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Error 1615: Not Able to Validate Site or Security Certificate When E-filing

This situation occurs when you're attempting to e-file your return and you get one of the following error messages:

  • Unable to validate site certificate
  • Could not validate the security certificate of your server
How to resolve this error

This can happen if the date on your computer is set incorrectly. Or, you can also get this error if a security component on your system, called the Trusted Root Certificate, is corrupt and can't validate a secure connection with TurboTax.

Verify your computer's system date
  1. From the taskbar in Microsoft Windows, select Start, select Settings, and then select Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Date/Time icon.
  3. If necessary, correct your date and time settings, and then select OK.
  4. Try e-filing your return again.
  5. If your system date is correct and you are still unable to e-file, follow the steps below to update your certificate.

Note: If you are accessing your return from a CD or floppy disk and not your hard drive, your return might have taken on an incorrect date from the previous computer. For a resolution, try this:

  • Copy the return to your hard drive and use that copy when you e-file your return. OR
  • Make a change to your return, save the file to the floppy disk, undo the change, and then save the file again. This replaces the incorrect date on the disk with the correct date from your computer.
Update your security certificate
  1. If you've verified your date and time settings and the problem persists, go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and select Custom to install the latest software updates.
  2. At the Pick updates to install screen, select the Review and install updates link.
  3. Make sure the update list includes Update Trusted Root Certificates (or something similar to this), and then select the Install Now button.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions, including restarting your computer.
  5. Restart TurboTax and try e-filing again.
Still can't e-file?

If you are still unable to e-file or if you experience problems with the instructions above, another option is to uninstall and reinstall Internet Explorer. For instructions on how to do this, refer to the Microsoft Knowledge Base article "Information About How to Reinstall Internet Explorer" at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=258893. (Or, visit the Microsoft site at www.microsoft.com and search for KB258893.)

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