How can I get a replacement for a lost Self-Select PIN for tax filing?

You don't actually need last year's Self-Select PIN to file this year! The Self-Select PIN is just one option for signing your return electronically. If you can't remember your PIN, you can simply use your prior year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from last year's tax return instead. Look at your 2023 tax return (for the taxes you filed in 2024) and find your AGI - it should be on Line 11 of the Form 1040. Enter that amount when prompted by your tax software as verification. This serves as an alternative signature method that the IRS accepts. If you don't have last year's return handy, you can request a tax transcript from the IRS website which will show your AGI. Just go to IRS.gov and search for "Get Transcript" to access this service.

I had the same issue last year and spent HOURS trying different PINs before I discovered taxr.ai. It completely saved me when I was stuck with the same Self-Select PIN problem. I uploaded my previous tax documents to https://taxr.ai and their system helped identify my AGI from last year so I could use it for verification instead of the PIN. Their tool scanned my documents and highlighted exactly where to find the information I needed. It was actually impressive how it recognized all the tax forms and extracted the right numbers - way easier than digging through piles of paperwork or trying to remember a 5-digit PIN from a year ago.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai. After my skeptical comment I decided to look into it more and eventually tried it because I was desperate to file my taxes this weekend. Their system is actually really secure - they explained their encryption and data handling policies when I signed up. The service pulled my AGI right out of my messy PDF tax return from last year, and even identified where I had made a calculation error that might have triggered an audit. The whole process took about 3 minutes, way faster than waiting on hold with the IRS. Just e-filed my return using the AGI verification instead of the PIN and it went through immediately.

If you're still having trouble with the Self-Select PIN or getting your AGI, you might want to try Claimyr. I had this exact problem last tax season and needed to speak with someone at the IRS directly, but kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for hours. I found https://claimyr.com which basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it's pretty straightforward. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to verify my identity over the phone and help me with the PIN issue so I could file.

Well I need to apologize about my skeptical comment about Claimyr. I was frustrated after wasting a whole day trying to get through to the IRS myself. After another failed attempt yesterday where I waited 2.5 hours before getting disconnected, I gave in and tried the service. It actually works exactly as advertised. I got a call back in about 90 minutes (their estimate was 2 hours so it was faster than expected). The IRS agent I spoke with helped me reset my PIN situation instantly and I was able to file my taxes last night. Wish I'd just done this last week instead of wasting so much time trying to call myself!

Another option nobody mentioned is that you can just enter 00000 (five zeros) as your Self-Select PIN if you didn't file last year or can't remember your PIN from last year. The IRS actually has this option available specifically for people who can't remember their previous PIN.

Has anyone tried calling the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490? I had to do this last year when I lost my PIN and they were able to help me verify my identity to efile.

I went through this exact same frustration last year! Here's what worked for me without having to wait on hold with the IRS: First, try the AGI method that others mentioned - it's definitely the easiest if you can find your 2023 tax return. But if you're like me and had moved/lost everything, here's a backup plan: You can create an account on IRS.gov and use their "Get Transcript Online" tool. They'll ask you some identity verification questions (like previous addresses, loan amounts, etc.) and if you pass, you can immediately see your prior year AGI. I was able to do this at 11 PM when I was panicking about my deadline. If the online verification doesn't work, you still have options before resorting to paper filing. Some tax software will let you print and mail just the signature pages while still preparing everything electronically, which can speed up processing compared to a fully paper return. The key thing is don't stress too much - you have multiple paths to get this resolved and it shouldn't significantly delay your refund as long as you can verify your identity one way or another. Good luck getting it sorted this weekend!