TURBO TAX BACK AFTER IDENTITY HACKS

Minnesota’s Department of Revenue once again is taking in state income tax returns filed through TurboTax online software.

The state tax agency put the brakes on TurboTax filings on Thursday (2/5), citing “potentially fraudulent activity.” At least two taxpayers had reported that cyber-thieves filed bogus returns in their names using the online software program.

The software’s publisher, Intuit, also shut down TurboTax filings to investigate, but, by Friday evening, had resumed transmitting them to state agencies. Intuit said its security systems had not been breached. The company also boosted its protections against identity theft.

Minnesota Revenue began accepting TurboTax-generated returns again at 3 p.m. Saturday, citing Intuit’s “new, targeted, security measures.” The state agency also said taxpayers who had previously filed TurboTax returns do not need to take any further action.

Federal tax returns were not involved in the security scare.

Minnesota Revenue continued to process Intuit’s software programs for professional tax preparers. With 2014 tax filings underway, EricJohn Ltd. is ready to file your federal and state returns securely and conveniently.