An IRS Identity Protection PIN Can Help Guard Your Tax Return

A fraudulent tax return can delay a refund for months, and resolving identity theft can take far longer. A six-digit IRS Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, adds a check to electronic filing: the IRS rejects a return filed with your Social Security number if it does not include your assigned code.

The online enrollment tool is scheduled to go offline from mid-November through mid-January for maintenance. If you want an IP PIN, the practical step is to enroll before that shutdown. The code can’t undo identity theft, but it can help prevent someone else from filing a return in your name.

Why a first filing can cause trouble

Tax-related identity theft often starts with personal information exposed in data breaches or obtained from online criminal markets. A scammer can use a name, date of birth and Social Security number to create a false return, report fabricated wages or withholding, and claim credits to inflate a refund. The money may be directed to an account or prepaid card that’s difficult to trace.

Fraudsters may prepare returns before filing season opens, rather than waiting for taxpayers to start submitting theirs. That timing matters: people often discover the problem only when they try to file and learn that a return using their Social Security number has already been submitted.

The delay can be costly and exhausting. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s report says identity theft cases take an average of about two years to close. The National Taxpayer Advocate, Erin M. Collins, described the resulting refund delays as “financial hardships,” and said the process is “frustrating, burdensome, difficult to navigate, and time-consuming” in a report.

There’s a broader financial cost, too. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration says the IRS paid taxpayers more than $124.2 million in refund interest over the past two years because of resolution delays. The IRS also says it protected $7 billion in fraudulent refunds across 2024 and 2025. Those figures show why prevention can matter even when a fraudulent return is eventually resolved.

What the PIN does, and when to enroll

An IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to a taxpayer. Once the IRS associates it with a Social Security number, an electronically filed return using that number must include the matching PIN. The IRS issues an updated PIN each January to people enrolled in the program.

Enrollment is voluntary and open to taxpayers, including people who aren’t required to file a federal return this year. But having an online account doesn’t automatically enroll you. If you haven’t opted in, don’t assume a new PIN will arrive in January.

The IRS calls an IP PIN its most effective way for taxpayers to help prevent tax-related identity theft. Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said in a recent reminder that protecting online account credentials and obtaining a PIN can help people file with greater confidence.

Enrollment has expanded beyond people who have already experienced tax fraud or meet particular location requirements. About 51 million individuals use an IRS Individual Online Account to manage tax matters, review past records and, if they choose, request a PIN. The IRS IP PIN page explains the program.

Steps to take before the tool closes

1. Set up or check your online account. Visit IRS.gov and follow the identity verification steps using ID.me. If you already have an account, sign in now and confirm that your password and multi-factor authentication work.
2. Request a PIN. In your account, find the profile or security settings and open the “Get an IP PIN” tool. Complete enrollment before the mid-November maintenance period begins.
3. Keep the new code private. When the IRS issues your updated PIN in January, handle it like a bank PIN or password. Share it only with a trusted, verified tax preparer when you’re ready to file, if you use one.
4. Consider dependents and children. Unused Social Security numbers can also be targeted. Adult dependents can sign in to their own accounts and enroll. For a minor child, a parent or guardian can request a PIN by mailing Form 15227 if adjusted gross income is below $84,000 for a single filer or $168,000 for a married couple.

If you can’t verify your identity online, or your income exceeds the listed limit for requesting a child’s PIN by mail, the source advises arranging an in-person verification appointment at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center. The office locator can help you find a center.

An IP PIN is a preventive measure, not a guarantee that personal information can’t be misused. Still, the enrollment window gives taxpayers a clear action to take before filing season: verify account access, opt in, and store the January code securely.