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- Anyone with a Social Security number or ITIN who can verify their identity may request a free six-digit IRS Identity Protection PIN, even if they have never experienced tax-related identity theft.
- The fastest option is the IRS Individual Online Account. If online identity verification doesn’t work, eligible taxpayers may use Form 15227 or request in-person help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center.
- Your IP PIN is valid for one calendar year and must be entered correctly on applicable federal tax returns. The IRS will never call, email, or text you to request it.
What is an IRS Identity Protection PIN?
An IRS Identity Protection PIN, commonly called an IP PIN, is a unique six-digit number that helps the IRS verify your identity when you file a federal income tax return. It is designed to prevent someone else from using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to submit a fraudulent return in your name.
The program is voluntary for most taxpayers, but it becomes required once the IRS assigns you an IP PIN. Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can complete the IRS identity-verification process may enroll. You don’t have to be a confirmed identity-theft victim, and you don’t necessarily have to file a tax return to request one.
As of September 11, 2026, the IRS allows taxpayers to enroll either continuously or for the current calendar year only through their online account. A new number is generated each year.
Open the official IRS Identity Protection PIN page
Who can get an IP PIN?
Generally, you’re eligible if you have one of the following:
- A valid Social Security number.
- A valid Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
- The ability to verify your identity with the IRS.
Parents and legal guardians can also request an IP PIN for dependents. The process can be different for dependents under 18, especially when the child cannot create or verify an IRS online account.
If the IRS confirmed that you were a victim of tax-related identity theft, it may enroll you automatically. In that situation, you’ll generally receive a CP01A notice with your new IP PIN each year. Taxpayers who voluntarily enroll online usually retrieve the number through their IRS account instead of receiving a CP01A notice by mail.
What protection does an IP PIN provide?
The IP PIN acts as an additional identity check on eligible federal income tax returns. A thief may have your SSN or ITIN, but a fraudulent return should not pass the IRS identity check without the correct six-digit number.
An IP PIN is valid for one calendar year. If you receive one, you must use it on applicable returns filed during that calendar year, including current-year and prior-year federal returns filed during that period. The number is used with Forms 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, 1040-PR, 1040-SS, and 1040-X.
It does not guarantee that a return will be accepted or that a refund will be issued. It is one identity-protection measure, not a substitute for checking your credit, securing your email account, or reporting suspected identity theft.
How to get an IRS IP PIN online
The online route is the quickest way to request and retrieve an IP PIN. You’ll need to create or access an IRS Individual Online Account and complete the identity-verification process.
Sign in to or create an IRS Individual Online Account
- Open the official IRS IP PIN page or sign in to your IRS Individual Online Account.
- Choose the IP PIN option in the Profile section.
- Complete the identity-verification steps if you’re a new account user.
- Select continuous enrollment or one-time enrollment when offered.
- View your current six-digit IP PIN and keep it in a secure place.
Continuous enrollment keeps you in the program for future calendar years. One-time enrollment covers the current calendar year and automatically ends at the end of that year.
The online IP PIN service is generally available from mid-January through mid-November. During the annual maintenance period, taxpayers may need to wait until the service becomes available again.
What to do if online verification doesn’t work
Use Form 15227 if you meet the income requirements
If you can’t establish an IRS online account, you may be able to request an IP PIN with Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number. This alternative is available when your adjusted gross income on your most recently filed return is below $84,000 for an individual or $168,000 for married filing jointly.
You’ll also need a valid SSN or ITIN and access to a telephone. The IRS uses the phone number on the form to contact you and verify your identity. Once approved, the IRS generally mails the IP PIN within four to six weeks.
Do not use Form 15227 to replace a lost IP PIN or request another copy of a number the IRS already assigned. Use the retrieval or reissue process instead.
Review and complete Form 15227 for an IP PIN request
Request in-person help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center
If you can’t verify your identity online and don’t qualify for Form 15227, you may request an IP PIN at a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. An appointment is required.
Bring one federal or state-issued photo ID and one additional identity document for yourself. If you’re requesting an IP PIN for a dependent, you’ll generally need identification for both yourself and the dependent. The IRS says an IP PIN obtained through in-person authentication is usually mailed within about three weeks.
