​​​​We have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions related to the downloading and printing of Wisconsin Department of Revenue tax forms, instructions, and publications.

1. Why am I experiencing problems downloading forms, instructions, reports and publications?
   
   
2. When printing some instructions and publications in PDF format all the words run together with no spaces between them, however, everything looks fine on the screen. Is there an error in your documents, or is it my system?
   
   
3. Are forms printed on ink-jet, bubble-jet or Dot-Matrix printers acceptable for filing?
   
   
4. If I do not have a printer, how else can I obtain tax forms?
   
   
5. When downloading a PDF form, my web browser window goes blank and I never receive the file. What should I do?
   
   
6. How can I download a PDF file directly to my hard drive and bypass the Adobe Reader plug-in that normally displays the form in my web browser window?
   
   
7. I'm having a problem locating a certain form. How can I find it if I don't know the form number or title?
   
   
8. Are your forms accessible to individuals with disabilities?
   
   
9. Why does the document come up in the Adobe Reader but when I page through it I get an error message and then the screen goes blank?
   
   
10. Why doesn't the PDF file print?
    
    

1. Why am I experiencing problems downloading forms, instructions, reports and publications?

   Many of these items are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and can only be viewed/printed from a computer using the free Adobe Reader.

   You could be experiencing problems for various reasons:

   • you need to upgrade your Adobe Reader to a more current version,
   • you are using Safari, Firefox, Chrome, or Edge as your web browser,
   • your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might be experiencing heavy traffic, and/or
   • the Department's web server may be experiencing heavy traffic.
     
     

   Files on the Department's website have been verified to work with the Adobe Reader 9. If you have problems downloading a file, try downloading it again by saving it to your computer or go to the Adobe Reader Support page.

2. When printing some instructions and publications in PDF format all the words run together with no spaces between them, however, everything looks fine on the screen. Is there an error in your documents, or is it my system?

   This issue can nearly always be resolved by obtaining and installing the most recent print driver available for your particular make and model printer. Most printer manufacturers, including Hewlett Packard, provide free printer driver updates from their websites.

3. Are forms printed on ink-jet, bubble-jet or Dot-Matrix printers acceptable for filing?

   The Wisconsin Department of Revenue accepts tax forms that are consistent with the official forms and that do not have an adverse impact on our processing. This policy includes forms downloaded from our Internet site and printed on high quality devices such as a laser, bubble-jet or ink-jet printer unless otherwise specified on the form itself. Most Dot-Matrix printers would not produce the desired results.

4. If I do not have a printer, how else can I obtain tax forms?

   If you need to order items, please call the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Forms Request Office at (608) 266-1961.

5. When downloading a PDF form, my web browser window goes blank and I never receive the file. What should I do?

   Should you experience PDF files appearing as a blank window within your web browser after downloading, follow the appropriate steps below to resolve the issue:

   Adobe Reader
   If you are using Adobe Reader version 8.0 or earlier, upgrade to a newer version. You can also check out Adobe's Customer Support for further information.

   Edge
   An Adobe article gives you more information about the Adobe problem with Edge and other modern browsers.

6. How can I download a PDF file directly to my hard drive and bypass the Adobe Reader plug-in that normally displays the form in my web browser window? ​
   • Right click (shift click in Mac OS) on the link to the file you wish to download.
   • When presented with a menu, select the "Save Target As …" or "Save link As …" options to download the file.
   • Save the document to your hard drive. You may want to make a note of where you saved it and what it was named.
   • Open Adobe Reader.
   • When Adobe Reader is open, go to File, then to Open, then to where you saved the file. Double click on the file.
     
     
7. I'm having a problem locating a certain form. How can I find it if I don't know the form number or title?

   The easiest way may be to use our search engine at the top of the page to search by keyword.

8. Are your forms accessible to individuals with disabilities?

   Please see Adobe's website at http://www.adobe.com/accessibility.html.

9. Why does the document come up in the Adobe Reader but when I page through it I get an error message and then the screen goes blank?

   You have an older version of the Adobe Reader and need to upgrade to the newest free version at Adobe. An alternative is to download the file to your hard drive (see #6) and it should then appear with no error messages.

10. Why doesn't the PDF file print?

    There are a variety of reasons that could cause a PDF file not to print. Please see Adobe's Support Knowledgebase on troubleshooting printing problems.

November 17​, 2023​​