Is it too late to put an identity PIN on my kids' Social Security Numbers?

Good news - it's never too late to get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for your kids! The IP PIN program is year-round now. Basically, you'll need to create an ID.me account on the IRS website if you don't already have one (prepare for a mini-adventure in identity verification 😅), then request an IP PIN for each dependent. The PIN is valid for one calendar year, so you'll need to get new ones next January. And don't worry - this won't affect any investments you've set up in their names. It just adds an extra verification step when filing taxes.

Getting IP PINs is smart. I did this last year. The process isn't intuitive on the IRS site. You need ID.me verification first. Then find the "Get An IP PIN" tool. I was surprised how complex the verification was. Multiple forms of ID required. Facial recognition. The whole process took me about 40 minutes per child. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to understand what an IP PIN actually does. It explained how the PIN protects against fraudulent returns and showed examples of what happens when someone tries to file using your dependent's SSN without the PIN. Made the whole process make more sense.

Just to clarify a few things about IP PINs that might not be obvious: Did you know that IP PINs don't affect any investments or financial accounts? They're strictly for tax filing purposes. And have you considered that you'll need a separate PIN for each child, not just one for your family? Also worth noting that the PIN changes every year - so you'll need to get new ones in January 2025 for next tax season. Isn't it interesting how the IRS makes this an annual process rather than a permanent solution?

Getting through to the IRS about IP PINs is frustrating. Spent 3 hours on hold last month. Finally used Claimyr. Got through in 15 minutes. Worth every penny. Agent explained the whole process. Helped with ID verification issues too. Saved me days of frustration. https://claimyr.com

Tbh these IP PINs aren't even that secure. My cousin works in tax prep and says ppl w/ stolen SSNs just file paper returns to bypass the PIN system. IRS eventually catches it but the damage is done. IMO better to just freeze your kids' credit reports instead.

That's not entirely accurate about IP PINs. Here's what you should know: • Paper returns WITH an incorrect IP PIN get flagged immediately • The IRS has improved their fraud detection systems significantly since 2022 • Credit freezes AND IP PINs together provide the best protection • The IRS actually prioritizes returns with IP PINs for faster processing I've been using IP PINs for my kids for 3 years now and it's definitely worth the initial setup hassle.

Getting an IP PIN for your kids is like putting a deadbolt on your front door instead of just using the regular lock. Could someone still break in? Sure, but it's much harder. I've done identity theft recovery both with and without an IP PIN in place, and the difference is dramatic. With the PIN, the IRS immediately rejected the fraudulent return. Without it, I spent 14 months and countless hours resolving the issue. The upfront time investment is minimal compared to fixing identity theft after it happens.

I just did this last week for my three kids! The IRS.gov process is pretty straightforward now compared to previous years. I followed the guide on https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin and was able to get PINs for all three children in about an hour total. The verification part took the longest. Make sure you have your ID and their social security cards handy before you start.