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.
Related Information:
Turbotax has a 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
