A tax preparer, government portal, or records system may require a fixed PDF instead of a TurboTax data file. Exporting the return also lets you share or print it without installing TurboTax.

What the TAX2017 format is

.tax2017 is Intuit TurboTax's proprietary desktop data format for U.S. federal and state income-tax returns prepared for tax year 2017. TurboTax Desktop can store taxpayer details, income, deductions, credits, worksheets, calculations, and filing information in this file.

The format is not a PDF and is not readable by generic document or PDF software. Renaming return.tax2017 to return.pdf changes only the extension; it does not convert the tax data.

What the PDF format is

PDF is a fixed-layout document format that preserves pages, tables, printed values, and form appearance across operating systems. It can be viewed, emailed, archived, and printed without TurboTax.

A PDF is a rendered record, not an editable TurboTax return. It does not retain the original interview data, calculation model, or ability to amend the return in TurboTax. Keep the original .tax2017 file for future editing.

How to convert TAX2017 to PDF

1. Make a backup of the original .tax2017 file and do not work on that copy.
2. Install the TurboTax Desktop release for tax year 2017, preferably the same operating-system version used to create the file. A current TurboTax release generally does not open arbitrary older-year files; an older-year installation or tax professional may be required.
3. Open TurboTax 2017 and select File → Open, then choose the .tax2017 file. Enter a file password if the return is protected. A desktop data file does not normally require TurboTax Online account credentials merely to open it.
4. Use TurboTax's Print, Print Center, or Save as PDF command, depending on the edition. Select the federal return, state return, schedules, worksheets, or payment vouchers required for the intended record.
5. If TurboTax does not provide a direct PDF command, select the operating system's PDF printer. On Windows, choose Microsoft Print to PDF; on macOS, open the system print dialog and choose PDF → Save as PDF. Save the result with a descriptive name such as 2017-tax-return.pdf.
6. Open the PDF and verify the taxpayer name, tax year, amounts, page count, page order, and legibility. Reprint if TurboTax produced only selected screens or omitted required schedules.

Use the complete-record option when preserving worksheets and calculations for your files. Use the filed-return or official-forms option when a recipient requests only the forms submitted or intended for submission; worksheets can contain additional sensitive information.

Online converters and alternatives

Online PDF converters such as Adobe Acrobat online tools, Smallpdf, and PDF24 can convert supported document or image files, but they cannot reliably decode a proprietary .tax2017 file. Uploading the file to an arbitrary conversion site also exposes Social Security numbers, addresses, income, and financial records. For this format, the local TurboTax print workflow is safer and more reliable than an online converter.

If TurboTax 2017 is unavailable, contact Intuit support or a tax professional who still has the compatible desktop software. Do not use a generic viewer, hex editor, or extension-renaming utility as a substitute for opening and printing the return.

Compatibility and recordkeeping limits

TurboTax 2017, its state modules, and activation services may no longer be supported or distributed. Installation can also depend on the original operating system and required tax-year components. Preserve the original file, any password, and the compatible installer or licensed software with the PDF.

The PDF is evidence of the pages exported or printed, not proof that the return was filed or accepted. Keep filing confirmations, electronic acknowledgments, and payment records separately. Protect the PDF with controlled access or encryption when it contains taxpayer information.