These alerts last for 90 days and can be renewed. It also will provide affected customers free access to all versions of its software and make available credentialed tax experts to prepare taxes at no expense.State tax departments are telling victims they should contact the Internal Revenue Service and their state tax authority as well as the Federal Trade Commission.The FTC advises consumers who have discovered theft of their identities to contact the three major credit-reporting firms — EquifaxAnd TransUnion — to place initial fraud alerts on their credit files. Has my information been compromised?Says it is “aware that some customers have been the victims of identity theft, as a possible result of well-publicized data breaches.” It says it believes recent instances of fraud didn’t result from a breach of its systems, based on a preliminary exam conducted with the assistance of independent security experts.An Intuit spokeswoman advises concerned customers — both those who have and haven’t yet filed their returns — to log into their TurboTax accounts to ensure that the information is accurate.One red flag, security experts say, is a change in your direct-deposit account information.What should I do if I find signs of fraudulent tax filings in my name?Intuit says customers can speak with trained identity-protection agents, who will provide comprehensive support and filing assistance, by calling 80.In addition, Intuit says it will provide identity-protection services and free credit monitoring to victims. Here are responses to some of them.I’ve used TurboTax. The spate of fraudulent filings seems to have largely affected returns prepared using TurboTax, the states say.Intuit TurboTax Home & Business 2014 USA Keygen Free Download, Omni Group OmniGraphSketcher Price, Autodesk Inventor Professional 2015 Review, Microsoft Project Professional 2019 BuyThe incident raises many questions for taxpayers, including whether their personal data is at risk and whether it is safe to prepare or submit returns electronically.
Turbotax Desktop 2016 Password On HomeTaxpayers should also update antivirus software to help prevent thieves from getting access to their information.Also be on the lookout for “phishing” emails that purport to be official notices from the IRS or tax preparers. Tom Kellermann, the chief cybersecurity officer at Tokyo-based security software firm TrendMicro, advises updating computer software applications to the latest versions available and making sure there is a password on home Internet access. For examples, see “How Do I Create a Strong Password?” on Issues often begin with unsecured Wi-Fi access. With software, “you’re not putting your personal information on a company’s server,” says David Barton, a managing director at UHY Advisors, an information-security consulting firm in Chicago.Are there other steps I should take now to protect my information?Intuit and outside experts say one of the best protections against identity theft is to change all passwords on a regular basis and make sure they are strong. “We apply security across all our products and have added additional fraud-prevention measures for TurboTax Online customers,” she says.Among these measures is so-called multifactor authentication, which requires additional information from users before allowing them access to their TurboTax account.Still, some experts believe that using downloaded software can be safer than online preparation, although far fewer taxpayers use the former. Your personal information also may have been used to rack up unauthorized charges on credit cards or to open new accounts.Should I proceed as usual using TurboTax software or online services to prepare and file my returns — and which method is safer?An Intuit spokeswoman says it is safe to prepare your return online or with desktop software.Melissa Labant, a tax specialist at the American Institute of CPAs in Washington, says the group’s members haven’t reported increased tax ID theft this year.(This story originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal. Do I need to be concerned?Intuit says that professional tax-preparer software is safe to use to prepare your return. It is possible to file a version early in tax season and then file a “corrected” return by April 15, but the filer must use the Form 1040X for amended returns and submit it on paper — a cumbersome process.My tax preparer uses software from Intuit.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorBrad ArchivesCategories |