How to get my personal identification number from the irs

A Virginia Tax personal identification number (PIN) is a unique identifier assigned to eligible Virginia taxpayers to help protect against tax refund fraud. 

Things to know

• We mail new PINs to eligible taxpayers each year by the end of December or early January. You do not need to request a new one each year. We will send it automatically.  
• Your PIN is only active for the calendar year for which it was assigned. Do not use an expired PIN on your tax return.
• If you don’t use your PIN when you file, it will cause a delay in processing. 
• If you haven't included a PIN on your last 2 tax returns, we will remove you from the PIN list. You won't receive a new one unless you request it. See How to request a Virginia Tax PIN. 
• Your PIN is for filing your Virginia tax return only. Do not use your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) issued by the IRS on your Virginia tax return.
• Never share your PIN with anyone other than a tax professional filing your return. 

How to use your PIN

• You must use your Virginia PIN and Social Security number on all Virginia individual income returns you file during the calendar year. 
• If you’re filing electronically through Free File or other approved tax preparation software, your tax software will prompt you to enter your PIN. 
• If you’re filing on paper or using Free Fillable Forms, enter your current PIN in the “ID Theft PIN" box. 
• You must file prior year returns on paper. For tax years after 2017, enter your PIN in the “ID Theft PIN" box. For earlier tax years, enter your PIN in the "Office Use Only" box. 
• You only need to use one PIN on a joint tax return, even if you and your spouse were both issued a PIN. Either PIN is acceptable. 

What to do if you lose your PIN or didn’t receive a new one in the mail 

• If we issued you a PIN and you lost it or you didn't receive a new one in the mail, call customer services at 804.367.8031. We will verify your identity and mail you a replacement PIN within 15 days.  
• If we issue a new PIN, any previously issued PINs will be deactivated. If you find your original PIN after requesting a new one, you should discard the PIN and wait for the new one to arrive.
• If you use an old or incorrect PIN on your return, it will cause a delay in processing. 

How to request a Virginia Tax PIN

If you are a victim of identity theft and need to file a Virginia income tax return, and want the added protection of a Virginia Tax PIN, send us the following:

• A letter explaining how your personal information was compromised.
• Your full legal name
• Your Social Security number or tax ID number issued by the IRS
• Your current address
• A clear copy of a government-issued ID card, such as a Virginia driver’s license, Virginia identification card issued by DMV, or a voter registration card with your current name and address 
• Documents showing you are a victim of identity theft. This could be a letter from an employer, an insurance company, a hospital, a broker, or a police report if one was filed.
• Daytime phone number where you can be reached 

Where to mail your PIN request:

Department of Taxation
Compliance Section, RAP Unit 1
PO Box 27003 
Richmond, VA 23261-7003

Once we review your information, we will contact you if we have questions, or we will mail a PIN to the address provided before filing season starts.  

IP-PIN for 2021 Returns in 2022

Lincoln, USA
@noahbuscher

The Identity Protection Personal Identification Number or IP-PIN is an extra layer of personal identity security. Protect yourself from tax related identity theft. Attention: We strongly encourage you to obtain your own IP-PIN to protect your 2021 Tax Return.

The IP-PIN is assigned in the form of a six-digit number, e.g. 123456, by the IRS to qualifying taxpayers as protection of their social security number not being used fraudulently or by mistake on their 2021 Income Tax Returns.

See also: Why was my tax return rejected? What to do if the IRS rejected my return for an invalid IP PIN?

Important: When e-filing your 2021 Return in 2022, use these key points to e-file successfully and avoid rejection:

• Enter all your IP PINs for you and your family. If you and/or your spouse have an IP PIN, enter this when you e-file your return on eFile.com. If your dependent or dependents have IP PINs, enter these on the dependent screen within your eFile account.
• The IRS issues an IP PIN each year, thus, your IP PIN last year is no longer valid. The IRS should issue you Notice CP01A with your IP PIN; otherwise, you will need to retrieve your most recently issued IP PIN.
  • You can retrieve this online using the resources below.
• The IRS-issued IP PIN and your five-digit signature PIN are two separate numbers. Your PIN is one you create which acts as an electronic signature on your return; the IRS IP PIN is used for identity verification.

If you are rejected, you can re-file your return at no extra cost once you retrieve your IP PIN.

How to Apply for an Identity Protection PIN

When you prepare and eFile your 2021 Taxes on eFile.com, you will be asked to enter your IP-PIN during checkout. That number will then be used to verify your identity with the IRS. If the IP-PIN you entered does not match the one on record, the return will be rejected. At that point, you can re-enter the IP-PIN or apply for a new one.

