TurboTax is once again allowing customers to e-file their state tax returns, USAToday reports. This is after an increase in suspicious filings were discovered in the past week.

Fake returns were filed by criminals. This allowed the criminals to use other persons' names, file a return on their behalf and then collect the excess tax return owed to that person.

Because of the suspicious findings, TurboTax halted state returns on Thursday. By Friday, the company started allowing them again.

"We are taking this issue very seriously and from the moment it emerged it has been all-hands-on-deck," said Brad Smith, CEO of TurboTax publisher Intuit. "I am more than pleased we were able to resume transmission for our customers within about 24 hours."

Minnesota was initially not allowing customers to file their state tax returns using TurboTax because the state has discovered at least two instances where a person's state tax return was filed by a criminal. The Star Tribune reported that Saturday at 3 p.m. the state's ban was overturned.

The state added that its own software system was not compromised, and it would keep a close eye on taxes filed through TurboTax.

"If people believe they have been affected, or if they log into their TurboTax account and find they've already been filed, they should contact the IRS and the state they're filing in," said Cynthia Bauerly, Minnesota's commissioner of revenue, according to The Star Tribune. "In Minnesota, if they've already filed and used TurboTax, there is nothing they need to do at this time. If there is a problem, we will contact them."

H&R Block, which offers tax services in person and by using software similar to TurboTax, is unaware of any suspicious activity with its software involving state tax returns.

States across the U.S. are working together and looking for patterns with these suspicious tax returns and trying to see which tax returns are legitimate and which are fraudulent.

"States are taking this seriously and want to make sure legitimate taxpayers can file," said Gale Garriott, director of the Federation of Tax Administrators, according to USA Today.

Tax filers often do not find out they have been victimized by these tax thieves until it is too late. The victims try to file their own taxes, and when they click submit, they get a rejection message saying their taxes have already been filed.

What do you think of the cases of fraud involving TurboTax software? Do you use software to file your taxes? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think.

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