Confused about my IRS IP PIN - which one do I use for filing?

You should use the 2022 IP PIN for your 2022 tax return. The IP PIN is assigned for a specific tax year, and you need to match the tax year of the PIN with the tax year of the return you're filing. The confusion happens because the IRS issues new IP PINs each calendar year in January. So in January 2023, they released the 2023 IP PINs for use with 2023 tax returns (which most people will file in 2024). But since you're currently filing your 2022 return, you need to use the 2022 IP PIN that you originally received. When you went through the retrieval process recently, the system gave you your 2023 PIN because that's the current year PIN now available. The retrieval tool doesn't let you access prior year PINs, which is why you couldn't get your 2022 PIN again.

Had exactly the same confusion last year and found that taxr.ai actually helped me figure out my IP PIN situation. The IRS documentation can be so confusing! I uploaded my notices to https://taxr.ai and it explained which PIN applied to which tax year and why I was seeing different years on my documents. Their system analyzed the IRS notices and explained that the year on the IP PIN document refers to the tax year it should be used for, not necessarily when you file. Cleared up all my confusion about which PIN to use for which return.

I actually tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment, and I have to admit it was legitimately helpful. I had several IRS notices with different IP PINs from different years that I couldn't make sense of. The tool clearly explained which PIN went with which tax year and why I received multiple. It even created a simple timeline showing when each PIN was valid and which tax return it should be used with. Saved me from potentially using the wrong PIN, which apparently can cause significant delays in processing your return. Worth checking out if you're confused about IRS notices like I was.

If you're still having trouble with your IP PIN or need to speak with someone at the IRS directly, I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck in an IP PIN loop where I kept getting new PINs but couldn't file my return. Spent days trying to get through to the IRS without success. With Claimyr, I actually got through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. The IRS agent I spoke with cleared up my IP PIN issue immediately.

Well I'll be damned. I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment and it actually worked. Got through to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes (which beats the 3+ hours I wasted last week getting nowhere). The agent solved my IP PIN issue in minutes. Turns out I had been using my 2023 PIN to try to file my 2022 return, which was causing my returns to be rejected. The agent confirmed I needed to use the 2022 PIN for 2022 returns and the 2023 PIN would be for next year's filing season. If you're stuck in IP PIN hell like I was, it's worth it to actually speak to a human at the IRS who can sort it out.

When I had IP PIN issues, I realized you can also go to a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center for help. You need an appointment, but they can look up your correct IP PIN for you if you bring proper ID. Saved me a ton of headaches!

Important note: DO NOT file your return with the wrong year IP PIN! I did this last year and my refund was delayed by over 3 months while they sorted it out. The IRS systems automatically flag returns with mismatched IP PINs as potential fraud.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else dealing with this confusion. I had the exact same issue last year - got my 2021 IP PIN in January 2022, then when I went to file late in the year, I panicked and requested a new PIN thinking mine had expired. The IRS gave me my 2022 PIN instead, which I mistakenly used for my 2021 return. Big mistake! My return got rejected multiple times and I couldn't figure out why until I called the IRS. Turns out each IP PIN is tied to a specific tax year and you absolutely cannot mix them up. The agent explained that when you request your PIN through the online tool, it gives you the PIN for the current available year, not necessarily the year you need for filing. To everyone dealing with this: if you're filing your 2022 tax return, you MUST use your 2022 IP PIN, even if you have a newer 2023 PIN available. The year on the IP PIN document tells you which tax year's return it should be used with. Don't make the same mistake I did - it took 4 months to get my refund after they sorted out the identity verification mess!

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through something similar when I first got my IP PIN. The key thing to remember is that IP PINs are always labeled with the tax year they're meant for, not the year you receive them. So your original 2022 IP PIN (the one you found in your downloads folder) is absolutely the correct one to use for filing your 2022 tax return. The 2023 PIN you received when you went through the retrieval process is for next year when you file your 2023 taxes. The IRS issues new IP PINs each January, but they're always for the upcoming filing season. So in January 2023, they released 2023 IP PINs (for 2023 tax returns that most people will file in early 2024). The retrieval system only gives you access to the current year's PIN, which is why you couldn't get your 2022 PIN again. One tip for the future: when you get your IP PIN, save it somewhere you'll remember AND print a hard copy. I learned this the hard way after spending hours searching through old emails and downloads! The IRS also mails a CP01A notice with your IP PIN, so keeping those physical notices in your tax files helps avoid this exact situation.

This is exactly why I keep a dedicated tax folder both digitally and physically! The IP PIN system is confusing enough without having to hunt through random download folders during tax season. One thing that might help others: I set a calendar reminder every January to check for my new IP PIN and immediately save it in multiple places - my tax folder, cloud storage, and I email it to myself with a clear subject line like "2024 IP PIN for 2024 tax return." That way when filing season comes around, I'm not scrambling to figure out which PIN goes with which year. The IRS really should make their retrieval system show you what year PIN you're getting instead of just assuming everyone understands the timing. It would prevent so much confusion like what you experienced!

I work as a tax preparer and see this exact confusion every single tax season! You're definitely not alone in this - the IP PIN system trips up so many people because the IRS doesn't make the year-specific nature of these PINs clear enough. To be crystal clear: use your original 2022 IP PIN for filing your 2022 tax return. The PIN is labeled with the tax year it's meant for, not when you received it. Your 2023 PIN that you got through the recent retrieval is for next year's filing season when you file your 2023 taxes (likely in early 2024). The reason the retrieval system gave you a 2023 PIN is because that's the current year PIN available. The IRS doesn't allow access to prior year PINs through their online system, which is frankly a design flaw that causes exactly the confusion you experienced. Pro tip for next year: as soon as you get your new IP PIN in January, save it with a very clear filename like "2024_IP_PIN_for_2024_tax_return.pdf" and keep both digital and physical copies. The IRS also mails a CP01A notice with your PIN - keep that with your tax documents. This will save you from the panic of hunting through random folders come filing time!