Is this a phishing email? Email subject reads: "CRITICAL NOTICE: Issue with your 2020 Tax Return"

[shazyalex]

To date, I have not filed my 2020 return. So, this subject heading seems suspicious.

Note, out of caution, I have not clicked the link in the following message, which I received on 1/29/2021.

Dear Valued TurboTax Customer,
 
At TurboTax, we are committed to helping you get your maximum refund by ensuring your return is filed with 100% accuracy. Unfortunately, we identified an issue that affects the accuracy of your 2020 tax return within Rental Properties and Royalties (Sch E).
 
You will need to follow the steps in the link below to correct your return before you file by the deadline on April 15, 2021.
 
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and are here to help you resolve this and get your return successfully and accurately e-filed. We have outlined instructions to follow here: https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/redirect/fix-sch-e-not-filed
 
If you have additional questions or would like to speak with one of our experts at any point during this process, please call us at (xxx) xxx-xxxx and mention "Rental Properties and Royalties (Sch E)." We're here to help every day from 5am-9pm PST.
 
As always, thank you for being a valued TurboTax customer.
 
Sincerely,
 
TurboTax Care Team

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

Since you have not yet filed your return, the email is certainly suspicious and it is good that you did not click the link.  While an email exactly like yours is not noted on the security notices page, please report it to Intuit/TurboTax so that it can be investigated further.

Please take a look at the following TurboTax article and follow the link in order to report information about the email you received.  

Avoid phishing scams and spoofed sites

[wrmiles]

I received the same e-mail.

Since the e-mail and link addresses appeared valid, I followed the link, which contained instructions to fix the return.

I fixed the return on the turbo tax site without problems, except it asked me to review my depreciation information.

Since this is apparently a Turbo-Tax problem, how much credit/refund will we get for fixing it?

[AmeliesUncle · Accepted solution]

It probably is a legitimate email.

TurboTax HAS had a problem with depreciable assets not transferring to the 2020 tax return for Schedule E that they are just fixing now.

See these two posts about it (one is for people who have already filed, the other is for people who have not yet filed).

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/asset-depreciation/help/how-do-i-fix-my-rental-properties-and-roya...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/asset-depreciation/help/how-do-i-fix-my-rental-properties-and-roya...

[rdprice64]

I also received this email and as I'm following the instructions when i got the step: 

5. On Your 2020 rentals and royalties summary, select Edit next to your rental property.

The browse just spins trying to load.  Cleared my Cashe, tried another browser, nothing worked.  Has anyone else had this happen and resolve it somehow?

[heatherltyler]

I did as instructed, but felt very uncomfortable with the results. My year over year comparisons did not make sense. It appears that the asset was listed twice when following these new instructions resulting in a double depreciation amount - which is incorrect. I called, emailed, tried various ways to contact Turbo Tax. The rep had never heard of this email or situation, security hasn't verified it's not a phishing scheme. And, if I weren't so diligent I would have sent an inaccurate return resulting in me owing additional tax. This is simply unacceptable - especially after the mix-up earlier this year with stimulus payments. I encourage anyone who received this email to do due diligence. TurboTax, you must make this right with us.