How to put a PIN on child's SSN for identity protection?

Yes, you can get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for your kids! Go to IRS.gov and search for 'Get An IP PIN.' You'll need to verify your identity through ID.me first. The PIN gets renewed every year and helps prevent anyone from filing fraudulent returns using their SSN. Its completely free and gives great peace of mind.

Speaking of protecting identity, I've been using taxr.ai to monitor my transcript activity. It's only $1 and it alerts you to any suspicious changes on your transcript. Super helpful for catching identity theft early. https://taxr.ai

did this last year after someone tried using my daughters ssn. The verification process is kinda annoying but worth it fr

make sure u write down the pins somewhere safe... learned that the hard way 🤡

PSA: If ur having trouble with ID.me verification, you can also make an appointment at ur local IRS office to get the PIN in person

anyone else notice how many scammers are targeting kids ssn's lately? its getting wild out here

Also worth mentioning - you should check your kids' credit reports annually too! You can request them for free from annualcreditreport.com. Kids shouldn't have any credit activity, so if something shows up, that's a red flag. The IP PIN is great but monitoring is key for catching things early.

Just want to echo what everyone's saying about the IP PIN - it's definitely worth doing! I set these up for both my kids after our school district had a data breach last year. The ID.me verification can be a pain, but once you get through it, the actual PIN request is pretty straightforward. One thing I'd add is to screenshot or print the confirmation page when you get your PINs - I almost lost mine when my browser crashed and had to go through the whole process again. Also, if you have teenagers who might be getting jobs soon, make sure they know about their PIN since they'll need it for any tax filings!

For anyone still reading through this thread - just wanted to share that I went through this process last month for my twin 8-year-olds after our insurance company got hacked. The whole thing took about 45 minutes total once I got through the ID.me verification (that part was the longest). One tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're doing this for multiple kids, you can stay logged into the IRS system and request PINs for each child in the same session, which saves time. Also, the system will ask if you want to receive the PIN by mail or view it online - I'd recommend viewing it online so you get it immediately, then write it down in multiple secure places like others have suggested. The peace of mind is definitely worth the hassle!

This entire thread has been incredibly valuable! I'm a single mom with two kids (ages 7 and 11) and honestly had no idea about IP PINs until I saw this post. The step-by-step advice from everyone has been amazing. I especially appreciate the tips about document prep and setting aside enough time - I was about to try doing this during my lunch break but clearly that wouldn't have worked! 😅 Planning to tackle this next weekend when the kids are with their dad. One question - has anyone had experience with getting IP PINs if you don't have all the "traditional" documents? My youngest was born overseas and we have some different paperwork - wondering if that complicates things or if the IRS is flexible with alternative documentation?

This thread is absolutely gold! 🏆 As a tax preparer, I see way too many families dealing with identity theft aftermath, and it's always heartbreaking when kids are involved. The IP PIN is definitely your first line of defense, but I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - also consider placing a fraud alert on your OWN credit report when you do this for your kids. Scammers often target entire families, not just individual SSNs. If they got your kids' info, they probably got yours too. The fraud alert is free and lasts a year, and it requires creditors to call you before opening any new accounts. Also, pro tip from someone who processes these PINs during tax season - make sure you're getting the PIN from IRS.gov and nowhere else. I've seen fake sites that look legit but are actually phishing for your info. When in doubt, go directly to irs.gov and search for "IP PIN" - don't click links from emails or other sites!