Do you want to clear out your digital footprint and say goodbye to your TurboTax account? Perhaps you've switched to a different tax software, or maybe you just want to streamline your online presence. Whatever your reason, deleting your TurboTax account, which is part of the larger Intuit ecosystem, involves a few key steps. It's not always as straightforward as clicking a "delete account" button, but with this detailed guide, you'll be able to navigate the process effectively.
Let's dive in!
Step 1: Understand What Deleting Your TurboTax Account Means
Before you hit delete, it's crucial to understand what you're actually doing. TurboTax accounts are part of your broader Intuit account. This means that deleting your TurboTax account usually involves deleting your entire Intuit account, which could affect other Intuit products you might be using (like QuickBooks or Mint).
Are you absolutely sure you want to proceed? Consider if you have any historical tax returns or other important data stored with TurboTax that you might need in the future. Once your account and data are deleted, they are permanently removed and cannot be recovered. It's always a good idea to download and save copies of your past tax returns before proceeding.
Step 2: Gather Your Account Information
To ensure a smooth deletion process, have the following information handy:
Your TurboTax/Intuit Login Credentials: This includes your User ID and Password.
Access to Your Registered Email: Intuit will likely send verification codes or confirmation emails to the email address associated with your account.
Any Security Questions/Answers: If you have these set up, be prepared to answer them.
Step 3: Access the Intuit Account Manager for Data Privacy
The primary method for deleting your TurboTax account and associated data is through the Intuit Account Manager.
Sub-heading: Navigating to Data Privacy Settings
Sign in to the Intuit Account Manager: Open your web browser and go to the Intuit Account Manager. You can usually find a link to this by searching for "Intuit Account Manager" or by logging into your TurboTax account and looking for "Account Settings" or "My Account."
Locate "Data privacy": Once signed in, look for a menu on the left side of the screen. You should see an option like "Data privacy" or "Privacy & Security." Click on this.
Find the "Delete" Option: Within the "Data privacy" section, you will typically find an option related to deleting your data or account. This might be labeled simply as "Delete" or "Delete your Intuit data."
Step 4: Initiate the Deletion Request
This is where you formally request the deletion of your account and data.
Sub-heading: Confirming Your Intent and Selecting Data
Select "Make a delete request": After clicking on the "Delete" option, you'll usually be prompted to "Make a delete request" or "Continue" to delete your data. Click on this to proceed.
Choose the Account and Product Data to Delete: Intuit allows you to choose which specific product data you want to delete. Crucially, if you want to delete your TurboTax account entirely, you will need to select TurboTax from the list of products. Be aware that this will likely encompass all associated data with your TurboTax filings.
Understand the Implications: You will be presented with information about what happens when you delete your account and data. Read this carefully! It will reiterate that the deletion is permanent and you will lose access to your tax returns and any other data stored.
Confirm Your Understanding: You'll typically need to check a box or click a button to confirm that you understand the irreversible nature of the deletion.
Re-authenticate (if prompted): For security purposes, Intuit may ask you to re-enter your password or complete another form of verification to confirm it's truly you making this request.
Step 5: Monitor for Confirmation and Follow Up
After submitting your deletion request, the process isn't always instantaneous.
Sub-heading: What to Expect After Submitting Your Request
Check Your Email: Intuit will usually send you an email confirming that your deletion request has been received. This email might also contain further instructions or details about the timeline for deletion.
Potential for Additional Steps: In some cases, Intuit might require additional verification or have a waiting period before the deletion is finalized. Keep an eye on your email for any further communication from them. They may email updates about the request or ask for more information before they can proceed.
Confirm Deletion: Once the process is complete, you might receive a final confirmation email. Attempting to log in to your TurboTax account should then result in an "account not found" or similar message.
Step 6: Alternative Methods and Considerations
While the Intuit Account Manager is the primary route, there are other scenarios and options to be aware of.
Sub-heading: When the Online Method Isn't Sufficient
Contacting Customer Support: If you encounter any issues or are unable to delete your account through the online portal, contacting TurboTax customer support directly is your next best option. They can guide you through the process or initiate the deletion on your behalf. Be prepared to verify your identity thoroughly when speaking with a representative. You might need to tell their automated system that you want to "speak to a representative" or say "no" if it asks to send information by text/email.
Emailing Privacy Team: Some sources suggest you can email Intuit's privacy team (e.g., privacy@intuit.com) with a request to delete your account. While this might be an option, the Intuit Account Manager is generally the more direct and recommended route for account deletion requests under data privacy regulations.
Deleting Desktop Software Data: If you're using a desktop version of TurboTax, simply deleting the program from your computer does not delete your online account. However, you can delete specific tax files stored on your local machine. This is separate from deleting your TurboTax online account. For desktop versions, you can usually start a new return and delete unwanted files from within the application or by manually deleting the .tax files from your computer's documents.
Canceling Subscriptions (Not Deleting Account): If your goal is just to stop automatic renewals or subscriptions (like TurboTax Advantage), this is a different process than deleting your entire account. You can typically manage subscriptions within your TurboTax Advantage account settings by removing products.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some common questions you might have about deleting your TurboTax account:
How to download my tax returns before deleting my TurboTax account?
You should log into your TurboTax account, navigate to your past tax returns, and look for an option to download or print them as PDFs before initiating the deletion process.
How to know if my TurboTax account is truly deleted?
After receiving a confirmation email from Intuit, try logging in with your old credentials. If you receive a message stating the account doesn't exist or similar, it's likely deleted.
How to delete my TurboTax account if I've forgotten my password?
You will need to go through the password recovery process first to regain access to your account. Once you can log in, then follow the deletion steps.
How to delete only certain tax data, not my entire account?
The Intuit Account Manager's "Data privacy" section often provides options to select which product data you wish to delete, allowing you to delete TurboTax data without necessarily deleting other Intuit product data. However, for tax returns, complete deletion of the associated TurboTax data generally goes hand-in-hand with the account.
How to cancel a TurboTax Advantage subscription?
To cancel a TurboTax Advantage subscription, log into your TurboTax Advantage account, navigate to "TurboTax Advantage" on the right side, and select "Remove product" under each listed product. If you see "Sign up now," your subscription is canceled.
How to get help if I'm stuck during the deletion process?
If you encounter any difficulties, the best course of action is to contact TurboTax customer support directly. They can provide specific guidance and assistance.
How to delete TurboTax from my desktop computer?
Deleting the TurboTax software from your desktop is done through your computer's control panel (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac), similar to uninstalling any other software. This does not delete your online TurboTax/Intuit account.
How to handle a situation where I have multiple TurboTax accounts and want to delete one?
If you have multiple accounts linked to different email addresses, you'll need to log into each specific account you wish to delete and follow the deletion process for each one individually.
How to ensure my personal data is truly removed after deletion?
Once your deletion request is processed and confirmed, Intuit states that your data associated with that account will be permanently removed. They adhere to data privacy regulations that mandate complete deletion upon request.
How to avoid having data stored with TurboTax in the future?
If you prefer not to have your tax data stored online, consider using the desktop version of TurboTax (if available for your region/year) which saves returns to your computer, or opt for alternative tax preparation methods that don't require online account storage.