Turbo tax desktop yearly IRS taxes submitted on computer monitor. Worried Security?

[thenow]

I’m low tech and lack security knowledge. For the last five years we used online desktop TurboTax no CDs (hopefully the terminology is correct) for filling out our yearly IRS taxes. What bothers me is that our yearly taxes (from 2020 to now) TurboTax icons are shown on the monitor. It’s a matter of just clicking on the screen and our yearly completed tax return appears for each year. We also save them on a PDF files. My worry is if anyone ever got a hold of our laptop vital personal information would be stolen. Are there simple ways or steps to secure these yearly IRS completed tax forms that show on the screen as well as the PDF files? I still want to save previous years on my computer but want to insure security.

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

[RickBoglehead]

I’m low tech and lack security knowledge. For the last five years we used online desktop TurboTax no CDs (hopefully the terminology is correct) for filling out our yearly IRS taxes. What bothers me is that our yearly taxes (from 2020 to now) TurboTax icons are shown on the monitor. It’s a matter of just clicking on the screen and our yearly completed tax return appears for each year. We also save them on a PDF files. My worry is if anyone ever got a hold of our laptop vital personal information would be stolen. Are there simple ways or steps to secure these yearly IRS completed tax forms that show on the screen as well as the PDF files? I still want to save previous years on my computer but want to insure security.

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

What's on the screen is likely a link to the PDF.

You are correct that anyone gaining access to your computer could open the PDFs. Save them to a thumb drive and delete, then empty trash can.

In the future, see if when you create the PDF it lets you put a password on it.

[retired@50]

I’m low tech and lack security knowledge. For the last five years we used online desktop TurboTax no CDs (hopefully the terminology is correct) for filling out our yearly IRS taxes. What bothers me is that our yearly taxes (from 2020 to now) TurboTax icons are shown on the monitor. It’s a matter of just clicking on the screen and our yearly completed tax return appears for each year. We also save them on a PDF files. My worry is if anyone ever got a hold of our laptop vital personal information would be stolen. Are there simple ways or steps to secure these yearly IRS completed tax forms that show on the screen as well as the PDF files? I still want to save previous years on my computer but want to insure security.

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

Why not set up password protection on the Turbo Tax source files. I believe this is possible in Turbo Tax.

If I recall correctly, try File -> Encrypt...

The PDFs could be copied to a memory stick (and deleted from the computer) if necessary.

Regards,

[CAsage]

I would ensure you have backup files on another device, and see if you can somehow put the PDF tax returns in a password protected file folder or add password protection to the PDF. I'd google on that, since I'm just supposing one can do that.

[MnD]

So someone breaks into your home, breaks into your locked file cabinet, steals the laptop, is able to log on with credentials, and then is able to view your PDF's of old tax returns.

Then what?

Innumerable hacks of massive databases including the most recent one have acquired Social Security numbers, names, adresses, DOB etc. Others have acquired email addresses with passwords. I think it's safe to say that if someone really wanted to target you for personal and financial information there are 1000 easier ways to do so than the route above.

[wwhan]

Are you on a Windows or Apple computer?

When TurboTax installs, it places a program start Icon on the desktop. One can delete that TT icon off the desktop & can still get to the program, without the icon. I do this so I don't need to see the desktop icon.

The tax return "TT data file" is saved in a folder on your computer. It will default to a Turbotax defined location. In that location will be the generated PDF and tax return "TT data file", unless you save it elsewhere. I always choose my own TT Tax folder location & inside I place folders for each Tax year.

You can put the TT Data file & PDF return file on a removable flash drive and remove then from your computer, if you wish.

Examples.....

TT Data file: Year name Form 1040 Individual Tax Return.taxYEAR

TT Acrobat file: Year name Form 1040 Individual Tax Return_Filing.pdf
TT Acrobat file: Year name Form 1040 Individual Tax Return_Records.pdf

[beardsicles]

So someone breaks into your home, breaks into your locked file cabinet, steals the laptop, is able to log on with credentials, and then is able to view your PDF's of old tax returns.

Then what?

Innumerable hacks of massive databases including the most recent one have acquired Social Security numbers, names, adresses, DOB etc. Others have acquired email addresses with passwords. I think it's safe to say that if someone really wanted to target you for personal and financial information there are 1000 easier ways to do so than the route above.

Every shred of information in your tax returns is almost assuredly online already.

Almost every single tech/privacy concern on this forum is residual from like, 1997. The issue is no longer "how do I keep people from getting my data?" It's now, "what do I do now that everyone who wants it has my data?

[neurosphere]

Are there simple ways or steps to secure these yearly IRS completed tax forms that show on the screen as well as the PDF files?

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

If the password is strong, that should be the only risk to them getting your taxes. They would have to 1) steal or find the laptop and 2) know the password. Otherwise they can't get to anything on that computer.

