Why won't TurboTax let me log in? Sign-in fixes that work

Why won't TurboTax let me log in? The common sign-in blockers

TurboTax signs you in through an Intuit Account, the same account system Intuit uses across its products. When TurboTax won't let you log in, the page is usually doing its job: it cannot confirm it is you, so it stops. Identify which check is failing and the fix becomes clear.

If the sign-in page itself will not load, start with the TurboTax website not working guide instead. This page assumes the page loads but will not let you through.

TurboTax two step verification: code not arriving

TurboTax two step verification sends a one-time code by text, email or voice call. A code that never shows up is the most common login problem, and it is nearly always a delivery issue rather than an account issue.

1. For text codes, make sure your phone accepts messages from the short codes 88811 and 97962. Carriers and some phone settings block short codes by default; unblock them in your messaging app or ask your carrier.
2. For email codes, search spam, junk, promotions and any filtered folders for mail from Intuit.
3. Request one code and wait several minutes before asking for another. Each new request can replace the previous code, so entering an older code fails.
4. Keep the TurboTax tab open while you check your email in a separate tab or on your phone. Closing the sign-in window can start the process over.
5. If none of these arrive, choose a different method on the verification screen, such as email instead of text, or a voice call.

Locked out after too many attempts

Repeated wrong passwords or codes trigger a temporary block. Intuit's sign-in help says to wait 15 minutes before trying again. Retrying during the block does not help and can extend it.

Use the wait to find the right details. Check your password manager for entries under intuit.com, turbotax.intuit.com and accounts.intuit.com; older saved passwords often sit under one of these. Then try once, carefully.

What if I no longer have the phone number on my Intuit account?

Intuit's account help treats a lost phone number or email the same way as a forgotten password. Select Forgot password? on the sign-in page. Depending on your account, Intuit can offer verification by another phone number, by a digital ID stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or by photos of a driver's license, state ID or passport.

If those options are not offered or do not work, submit an account recovery request from the sign-in help page. You answer verification questions and then use a QR code on the screen to photograph your ID with your phone. Intuit says it reviews these requests within one business day, often sooner, and sends instructions from [email protected]. After approval you get a link to set a new password.

Can I have two Intuit accounts? Finding the one with your return

Yes, it is possible to end up with more than one Intuit account, for example one created years ago with a school email and another with a current address. Each tax return belongs to the account where it was started. Signing in successfully to the wrong account shows an empty Tax Home, which looks like a lost return but is not.

1. List every email address you have used since you first used TurboTax, including old work or school addresses.
2. Search each mailbox for older messages from Intuit or TurboTax; the greeting or sign-in notices can show which address or user ID is tied to an account.
3. On the sign-in page, open the sign-in help and enter each address in turn, as Intuit suggests checking every email you might have used to sign up.
4. Once you find the account with prior returns, keep using that one so next year's return can carry data forward.

Prior-year returns also stay in the account that filed them. The guide to downloading a prior-year return from TurboTax covers where to find those PDFs after you get in.

Protect the account after you get back in

Your TurboTax account holds Social Security numbers, bank details and past returns, so a few minutes of cleanup is worth it.

• Update the phone number and email on the account so the next code arrives.
• Set a long, unique password stored in a password manager.
• Review recent sign-in activity if your account settings show it, and sign out of devices you do not recognize.
• If you suspect someone else signed in, change the password at once and watch for IRS letters about a return you did not file.

If you get in but TurboTax signs you out again after a few minutes, see TurboTax keeps logging me out. If the reset email never arrives, the password reset troubleshooting guide covers it. For other problems, return to TurboTax not working.