Troubleshooting: Printing

If you don't find what you are looking for in the H&R Block software's troubleshooting information, or you need more help, check our Online Customer Support services.

Printers

When printing my tax return on an Epson printer, areas of text on the page are not being printed.

If  you are printing tax returns using an Epson printer manufactured between May 2004 and May 2006, a setting in the printer's preferences is causing a printing problem. You must select the RAW data type option setting on your printer's printing preferences.

To select this option:

  1. Click the Start button, and select Settings, then Printer, and Faxes.

  2. Right-click on your printer icon, then select Printing Preferences.

  3. Select the Utility tab.

  4. Click the Speed & Progress button.

  5. Click the checkbox for Always spool RAW data type.

  6. Click OK.

I am using an HP LaserJet III or IV, and not all the forms are printing properly.

Make sure that you are using the correct and most recent Windows printer driver.

You can also obtain the latest printer drivers by accessing the Microsoft web site at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads.

My BubbleJet printer is not printing within the margins that have been set.

Refer to your printer manual for information on your printer emulation.

From our experience, the BubbleJet printers usually emulate the Epson LQ-850, so try changing your printer driver to the Epson LQ-850.

I changed the default printer or print setup in the Control Panel. Why isn't the H&R Block software using the changes I made?

If the program is running when you make changes in the Control Panel, the changes won't be implemented. Do one of the following:

Error Messages

What does a "Buffer Full" error message mean?

Your printer probably doesn't have enough memory to handle printing some forms. Try the following:

Lower the printer resolution:

  1. In the program, go to the File menu, and select Print Setup.

  2. Click the Options button. The Setup window for your specific printer opens.

  3. Select the setting that lowers the print resolution. A printers' resolution can be set to a specific resolution in dots per inch (dpi) or draft quality (draft, normal, best). On laser printers, lower the memory allocation as far as possible (512k is best).

  4. Click OK on the printer window.

  5. Click OK on the Print Setup window.

Print one form at a time using either of these methods:

  1. Open the form you want to print.

  2. Click Print at the top of the form.

  3. Select Print for filing or Print as shown, then click OK.

OR

  1. From the File menu, select Print.

  2. Click Selected Forms, and then My Forms.

  3. In the Forms list on the right, select one form.

  4. Click Print.

Change the default printer settings for all documents you print to this printer:

  1. On the Taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then select Printers.

  2. Click on the printer you are using.

  3. From the File menu, select Properties.

  4. Click the desired tab and change the settings. For example, to change the default setting for the paper size, click the Paper tab and change the size in the Paper Size box.

Why am I getting a "Printer Not Ready" message?

This error message may appear under any one of the following conditions:

Note: If you are having difficulties printing, please refer to the Windows documentation for more information. You can also check the Windows on-line help.

I'm getting an "out of memory" error message, or nothing is printing even though I sent the file to the printer. What do I do?

Your printer's memory may not be able to handle the complex graphics of a tax form. Specifically, there are known problems with low memory (1 megabyte or less of memory) versions of HP LaserJets II, III, and 4L. Try the following suggestions in the order listed:

Forms

Why are multiple copies of a form printing?

You may have made multiple copies of a form. If you have blank copies printing, you need to delete those copies of the form from your tax return.

  1. From the Forms menu, select Open Forms.

  2. Select the form that is printing a blank copy from the list of forms in the Forms Central window and click the Open Form button.

  3. Display each copy of the form by selecting the number from the Copy Number list box. When you've found the blank copy, click the Delete Form button. The program asks you to confirm the deletion.

  4. Click Yes to remove the extra form.

How do I print a specific copy of the W-2 or 1099R?

To print a specific copy of any form:

  1. From the Forms menu, select Open Forms.

  2. In the Forms Central window, select "Show Forms with Data." All of the forms that have data on them are displayed.

  3. Select the form that you want to print, and click the Open Form button.

  4. From the Copy Number list box, select the copy you want to print.

  5. Click the Print button.

  6. Select Print as shown to print the current form exactly as shown in the Forms Central window along with the associated mini-worksheets. You cannot file forms printed with mini-worksheets.

Select Print for filing to print the current form without mini-worksheets.

  1. Click OK.

I'm having trouble printing my forms (such as no forms or not all forms are printing, only the first page of my return prints). Any suggestions?

Try the following:

  1. On the Taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then select Printers.

  2. Click on the printer you are using.

  3. From the File menu, select Properties.

  4. Click the Details tab.

  5. Click the Spool Settings button.

  6. Select Print directly to the printer.

  7. Click OK.

Margins

How do I properly set my print margins? I have too much space on the top of the form, and the bottom of the form is cut off.

Try the following:

  1. On the Taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then select Printers.

  2. Click on the printer you are using.

  3. From the File menu, select Properties.

  4. Most printers have a Paper tab. Click on it. If not, find the paper settings.

  5. Make sure that the paper size is set to 8 1/2 x 11 or Letter.

  6. Print a form in the program.

  7. If this doesn't solve the problem, repeat the steps above, but set the paper size to Custom or User-Defined. Set the units to 0.1 inches. Set the dimensions to 800 width and 1050 length.

  8. Return to the program and print a form.

If you're using a DeskJet or InkJet use the basic HP DeskJet driver. If you're using a LaserJet printer use the HP LaserJet II driver.

Networks

I'm having problems printing from a network.

First, try printing from another application (such as Notepad) to verify that the network printer is currently enabled from your computer. If there is any difficulty, contact your network administrator.

There may be other complications preventing the program from printing across the network, so please use a computer connected to a local printer.