You can request an IRS Identity Protection PIN before becoming a victim of tax-related identity theft, even if you are not required to file a tax return. You need a Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) and must verify your identity.

The six-digit IP PIN helps the IRS verify an electronic or paper return and prevents someone else from filing one using your SSN or ITIN. Parents and legal guardians can also request a PIN for dependents.

Start with your IRS online account

The fastest route is the IP PIN section of your profile in your IRS online account. If you do not have an account, register and validate your identity first. The IRS enrollment page[1] provides the official starting point.

Anyone under 18, including a dependent, must use an alternative enrollment method.

If you cannot establish an online account

You can submit Form 15227 online if you cannot establish an IRS online account and meet all of these conditions:

  • You have a valid SSN or ITIN.
  • Adjusted gross income on your last filed return is below $84,000 for an individual or $168,000 for married filing jointly.
  • You have access to a telephone.

The IRS calls the number on the form to validate your identity. After verification, it usually mails the IP PIN within four to six weeks.

If you cannot verify your identity online or through Form 15227, or you are ineligible for that form, make an appointment at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center. Bring one federal or state-issued photo ID and one additional form of identification. For a dependent's enrollment, bring those documents for yourself plus two forms of identification for the dependent; the IRS gives a birth certificate and Social Security card as examples.

After in-person verification, the PIN usually arrives by mail within three weeks. People enrolled through these alternative methods receive their PIN annually by mail.

Use the current year's PIN when filing

An IP PIN lasts one calendar year, and a new code is generated each year. If you opted in online, retrieve the code from your online account each calendar year; the IRS does not mail you a CP01A notice. It is generally available online from mid-January through mid-November.

The IP PIN is used only on Forms 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-PR, 1040-SR and 1040-SS. Use the current code when filing those forms during the calendar year, including returns for earlier tax years. A wrong or missing PIN can cause rejection of an electronic return or delay a paper return. People who use the one-time enrollment option are opted out at the end of the calendar year.

Enter the PIN when your tax software prompts you. Share it only with your trusted tax preparer when you are ready to sign and submit the return. The IRS says it never asks for your IP PIN: calls, emails or texts requesting it are scams.