TurboTax will send
emails to customers when certain types of account activity is detected
(example: changed filing status, new dependents, multiple accounts.).
This is a security measure to protect your personal information. Review the
information in the answer below. If you still have concerns the answer
provides a link to contact support for more assistance.
TurboTax is committed
to protecting your personal information. If we detect that certain types of
your information are being used in more than one account, we’ll notify you to
make sure that you recognize the activity.
We recommend using the
same account each year so your information can be automatically transferred to
your new return, saving you the time and hassle of data entry.
Here are some of the
reasons you may have received this email:
·
You have used TurboTax
in the past and are using a different account this year. This can include
moving from our Desktop product to our Online product.
·
You changed your
filing status from last year, and for that reason, are filing with a different
TurboTax account this year.
·
You have created
multiple TurboTax accounts this year, or in prior years.
·
You file as Married
Filing Separate, with you and your spouse having different TurboTax accounts.
·
You have filed for
dependents, or another family member, in the past and the email is referring to
their personal information.
If you have not taken
any of the actions noted above, it may indicate that someone is trying to use
your information to file a tax return. Please Contact Us and one of our agents
can assist you.
Learn more about how TurboTax safeguards
your data.
Turbotax
has a new feature that tracks the dates, times, and approximate locations your
account was accessed. You can log in and check this feature. Make
sure you log in by typing the address in your web browser and check for the
padlock icon that means you have a verified connection. Click Account
Tools, then Security, then scroll down for access history.
Be
aware that the date and time will be accurate, but the location may be less
accurate, especially if you are using a cell phone. Determining location from
an internet address is notoriously prone to error. But, any overseas
access is definitely a problem. If there are log ins you don't recognize,
you can call customer support, and also take steps (below) to secure your
account better.
To
secure your account, log in to your Turbotax account by typing the address
into your browser window, and make sure your browser shows a padlock icon or
whatever symbol it uses to indicate a secure verified connection. Change
your password, and make sure it is not something you use on other web sites.
Change your security question to something that a crook could not guess
from social media. Make sure your email address and cell phone number are
up to date as Turbotax may use that to help verify future attempts to log in.
You
also have the option to turn on 2-factor authentication for all log-ins.
With 2-factor authentication, Turbotax will send a code to your email or cell
phone when you try to log in. The idea is that only someone who knows your
password and also has possession of your phone will be able to log in, this is
more likely to be the real you. Turbotax will use 2-factor authentication
whenever you log in from a computer that turbotax does not recognize, but you
can turn it on for all log-ins in your security settings.
Also see these two FAQ's about the emails being sent to
alert users on the new security measures:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2922944-i-received-an-email-about-using-different-turbotax-account...
and
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2934086-i-received-an-email-about-using-a-new-device