Find an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center
How to use your IP PIN when filing
Enter the six-digit number when your tax software prompts you, or give it to your trusted tax professional when the return is ready to be prepared and submitted. The IP PIN is separate from the five-digit self-selected PIN used as an electronic signature.
For a joint return, each spouse must enter their own IP PIN if both have been assigned one. If a dependent has an IP PIN, it may also need to be included with the dependent-related information on the federal return and certain supporting schedules.
A missing or incorrect IP PIN can cause an electronically filed return to be rejected. A paper return may take longer while the IRS verifies the taxpayer’s identity. If your return is rejected, check whether the IP PIN belongs to you, your spouse, or a dependent, then retrieve the correct number before resubmitting.
Lost IP PINs, CP01A notices, and filing delays
If you were assigned an IP PIN but lost it, first sign in to your IRS Individual Online Account and look in your Profile section. If you can’t retrieve it online, the IRS may reissue it by mail after verifying your identity by phone.
U.S. taxpayers can call 800-908-4490 for specialized IP PIN assistance. The IRS says a reissued number is generally mailed within 21 days when phone verification is successful. A minor’s IP PIN may require a phone request because it cannot always be retrieved online.
Don’t submit Form 15227 if the IRS has already assigned you an IP PIN. That form is for a new enrollment request, not for replacing a lost number.
Retrieve or request a reissue of a lost IP PIN
How to avoid IP PIN scams
Protect your IP PIN like a password. The IRS will not email, text, or call you unexpectedly to ask for the number. A message demanding your IP PIN, threatening arrest, or promising a faster refund is a strong warning sign.
- Use IRS.gov by typing the address yourself rather than clicking an unexpected message.
- Never post your IP PIN in an email, text, social media message, or online form that isn’t an official IRS service.
- Share it with a tax professional only when the return is ready to be prepared and filed.
- Be cautious of anyone claiming they can sell, unlock, or “reset” an IP PIN.
- If you receive a suspicious email pretending to be from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov.
If you believe someone filed a fraudulent return using your information, report the identity-theft issue through the IRS identity-theft guidance rather than trying to solve it by requesting a second IP PIN.
Report suspected tax-related identity theft to the IRS
The safest next step
If you want proactive protection and can verify your identity, start with the official IRS IP PIN tool or your IRS Individual Online Account. If that route fails, check whether you qualify for Form 15227 before arranging an in-person appointment. Keep the number private, retrieve a new one each year, and enter it carefully on every applicable federal return.
Helpful Links
- Get an identity protection PIN – Review eligibility, enrollment options, filing rules, and IP PIN security guidance.
- IRS Identity Protection PIN frequently asked questions – Find answers about dependents, joint returns, rejected returns, lost numbers, and identity verification.
- IRS Individual Online Account – Create or access an IRS account and manage your IP PIN through the Profile section.
- Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number – Review the current January 2026 form and eligibility requirements for the alternative enrollment process.
- IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator – Find a local Taxpayer Assistance Center before calling to schedule an appointment.
- Lost or missing IP PIN guidance – Retrieve an assigned IP PIN online or learn how to request a mailed reissue.
- Reporting identity theft – Official page referenced in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is an IRS IP PIN free?
A. Yes. The IRS provides IP PIN enrollment and retrieval at no charge. Be suspicious of anyone asking you to pay for an IP PIN or promising special access to the IRS program.
Q. Does everyone need an IP PIN to file taxes?
A. No. Most taxpayers may choose whether to enroll. However, if the IRS assigned you an IP PIN or you opted into the program, you must enter the correct number on applicable federal returns filed during that calendar year.
Q. Can my tax preparer request an IP PIN for me?
A. No. Tax professionals cannot request an IP PIN on a client’s behalf. You must complete the IRS identity-verification and enrollment process yourself, although you may give the number to your trusted preparer when the return is ready to file.
Q. What happens if I forget my IP PIN before filing?
A. Retrieve it through your IRS Individual Online Account. If that isn’t possible, call the IRS specialized IP PIN line at 800-908-4490 for identity verification and possible reissue by mail. Do not file Form 15227 if the IRS has already assigned you an IP PIN.
