IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN): what it is, who should get one, and how to enroll

An IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a free, six-digit number that helps prevent scammers from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You can get one through your IRS online account or in person, even if you’ve never experienced tax-related identity theft. The PIN changes every calendar year, and you’ll need the current one when filing your federal tax return.

The IRS online tool is expected to be unavailable from mid-November through mid-January, so plan ahead if you want to enroll soon.

What is an IRS Identity Protection PIN?

An IRS Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, is a six-digit number that helps the IRS confirm your identity when you file a federal tax return.

Think of it as an extra layer of verification, so even if someone gets hold of your Social Security number, they can't successfully e-file a return in your name without the correct PIN if one is required. Your IP PIN is unique to you and should be kept private. It also changes every calendar year, so you'll need the current year's number when you file your taxes.

People get an IP PIN in one of two ways.

1. The IRS enrolls you automatically. If you’ve been a confirmed victim of tax-related identity theft, the IRS puts you in the program and mails your new PIN each year on a CP01A notice¹.

2. You sign up on your own. You don’t have to wait for something to go wrong. The IRS lets anyone request an IP PIN² as a preventive step, even in a year when you aren’t required to file.

That second route is the one most people reading this will take. It’s free, it’s voluntary, and it’s one of the few protections that come directly from the IRS itself.

How an IP PIN protects your tax return

Tax refund fraud is surprisingly low-tech. Someone gets hold of your Social Security number, often from a data breach, files a return in your name before you do, and has the refund sent to an account they control. Most people find out their Social Security number was stolen the hard way. They go to file, and their return bounces back because “you” already filed.

Here’s a closer look at how scammers steal tax refunds.

An IP PIN breaks that pattern. The IRS uses it to verify your identity when you submit your federal tax return. Someone who has your SSN or ITIN but doesn't have your current IP PIN can't successfully e-file a return that requires one.

What that means in practice:

• If someone tries to file a return using your information: They'll need your current IP PIN, too. Without it, their e-filed return will be rejected if an IP PIN is required.

• If you forget to include your PIN: Your own e-filed return will be rejected if the IRS requires one. You'll need to enter the correct number and resubmit.

• If you file a paper return: A missing or incorrect PIN can delay processing while the IRS verifies your information.

An IP PIN isn't a substitute for protecting your personal information, but it can make it harder for someone to use stolen details to claim your tax refund.

Who can get an IP PIN?

Pretty much anyone. If you have a Social Security number or ITIN and can verify your identity, the IRS will give you one. You don’t need a history of identity theft, and you don’t even need to be filing a tax return that year.

Where it gets a little more specific is with households.

• Everyone gets their own IP PIN. There’s no joint or family PIN. If you and your spouse both enroll, you’ll each have a separate code, and each of you enters your own on a joint return.

• Kids can have one too. Parents and legal guardians can request a PIN for a dependent. Children’s SSNs are an easy target because they often sit unused for years, so nobody notices when they’re misused.

• The IRS online tool doesn’t work for minors. You’ll need to use IP PIN Form 15227³ or book an in-person appointment instead.

Your SSN shows up in more places than your tax return. An IP PIN locks down one use of it. For the rest, see our complete guide to protecting your Social Security number.

How to get an IP PIN

There are three ways to sign up for an IP PIN, and the right one depends mostly on whether you can verify your identity online.

Here's how each option works.

Option 1: Use the IRS online tool

This is the quickest option, and most adults can finish it in one sitting.

1. Go to the IRS Get an IP PIN page and sign in to your IRS online account. If you don’t have one yet, you’ll create it and verify your identity through ID.me.

2. Open the Profile tab and find the IP PIN section.

3. Choose how you want to enroll. Continuous enrollment keeps you in the program year after year. One-time enrollment covers just the current calendar year.

4. Your PIN shows up on screen right away.

Keep in mind that if you enroll online, the IRS won’t mail you a new code each year. You’ll log back in to get it.

Option 2: Apply with IP PIN Form 15227

This is for people who can’t get an IP PIN through online verification. You can apply via Form 15227 if all of these are true:

• You have an SSN or ITIN.

• You don’t already have an IP PIN.

• Your adjusted gross income on your last return was under $84,000, or under $168,000 if you’re married filing jointly.

• You have a phone number the IRS can reach you at.

Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out Form 15227⁴ online.

2. Wait for a call from the IRS to verify your identity.

3. Watch your mailbox. Your PIN usually arrives within four to six weeks, and you'll receive a new one each year after that.

