How do I prevent rounding of numbers in PDF forms on an older MacBook Air?

Some states want you to round to whole dollars when filling out income tax forms. Those states may have their PDF forms set to round everything to whole dollars even if they display the trailing ".00" cents.

If you were entering 22.400 (i.e., 22 dollars and 40 cents) on a form provided by such a state, the rounding down to 22 might be intentional. Note that the period key is right next to the comma key, so it would be possible to enter the 22.400 (instead of 22,400) as the result of a typo.

 How to Upgrade to macOS 12 Monterey

❗️– WARNING – Backup your data before proceeding. (You’ve been warned.)

Learn How to Back up your Mac with Time Machine:

Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support

❗️ – IMPORTANT – If upgrading from 10.14 Mojave or earlier, your older 32-bit 

apps & drivers won’t work in Monterey! They must also be updated or replaced.

Use this free utility> Go64 app from St. Claire Software to check your apps.

🖥 – macOS 12 Monterey is compatible with these computers

✅ - Download macOS Monterey from the App Store.

The download will place the "Install macOS Monterey" app in the Applications folder. Double-click that installer app to begin the upgrade process. 

Unless I'm mistaken, the number of digits that a field accepts is defined by the pdf form itself.

Have you contacted the support staff of the provider of this pdf form?

Exactly how old is this MacBook Air and what macOS version is it running?

What version of macOS?

Find that info by clicking the Apple menu () at the top-left of your screen and then select About This Mac. (Note- for privacy and security reasons, please never post your serial number.)

Mare9 wrote:

macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6 (16G2136)

Quite an obsolete and outdated version of macOS. I'm almost surprised that you can still use it to fill out these tax forms. Sierra was last updated in 2017, almost ten (!) years ago.

I believe since I do not have an insert key, I need a combination of keys to activate this key?

I don't know what you are referring to here. (?)

Your "about 8 years old" MacBook Air may be a 2017 model. (This info may also be confirmed in "About This Mac") If that's the case, you might consider upgrading the OS to something newer that will increase the productive lifespan of the computer. The 2017 model can be upgraded to run macOS 12 Monterey. Monterey can give a 2017 MBA an additional five years of productive use over Sierra. Of course you'd have to update some other apps along the way, like MS Office and Adobe apps, but hey, that's life.

If you'd like more specific info about what upgrade options you have with your Mac, just let us know what model year it actually is.

D.I. Johnson wrote:

Monterey can give a 2017 MBA an additional five years of productive use over Sierra. Of course you'd have to update some other apps along the way, like MS Office and Adobe apps, but hey, that's life.

If the OP updates to Monterey, the OP might need to find substitutes for Microsoft and Adobe applications. (E.g., LibreOffice.)

That's because Microsoft and Adobe have a policy of supporting only the "most recent three" versions of macOS – and Monterey isn't one of them.

I filled out my 2024 State of Michigan tax forms using the current Adobe Acrobat Reader and had no rounding issues.

If you are using macOS 11 (Big Sur) or older, there is a faint gray link above that blue Download Acrobat Reader lozenge on the Adobe page that will get you the correct version of Acrobat Reader.

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