Before you apply for your personal Identity Protection PIN, review these points first:

• A primary taxpayer, secondary taxpayer (spouse), or a dependent can obtain an IP-PIN upon proof of identity. Any taxpayer who can properly verify their identity is eligible for the Opt-In Program to obtain an IP-PIN.
• Prove your identity via a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).
• The IP PIN is only valid for one year and must be renewed annually which the IRS should handle for registered taxpayers automatically.
  • If it is not automatic, you will need to retrieve it if you do not receive it for any reason.
• Applying online for the IP PIN is fast and secure. In addition, it is the only method to obtain the IP PIN immediately available to the taxpayer.
• Taxpayers who voluntarily apply or opt-in to the IP PIN program do not need to submit Form 14039 - Identity Theft Affidavit.
• During 2022, taxpayers will have the option to opt-out from the IP PIN program.
• An incorrectly entered IP PIN on an electronically filed tax return or extension will result in a temporary rejection. This can be corrected by entering the correct IP PIN and re-efiling at no charge.

Part of the IP PIN application is the registration process of your IRS account.

IRS Service Account Registration

Important: The IRS is migrating all old accounts and requiring new users to create and link an ID.me account. ID.me is a safe way to assure your identity is protected when accessing your tax information to help reduce tax fraud and/or identity theft. You will need the same information below to create this. As of February 7, 2022, the IRS is no longer requiring you to partake in a face-scan or "live selfie" that matches your government or state issued identification. This new feature was supposed to secure your identity through biometric data, but saw backlash and the IRS reverted this requirement.

By applying for an IP-PIN, you also register your IRS account where you can retrieve your tax returns and your IRS payment history over time. Here is what you will need to verify your identity during the 15 minute IRS account and IP PIN registration process:

• A valid email address; check your spam folder during the process as you might get emails from the IRS.
• Your valid Social Security Number - SSN - or Individual Tax Identification Number - ITIN.
• The tax filing status of your latest tax return; obtain a copy digitally or retrieve a physical copy.
• The mailing address on that tax return; enter the exact address as shown on the last return. If you just filed a return with a new address, try entering the old address as that might still be stored.
• In case of a PO Box address, enter 'PO Box" in the ‘Address Line 1‘ field with no periods and the number; e.g. PO Box 123. 
• Military Address: Enter APO, FPO or DPO as the ‘City’ and select/enter AA, AE, or AP from the ‘State/U.S. Territory’ dropdown.
• A foreign address can only be registered for the online payment portal, not IP-PIN, transcript, etc. See more: information on taxes for foreign aliens and U.S. Citizens and resident aliens working or living abroad.
• Financial account number(s) linked to your name. For example, you might be asked to enter or select the last 8 digits of your credit card - American Express, debit, or corporate cards are excluded. Your financial information will be verified by Experian; some account numbers could fail the verification process.
• Loans: You might be asked to enter your student loan account number provided on your student loan statement; the number might consist of numbers and/or letters, but does not include any symbols. Student loans issued by Nelnet can not be verified.
• Or, you might be asked to verify or enter mortgage information, home equity loan or equity line of credit, or auto loan information.
• A mobile phone must be linked to your name; it must be U.S. based and able to receive text messages. During registration, you will receive a one-time activation code to your mobile phone number. You have limited time to enter this code.
• If you do not have a U.S. based phone registered in your name, select to receive the activation code by postal mail. Once you have the code, you have 30 days to complete your account registration. After that, you can download the IRS mobile app to receive codes.
• If for any other reason you can not register with your phone, request the activation code by mail.
• During the registration process or later, you might receive tax messages originated from IRS number 77958 or phone number: 202-552-1226. If you previously opted out of receiving text messages, send this text message: Text IN to 77958.
• No longer required: A mobile phone or computer with a camera for the face scan or "live selfie." This was used to verify your physical identity matches the information entered on the account. The IRS is currently not requiring this as the program was only active for a short time.

Register Account, Get IP PIN

What Is IRS Notice CP303?

If you received IRS Notice CP303, this means that an IRS account was created or IRS services were accessed using your information. You may receive this notice if you use IRS online tools with your own information. However, if you receive this notice and do not understand why, someone may have used your information and you should contact the number on the notice immediately.