Also (responding to other responses) I assume the OP is talking about shortcut to the TT PROGRAM (and not just pdfs) which then allows for a new return to be created, starting an amendment, reprinting the return, etc. I have all my TaxAct program files going back to 2010, where I can look at all data/worksheets/etc if I wanted to for whatever reasons (rather than just what I happened to print).

[UpperNwGuy]

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

This is exactly my situation, except my laptop sits on the dining room table instead of in a locked filing cabinet. I am not worried.

[chaser]

1. TurboTax allows you to password protect your TurboTax files. The option is in the File Menu.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-suppor ... 20Password

2. If you have saved PDFs of your return, it is possible to password protect PDF files, but you usually need to pay for a PDF writer with that feature.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes ... /00/277706

3. Encrypt your entire computer's hard disk. That way if a thief steals your computer, they won't be able to access any of your data on it. In Windows, this is called BitLocker. On Mac, this is called FileVault. Make sure to save the long decryption code they give you some place safe, because if you forget your password and lose this key, you will be completely locked out.

4. If you have external backups, make sure they are also encrypted. If you use cloud backups, make sure you actually trust your cloud provider because they could have backdoors to snoop/steal anything you upload.

5. Never reuse the same password for different things.

[wwhan]

You can open a PDF file with Word, then save the Word file as a password protected Word file. The format is not perfect, but if you already have Word, it is free to use.

One can also print to a PDF file from Word, but it does not carry the password encryption.

[thenow]

To answer one question. I have windows. I have a Microsoft Surface laptop. It has no USB Flash Drive. After reading a few helpful comments, I’ll try a few..one being the removal of all the Turbo Tax icons on the monitor screen. I was worried it would delete the saved PDF files. Liked I mentioned, I’m a low tech dinosaur. I’ll then see how to encrypt my PDF yearly tax files. Some of you mentioned not to worry for various reasons. My adult children laugh at us since we probably have 30 very long complex passwords for different purposes. I guess at 81 years old I’m paranoiac about security online.. I appreciate the above comments. Maybe I’ll get a few more to try for better security. Thanks

[dukeblue219]

Removing the shortcut icons for TurboTax from the desktop is not going to do anything for an intentional actor who gains access to your computer somehow, and close to nothing to stop a curious visitor to your house from peeking.

Your laptop is probably encrypted (and if not, turn on bit locker now) and you should have a password for your account. That will limit the damage that is done by theft. I wouldn't sweat it too much.

[torso2500]

I think keeping a password on the user account and having it locked when not in use is sufficient. I don't think the icons on the desktop are consequential enough for any action.

[wwhan]

Removing the shortcut icons for TurboTax from the desktop is not going to do anything for an intentional actor who gains access to your computer somehow, and close to nothing to stop a curious visitor to your house from peeking....

Removing the icons, just removes the red flag (hey look at this) that Turbotax is loaded on the machine. If someone wants to search for it, it is easy to find.

[Twinsfan10]

Did you print out hard copies of your returns as backups? Those are just as easily stolen as your computer. I would not lose any sleep over it.

[wwhan]

To answer one question. I have windows. I have a Microsoft Surface laptop. It has no USB Flash Drive....

Are sure your Microsoft Surface laptop does not have a USB port where one could plug in an external USB FLASH drive?

I keep 7 years of printed tax returns and the older ones stored in PDFs.

[thenow]

I had other older windows computers(Dell and Hewitt Packard) in the past with UBS flash drives. But, the surface doesn’t have one.

[dukeblue219]

I had other older windows computers(Dell and Hewitt Packard) in the past with UBS flash drives. But, the surface doesn’t have one.

A USB flash drive is a portable item that you insert into a computer, any computer. The Surface doesn't "have" one nor does any other computer. It's an accessory.

[investor4life]

I’m low tech and lack security knowledge. For the last five years we used online desktop TurboTax no CDs (hopefully the terminology is correct) for filling out our yearly IRS taxes. What bothers me is that our yearly taxes (from 2020 to now) TurboTax icons are shown on the monitor. It’s a matter of just clicking on the screen and our yearly completed tax return appears for each year. We also save them on a PDF files. My worry is if anyone ever got a hold of our laptop vital personal information would be stolen. Are there simple ways or steps to secure these yearly IRS completed tax forms that show on the screen as well as the PDF files? I still want to save previous years on my computer but want to insure security.

Our laptop has a password and it is locked up in a cheap file cabinet. But, we still worry that this not enough.

If you have BitLocker, you can simply encrypt the entire hard drive.

[JayB]

I have a Microsoft Surface laptop. It has no USB Flash Drive.

I'm not sure what model of Surface Laptop you have, but they ALL have USB ports that can accommodate external flash drives. For instance, my 5-year-old Surface Laptop 3 has one USB-A and one USB-C port on the lefthand edge, toward the back of the device. Look carefully, and you should find the USB ports where you can plug in a flash drive or other external drive.