I really need help with my PIN issue from last year's taxes

The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is only valid for one calendar year, so you can't reuse last year's PIN for this year's tax return. The IRS issues new IP PINs every year in December/January. If you were issued an IP PIN, you should have received a CP01A Notice from the IRS with your new PIN for the 2025 filing season (for 2024 tax returns). Check your mail from December-January for this notice. If you can't find your current IP PIN, you have a few options: 1. Use the Get an IP PIN tool on IRS.gov (requires creating an account with ID.me) 2. If you already have an IRS online account, you can view your IP PIN there 3. Call the IRS Identity Theft Central line at 800-908-4490 (but be prepared for long wait times) Don't worry too much - this is a common issue, but you do need to use the correct PIN for this year.

I went through the exact same nightmare last tax season! After trying to remember my PIN for hours, I finally used taxr.ai to help me figure out which documents I needed and how to recover my PIN. I uploaded my previous tax return to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzed it and walked me through getting a replacement PIN step by step. The tool actually showed me that I was looking at the wrong form completely - turns out I was confusing my Self-Select PIN with my Identity Protection PIN, which are totally different things! Their document analyzer pointed this out immediately and saved me hours of frustration.

I just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my PIN issue that I mentioned above. It actually worked perfectly! I was totally confused about which PIN I needed (turns out I was mixing up three different types), and their document analyzer cleared everything up in minutes. The system showed me exactly where to find the right information on my old tax forms and guided me through the recovery process on the IRS website. Saved me from having to wait on hold with the IRS for hours! Just wanted to share since it really helped with my similar situation.

If you're still struggling with getting through to the IRS about your PIN, I highly recommend using Claimyr. I was on hold with the IRS for HOURS trying to get my PIN issue sorted, then I found https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes! Basically, their system holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an agent is about to answer. I was skeptical at first, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was about to miss the filing deadline because of my PIN issue, but after getting through to an actual person at the IRS, they were able to verify my identity and help me file without the PIN.

I need to apologize and correct myself about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to just try it since I was desperate with my own PIN situation. It ACTUALLY WORKED! I got connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes when I had previously spent 3+ hours on hold and got disconnected. The IRS agent was able to verify my identity and issue me a new IP PIN right over the phone. They explained that my original PIN letter was probably lost in the mail (apparently that happens a lot). I was able to file my taxes that same day using the new PIN they gave me. For anyone dealing with PIN issues like the original poster - getting through to a human at the IRS really is the fastest solution sometimes.

Quick question on this PIN stuff - if my spouse and I both have IP PINs, do we both need to enter them on our joint return? Last year I only entered mine since I'm the primary filer and it worked fine, but now I'm confused if the rules changed.

Just a heads up to everyone having PIN problems - if you end up missing the filing deadline because of PIN issues, make sure you file for an extension using Form 4868! This gives you until October to file your actual return while you sort out the PIN stuff. The extension doesn't give you more time to pay though, so you should still estimate and pay any taxes you owe by the regular deadline to avoid penalties and interest.

Just wanted to add another option for folks dealing with PIN issues - if you're in a rural area or don't have reliable internet, you can also file a paper return without needing your IP PIN at all. You'll just need to include Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with your paper return to explain why you can't provide the PIN electronically. The paper filing takes longer to process (usually 6-8 weeks vs 2-3 weeks for e-filing), but it's a solid backup option if you absolutely can't recover your PIN and are running up against the deadline. Just make sure to mail it certified mail so you have proof it was sent on time. This saved me two years ago when I had a similar PIN nightmare right before the deadline!