For taxpayers who receive an IRS IP PIN annually, be on the lookout in January 2022 for a letter from the IRS with your 2021 IP PIN number. These letters, IRS Notice CP01A, are sent out annually to taxpayers via the US mail. Be sure to retain this notice with your other annual tax documents and provide a copy to your tax preparer this winter as the IP PIN is needed to file your tax return electronically.
The purpose of the IP PIN is to enhance security when electronically filing your tax return. The 6-digit number prevents someone else from filing a fraudulent tax return using your social security number. Each year the IRS will send taxpayers a new 6-digit code to be used on their individual tax return. Prior to January 2021, IP PINs were only available to taxpayers that had a prior year tax return fraudulently filed using their social security number. Beginning with personal tax returns being filed for the 2020 tax year, the IRS expanded their security program by allowing all taxpayers to obtain an IP PIN.
Taxpayers can obtain their own IP PIN at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
Or if you never received your annual IRS Notice CP01A from the IRS or lost your copy of the notice, you can retrieve your current year IP PIN at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin
Need my pin number
Hi Angela, If you had an IP PIN issued before but never received your annual IRS Notice CP01A from the IRS or lost your copy of the notice, you can retrieve your current year IP PIN at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin
I want to file my taxes for 2020 but I did not get my ip pin for 2021 I only have 2020 and 2022 what do I do
Hi Rosa, Just to clarify – you’re looking for an IP PIN to file a previous year’s return (2020 tax return that was due April 2021). If so, you should first still try to retrieve the ID PIN at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin.
If you can’t retrieve your IP PIN for a previous filing year(s) through the IRS system, then you must file the 2020 tax return on paper. If you file electronically, it will be rejected. Here are instructions to file on paper: https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment
It sounds from your description that you’ve received the IP PIN for THIS year’s filing (2021 tax return due April 2022) so you wouldn’t need to file on paper for the current year.
I need to verify my identification pin so I can get my return backfrom 2022
Hi Donna, You can retrieve an IP Pin on the IRS site – visit https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
You can go online to get one you just have to make an account
How do I opt out of the IP PIN?
Hi Khalia, Currently you can’t “opt out” once you are in the IRS IP PIN program. The IRS has said it plans to offer an opt-out feature sometime in 2022 but it’s expected to only be offered to people who voluntarily signed up for an IP PIN. For taxpayers that are confirmed victims of identity theft, it isn’t expected that they’ll be eligible to opt-out.
Until the IRS rolls out a change to the program, you still must use an IP PIN to confirm your identity on all federal tax returns you file this year and in subsequent tax years. If you e-file your return and your IP PIN is missing or incorrect, the IRS will reject your return. An IP PIN is valid for one calendar year and the IRS will send a new IP PIN each year to you.
Did the IRS even send out Ipin numbers for 2020 or 2021? (With the Virus lock
down and staff shortages)
I haven’t received mine on a few years now.
Hi Aaron, the IRS did send out notices for both years. We did notice some clients receiving them later than others. If you haven’t gotten one in a few years, I’d suggest calling in to the IRS (I know – its everyone’s least favorite thing to do!). I’d want to confirm they have your correct address and have you listed correctly as someone who receives an IP PIN every year.
how can i get my ip pin
Hi Tony, If you haven’t had an IP PIN before, you can get your own at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
If you had one issued before but never received your annual IRS Notice CP01A from the IRS or lost your copy of the notice, you can retrieve your current year IP PIN at: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin
Please confirm which IP PIN is for filing a 2021 tax return in 2022.
I have an IP PIN issued in 2021 and a new IP PIN issued yesterday. My accountant is insisting that he must use the 2021 IP PIN for my 2021 tax return but when he efiled the return he got an error saying the pin doesn’t match my information. He has now told me to call the IRS to straighten this out. Not easy to get through. Please help!