Get Your IP PIN Offline

• For obtaining a new IP-PIN: Taxpayers with income of $72,000 or less can complete Form 15227, IP PIN Application and mail it to the IRS address listed on the form. Once the IRS has received the form, the taxpayer will receive a call from the IRS to verify the personal identity. Once completed and passed, the taxpayer will receive an IP PIN for the next filing season.
  • Taxpayers who can't apply online or are not eligible file Form 15227 can make an appointment with a Taxpayer Assistance Center. The taxpayer has to provide two forms of picture identification. Once the taxpayer passes the authentication, an IP PIN will be mailed to the taxpayer.
• For retrieving your assigned IP-PIN: If there is any trouble creating an IRS Account (no credit card or loan to verify identity, etc.), there are alternatives. Taxpayers can call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 for assistance with this. The IRS will help verify your identity and mail your most recently generated IP-PIN to the address they have on record within 21 days.

If a taxpayer is unable to electronically file their return without this and cannot get their IP-PIN in time, they may have to mail in their tax return as this will not require the IP-PIN.

Taxpayers should store the IP PIN in a safe location and not share their personal PIN with anyone but their tax provider. The IRS will never ask for your IP-PIN; any phone call, email, or text asking for your IP-PIN is a scam.

Using your IP-PIN when Filing or e-Filing your Tax Return

When you file your taxes with eFile.com, you will enter your IPPIN during the process. This will quickly and easily verify your identity and allow your return to be processed and get your tax refund to you, if owed. Be sure to enter it correctly on the first attempt in order to avoid any errors or rejections. Obtain your PIN from your IRS account or a letter sent from the IRS.

Common questions when using your IP-PIN:

• What if I enter my IP PIN incorrectly? The IRS will reject the return temporarily. Login to your eFile account and attempt to refile using the correct IP-PIN. If you are certain the number entered is correct, review it on your IRS online account, contact one of our Taxperts®, or call the IRS to reissue an IP-PIN at 1-800-908-4490 for specialized assistance.
• How do I use my IP PIN on a joint return? If you are married filing jointly, you will enter your IP PIN as if you were filing single if you have one. If you and your spouse both have one, enter it on your return under the same tax filing status. If only one of you has one, only that spouse will have to enter it. If you're unsure of your status, see this free and easy STATucator to get your IRS filing status.
• Where do I enter my IP PIN when filing my tax return? The eFile Tax App will prompt you to enter your IP PIN during checkout. If you are having trouble finding where or how to enter your PIN, contact one of our Taxperts®.
• Do I have to use my IP PIN to file previous year returns? No, previous year returns or back taxes cannot be e-filed. Because of this, an IP PIN is not needed.
• How long is my IP PIN good for? Each IP-PIN is valid for one year; the IRS will issue a new one each year. You may apply for one via the instructions above or the IRS may send you Letter CP01A with your new IP-PIN sometime in late December or early January.
• Should I get rid of my IP PIN after I have filed? Keep your IP-PIN in a safe location for the entire year, even if you have already used it. After you have received a new one for the new year, it is safe to dispose or delete the old one, but we recommend keeping it for your records.
• How do I use my dependent's IP PIN on my tax return? If you claim a dependent on your tax return and they have their own IP-PIN, you will enter this when you e-file your return. The eFile Tax App will help you with this when applicable.
• What forms do I use my IP PIN on? The IP-PIN is only used on the following 1040 forms: 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, and 1040-PR/SS. This means you will not use your IP-PIN when filing a tax amendment or tax extension.
• Will I get my tax refund faster by using an IP PIN? Using your IP-PIN does not determine how or when you will receive your refund, if owed. See our free DATEucator to estimate your tax refund date.

Additional questions? Our Taxperts® are here to help.

Tax-related Identity Theft Victims

Confirmed victims of tax-related identity theft should file a Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit,if their e-Filed tax return got rejected due to a duplicate SSN. The IRS will then investigate their case and, once the fraudulent tax return is removed from the taxpayer's account, the taxpayer will automatically receive an IP PIN by postal mail at the start of the next calendar year or tax season.

Confirmed identity theft victims can't opt out of the IP PIN program unlike other taxpayers. IP-PINs will be mailed annually to confirmed victims and participants enrolled before 2022. This comes in the form of a CP01A Notice which will contain the PIN.

Lost IP-PINs can also be retrieved via the online account.

Review IRS identity theft information for taxpayers.

Register Account, Get IP PIN

Prepare your tax return with eFile.com and use your IP-PIN to verify your identity. See the ways eFile practices security for user data.

Learn about fake IRS emails and how to handle identity verification through an IRS letter you received.

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