07/21/2025
Getting an IRS Identity Protection PIN
While Summer isn't traditionally a time to think about taxes, we wanted to mention the following to you now regarding identity theft prevention planning and your taxes.
The IRS has a process where you can obtain an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) which is a 6-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). This can be useful because the IRS processes tax returns on a "first-come, first-served" basis. So that if a bad actor gets a hold of your SSN and files a tax return in your SSN before you do (or perhaps if someone has a typo in their SSN on their tax return and accidentally lists your SSN), the IRS will have that return on file under your SSN. Then when you file your return under your SSN, the IRS will reject it saying they already have a return on file under that SSN.
We encourage you to get an IRS IP PIN. This number is known only to you and the IRS. Once you have an IRS IP PIN established, the IRS will only accept a tax return under your SSN that has this IRS IP PIN included on the return.
A new IRS IP PIN is generated each year. As your tax return preparer, you'd need to let us know what this IP PIN is each year to list in our tax return preparation software for you.
If you are married, each spouse would need his/her own IRS IP PIN.
How to obtain an IRS IP PIN
See the following from the IRS on how to obtain an IRS IP PIN - https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin.
How to obtain an ID.me account
In addition, you'll need to establish an ID.me account during this process. An ID.me account is used to verify your identity online, primarily for accessing government and other services.
See the following website on how to obtain an ID.me account - https://id.me/.
This process may take around 1-2 weeks. We suggest doing this now during the Summer so that this is all set well in advance of next year's Tax Season. Thank you, and we hope you're enjoying your Summer!
Regards,
The Team at Sechrest & Bloom, LLC
