Merrill - Unable to Import Information - "Please attempt to login again" error message - TurboTax Desktop 2024 (Windows)

[JonK11]

This was a TT desktop software problem.  It appears to be fixed in the latest update (March 20).  When i initially spoke with TT support, a week ago, they said they were not aware of the problem even though many people have posted it on this site.  Too bad they don't monitor and proactively tell people what's going on.  Would have saved many hours of struggling to import my data.

[MVMacDave]

This looks to me to be a side effect of Intuit having a near monopoly position in tax software.  In this case, it appears that they created this problem with a software 'update' in early February, and then didn't worry much about the problem they created for quire a while.  They are doubtless cutting back on costs by not providing customer support, and they may be cutting costs by cutting back on their tech people and their programmers.  This is a classic effect of laissez faire capitalism- internalize profits, externalize costs, in this case, let your customers debug your software, and don't compensate them for their time.

[trbofax]

Am I the only one still having a login error (both Mac version and online version)?

I do get an error message now, but never success. 

[irene58]

I’m still having problems too. Changed password. Says Account not Found, but I can log in directly. 

[irene58]

Still not working for me. Windows desktop. Can’t even get to a support person. Robo keeps telling me that I might want to upgrade from Basic. I’m using Premier! Sooo frustrating!!!

[BrittanyS]

Try the manual update, the online update option may not be pull the update through.  See the link below:

• Manual Update

[MVMacDave]

This sounds like Intuit or their Turbotax division is not spending enough money on competent tech staff and programmers. It's cheaper to let the customers deal with it.  It may also be a result of the nature of the software, everything completely intertwined, instead of being modular.

[SunnySD1]

I am using a Window Desktop and have been having hard times importing both Wells Fargo and Betterment accounts.  I have called the helpdesk and they cannot help.  There is a way to upload your pdf file on the online TT version but apparently not the desktop.  Very disappointed with the process.

[frankjrstockton]

I have encountered a similar issue connecting to Charles Schwab to import 1099-B data. Charles Schwab pop-up message says "We cannot connect to Charles Schwab & Co., Inc." "Please try again after a few hours." I had so many failed attempts the past 3 days that I am about to give up. Just wondering if anyone had the same issue importing tax data from Charles Schwab who eventually succeeded at the end? I would appreciate your help.  I am using Turbotax Home and Business edition. 

[sweetgrey]

I am having the same issue when trying to connect to Merrill.

This manual update didn't help. 

[MVMacDave]

If you have updated Turbotax, and restarted your computer, you might try changing your login at Merrill, user ID and password.

[sweetgrey]

I think I know what the problem is. It's not about changing password, etc.  It's the type of accounts you have at Merrill. I suspect TurboTax can only import regular brokerage accounts, not the Benefits Online accounts that your employer opens for your 401k/retirement or equity awards. These two types don't share the username and passwords. 

[MVMacDave]

That could easily be the problem in some cases.  In my case. all my Merrill accounts have the same username and password including brokerage accounts, cash management account, loan management account, college funds for grandchildren, IRA accounts, and I couldn't import anything after a Turbotax update in early February,  until a Turbotax update around the first of March.

[MarilynG1]

Try disabling your anti-virus programs and retry your import.  Here's How to Turn Off Anti-Virus Programs, which should resolve your connectivity issue.

If you're using TurboTax Online, be sure to clear your Cache and Cookies between attempts.  For TurboTax Desktop, do a Manual Update, even if the Online link says you're updated.

As a reminder, be sure your broker accounts allow 'third party access'.  In some cases, you need to enable that in your broker account settings.

@frankjrstockton 

[MVMacDave]

None of these were the source of my problem importing Merrill files.  In early Fehruary, I imported some of my Merrill files, with disabling my Anti-virus software, without updating Turbotax, without deleting cookies and caches, and without checking on 3rd access at Merrill.  After this problem appeared, about the first week in February, I tried a whole variety of things without effect, ncluding deleting all cookies and caches, uninstalling and reinstalling Turbotax, and doing an update, to no effect at all.  As far as third party access, Merrill does not require anything special unless the 3rd party is logging in under a different username and password.  Anyone can log in using the client's username and password from another device without anything being done to enable this.  In addition, my Merrill account lets me record log in attempts, and all the times this process failed, Merrill data showed there were no attempts to log in by Turbotax, Intuit or any other party, except myself.  Turbotax was not even trying to log in to import files.  After this problem was resolved, apparently through an update about 3 weeks ago, I was able to import files from Merrill without doing anything special, and my Merrill log of attempts to log in showed the access by Turbotax.