IRS Identity Protection PIN — Block Tax Return Fraud Before It Happens
What Is It?
An IP PIN is a six-digit number known only to you and the IRS that helps prevent someone else from filing a tax return using your SSN or ITIN.
What Most People Don’t Know
- You do not need to be a prior identity-theft victim to get one.
- Dependents can have IP PINs too through parents or guardians.
- The protection works on both paper and electronic returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can get an IP PIN?
A: The IRS says anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify identity is eligible, and parents or legal guardians can request one for dependents.
Is it just for people already hit by fraud?
A: No. The IRS explicitly allows proactive enrollment.