[NTLUG:Discuss] Tax forms

[Terry Henderson]

On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 11:58:00 -0600, Lance Simmons <lance at lsimmons.net> wrote:
> * Rob Apodaca <rapodaca at raacc.com> [050123 09:01]:
> > On Sat, 2005-01-22 at 20:40 -0600, Lance Simmons wrote:
> > > I'd like to be able to use the IRS's pdf forms to submit my taxes.
> > > Is there a linux pdf reader that will allow this?
> > >
> >
> > Adobe's acrobat reader will:
> > http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
> >
> > Just choose 'linux' as your platform.
> 
> That page says
> 
> > Thank you for your interest in the pre-release program for Adobe
> > Reader 7.0 for Linux. Due to the overwhelming response received from
> > customers, we have closed the pre-release program.
> 
> My understanding is that Adobe Reader before 7.0 cannot enter data into
> pdf forms, or at least not into the IRS pdf forms.  The version
> available from Adobe is 5.0.10.  Do you have different information?
> 
> As for simply viewing and printing pdfs, I'm satisfied with the standard
> linux tools for that.  What I'm looking for is a tool, which I imagine
> will be on the command line, that would allow me to edit the IRS forms
> to enter data.
>
(If you're acquiring the forms in .pdf format, the intention is to
just print them as they are, hand write or use a typewriter to edit
them and send them via snail-mail as hard copies.)

.pdf is a graphics format.  Logically, you'd get the forms in text
format, (i.e. .doc format), edit as needed, and use OO to export to
.pdf then print or email them as needed.