Option 3: Enroll in person

If neither of the first two options works for you, you can book an appointment at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center.

1. Find your nearest office with the IRS office locator⁵, or call 844-545-5640 to schedule.

2. Bring one government-issued photo ID and one additional form of identification. If you’re enrolling a dependent, bring your ID plus two documents for them, such as a birth certificate and Social Security card.

3. Your PIN usually arrives by mail in four to six weeks.

When should you get an IP PIN, and when is the tool open?

Sooner rather than later, and here’s why. The IRS online tool isn’t available year-round. You can view IP PINs online from mid-January through mid-November. That leaves a stretch of about two months, right before tax season, when you can’t sign up or look up your code online.

So if you want a PIN in place before you file, the easiest window is before mid-November.

Here’s how the yearly cycle works once you’re enrolled:

• Your PIN changes every year. Each code is good for one calendar year. Last year’s PIN won’t work on this year’s return.

• Mailed PINs arrive in winter. If the IRS mails your PIN, it sends a CP01A notice with your new code between mid-December and early January.

• Online PINs need a login. If you enrolled online, you won't receive anything in the mail. You’ll sign back in to get your new code once the tool reopens, starting in early to mid-January.

Dates current as of October 2026. The IRS can adjust its schedule, so check the IRS site for the latest updates.

What an IP PIN doesn’t protect

An IP PIN does one job, and it does it well. It stops someone from filing a federal tax return with your SSN. That’s the whole scope.

It won’t protect you from:

• New credit in your name. Someone with your SSN can still try to open a credit card or loan.

• Fraud on accounts you already have. Bank accounts, credit cards, and payment apps all need their own safeguards.

• State tax return fraud. The IP PIN is for federal returns only. Some states have their own programs, so check with your state tax agency.

• Scams that target you directly. If someone tricks you into handing over money or information, an IP PIN can’t step in.

The simplest companion to an IP PIN is a credit freeze. It’s free at all three bureaus⁶, and it makes it much harder for anyone to open new accounts in your name.

You can also monitor your credit and watch for signs that someone is misusing your personal information. OmniWatch offers identity theft protection and credit monitoring for risks an IP PIN doesn't cover.

What if you lose your IP PIN or it doesn’t work?

It happens. The letter gets tossed with the junk mail, or you enrolled online last year and can’t remember where to find it. Either way, you’ll need the code to e-file, but getting it back is usually simple.

If you lost your IP PIN or never received it:

1. Look it up online first. Sign in to your IRS online account and check the Profile tab. The IRS has a page on what to do if you lost or didn’t receive your IP PIN⁷.

2. Call if you can’t get in. The IRS identity theft line is 800-908-4490, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. After verifying your identity, they’ll mail your PIN to your address on file within 21 days.

3. Don’t reapply. Form 15227 is for new enrollments only. Filing it again won’t get you a replacement.

If your return is rejected because of a missing or incorrect PIN, double-check that you're using the current year's number. The reject code will also tell you whose PIN is missing or wrong, whether it’s yours, your spouse’s, or a dependent’s. Retrieve the right code, enter it, and resubmit.

Can You Skip an IP PIN or Opt Out?

Getting an IP PIN is voluntary for most taxpayers, so you don't have to enroll if you don't want one. If you choose the one-time enrollment option, your participation ends automatically at the end of that calendar year. You'll need to enroll again if you want another PIN.

Prefer to keep the extra protection year after year? Choose continuous enrollment instead. You'll still need to retrieve your new PIN each year through your IRS online account, though, but you won’t have to re-enroll.

If the IRS automatically enrolled you because of tax-related identity theft, different rules may apply. You may not be eligible to opt out of the program.

You can check your enrollment options in your IRS online account.

Frequently asked questions

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This guide is published by OmniWatch. Follow OmniWatch on Facebook for ongoing guidance on identity protection, digital safety, and scam awareness.

*Restrictions and exclusions apply, click here to read full details of insurance coverage.

SOURCES:

¹ IRS, Understanding Your CP01A Notice. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp01a-notice

² IRS, Get an Identity Protection PIN. https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

³ IRS, Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (Online). https://www.irs.gov/dmaf/form/f15227

⁴ IRS, Form 15227, Application for an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (PDF). https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f15227.pdf

⁵ IRS, Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator. https://apps.irs.gov/app/office-locator/

⁶ FTC, Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/credit-freezes-and-fraud-alerts

⁷ IRS, Didn’t Receive or Lost Your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/didnt-receive-or-lost-your-identity-protection-pin-ip-pin