Who is a Class Member
The Intuit Fraudulent Tax Return class action settlement includes “all persons in the United States in whose identities fraudulent federal tax returns for the tax years 2014, 2015, and/or 2016 were filed using TurboTax, as determined by the United States Internal Revenue Service.”
If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Estimated Award
- 2 years of Free TransUnion Credit Monitoring Services
Under the Settlement, Class Members who enroll will receive 2 years of credit monitoring services through TransUnion, free of charge. There is no cost to enroll or to receive the services. The TransUnion credit monitoring services being provided include the following features:
- Unlimited access to the Class Member’s TransUnion credit report and VantageScore® credit score, with updates available daily, as well as related analysis and information regarding credit score trends.
- Daily credit monitoring service that provides email notifications of key changes to the Class Member’s TransUnion credit file, including: name changes, address changes, new credit inquiries, new credit accounts, changes to existing credit accounts, new public records, delinquent accounts, fraud alerts, and more.
- Online credit dispute and identity restoration services, which includes assistance with police reports, affidavits, FTC submissions, and other general assistance, as well as unlimited toll-free access to credit specialists.
- Unlimited access to TransUnion’s credit lock service, which places a credit lock on the Class Member’s TransUnion credit file.
- Up to $1 million in identity theft insurance without a deductible (subject to policy limitations and exclusions), as well as toll-free 24/7 access to identity theft insurance specialists.
- Unlimited online access to credit management and identity theft prevention resources located in an online education center.
Proof of Purchase
- You will need to provide the Personal ID number located on your settlement notice.
Enroll in Free Credit Monitoring Services
Intuit Fraudulent Tax Return Settlement Notes
- In re Intuit Data Litigation
- Case No. 15-cv-1778-EJD-SVK
- Pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
This class action lawsuit against Intuit alleges the company did not have proper security measures in place for tax years 2014, 2015, and 2016 (for which tax return were filed in calendar years 2015, 2016, and 2017) which led to some taxpayers’ identities being used by someone else to file fraudulent tax returns.
Essentially, the lawsuit says that both Intuit and TurboTax failed to prevent the filing of massive fraudulent tax returns.
“For years, Intuit has knowingly maintained lax authentication and security protocols that fall below industry standards, allowing fraudsters to easily open fake TurboTax accounts and file fraudulent tax returns through TurboTax in innocent taxpayers’ names. Further, Intuit has affirmatively adopted and implemented numerous policies and practices that Intuit knew encouraged and enabled fraudsters to open fake TurboTax accounts and file fraudulent tax returns through TurboTax in innocent taxpayers’ names,” the complaint asserts.
Intuit denies any wrongdoing but agreed to a settlement to avoid the uncertainty and cost of further litigation and a trial. In addition to providing 2 years of free credit monitoring services, Intuit as also adopted security measures including:
- Email and telephone number verification via code notification
- Elimination of option to file state tax returns that are not associated with a federal return
- Notification of customers if the same Social Security Number is used to file tax returns from more than one customer account during the current or prior two tax years
- Provision of additional information and leads to IRS with submission of suspicious tax returns
- Active participation in the Identity Theft Refund Fraud Information Sharing & Analysis Center (“ISAC”) and IRS Security Summits
- Strengthened password requirements and expanded multifactor authentication
- Employment of ThreatMetrix to assess risk associated with each login
- Account holder notified of any and all changes to his or her account profile and when tax return is filed
- Creation of new customer security portal and online security center
- Numerous security measures to prevent breach of Intuit’s systems
Furthermore, Intuit will continue to participate in the IRS Security Summit until at least 2021. Complete details about the case and settlement are provided on the Intuit Fraudulent Tax Return settlement website.
Class members who wish to object to the Intuit Fraudulent Tax Return settlement must do so by January 7, 2019. Class members who wish to enroll in free credit monitoring must do so on or before January 22, 2019. If you do nothing, you will not be eligible to receive benefits under this settlement.
Important Dates
- 1/22/19: Enroll Deadline
- 1/7/19: Objection Deadline
- 2/7/19: Final Hearing at 10:00 am PT* (class members do not need to attend this hearing in order to receive a slice of the settlement pie).
*Settlement Class Members who wish to speak at the hearing should check the settlement website at www.IntuitDataLitigation.com to confirm that the date or time of the Hearing has not been changed.
Contact Information
- Mail: In re Intuit Data Litigation, c/o JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91348, Seattle, WA 98111
- Phone: 1-833-288-5308
- Email: info@IntuitDataLitigation.com
Class Counsel
- Leiff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP
- Milberg Tadler Phillips Grossman LLP
- Siprut PC
- Goldman Scarlato & Penny PC
- Abbott Law Group PA
Settlement Website