Hi Barbara, Your accountant should enter the IP PIN you received in 2022 to file any return he’s trying to submit in 2022, including your 2021 tax return:
From the IRS website: “If we assigned you an IP PIN, you must use it to confirm your identity on any return filed during the current calendar year. This includes current year returns as well as any delinquent tax returns.” – https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-identity-protection-personal-identification-number-ip-pin#q15”
You can also confirm with them online using their “Get an IP PIN” (when you log in, it should confirm the active/most recent IP PIN issued to you). You can also call 800-908-4490 (Mon-Fri 7am-7pm).
Thank you so much. That is exactly what the IRS website states. I don’t know why he doesn’t seem to believe it. I really appreciate your responding so quickly.
I don’t receive the IP PIN number to file my 2021 Taxes. I went to the IRS website and look under my account, I only have the IP PIN for 2020? Apparently, they don’t issue me a number for 2021. Any suggestion?
Not easy to get a hold of a person.
Thanks
Hi Darla, you’ll need to call the IRS, which is a challenge this time of year (call 800-908-4490, Mon-Fri 7am-7pm). Another thing you can try – this Saturday April 9 they have Face-to-Face Help at various locations in the US https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-face-to-face-saturday-help
It may still take 7-21 days to receive an IP PIN in the mail so I’d recommend you file for an Extension of Time to cover your bases while you’re waiting to get the IP PIN. Extension forms don’t require an IP PIN and extend when you need to file the actual return until Oct. 17. You can find more info and a link to file an extension for free online at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return.
** Also make sure you check your state tax returns – many give an automatic extension of time to file the state return if you extend the US but not all do. Check your state’s Dept. of Revenue website for what they require for extensions. Hope that helps.
Hi I received a letter in the mail from IRS requesting my identity verification because I haven’t filed taxes in years. So I recently logged into the IRS Idveriify app and was connected with a live person on a video call to upload my information which was successful. I then received another letter from IRS saying that my identity was verified. The letter also states if it was me then I don’t need to do anything at this. But it has been weeks already and still haven’t received my federal refund on my prepaid American Express card and I’m not able to access the IRS.gov refund info. So what should I do at this time because it’s almost April 15th which is the last day to do anything. What can I do to find out the status of my federal refund
My accountant said my 2021 fed return was rejected due to duplicate ssn filing. I then was told to file a paper return. Prior to picking up my paper return I requested and received a 2022 IP Pin. My accountant told me not to use that IP Pin as that would be for next year filing (2022 taxes filed April 2023). I figured they knew what they were talking about, so I followed their instructions and did not enter the IP PIn on my 2021 taxes file April 2022. I just read the FAQ on IRS and it indicates that I am supposed to use the IP Pin I just received April 2022 saying Jan 2022 year on all tax returns present and past. What do I do now? Do I send another paper copy of my return and include the IP Pin or where they correct that this IP Pin is for filing next year?
I’m new to this identity protection pin . However I did receive one for 2021 do I use that for my 2022? I’m so confused with this please help
Hi Lissa, You’ll need to use your current year’s IP PIN to file any returns this year. IP PIN’s are issued each year and are valid for any return filed within that year. You can retrieve your latest IP PIN here: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin
Hello,
I had identity theft several years ago. Since then I get a IP Pin from the irs every year on
a CP01A form.
I submitted my Federal return electronically this year in 2023 with the correct pin that was listed on my CP01A form.
My return was rejected because my AP Pin in was wrong.
When i checked what pin was on my return, I had in fact entered the correct IP PIN.
I tried to re file again with the pin the irs sent me and it still rejected my return. I am lost and do not know what to do.
So basically the IP PIN they sent me does not work.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You
I received an IP PIN on a form CP01A form dated January 9,2023.
I entered the correct pin into my 2021 return.
It was rejected because it says the pin is incorrect.
I double checked the pin, and I entered the correct pin..
I triple checked and made sure the pin was entered correctly and
re filed my return. It was rejected again for an incorrect pin.
I then went to the IRS website and logged in. The IP PIN that was listed
was the same one that was sent to me on the CP01A form.
I do not know what to do now. I am stuck in limbo.
Any help would be appreciated