TurboTax Return Rejected - Identity PIN Issue I Never Set Up

I went through something nearly identical last year. The PIN rejection usually means one of two things: either someone has filed a return using your SSN previously (triggering IRS fraud protection) or there was an error in how your dependents' information was entered. After my husband passed, I had a similar rejection because I hadn't properly documented his death certificate information with Social Security first. In my case, I had to call the IRS Identity Verification department at 800-830-5084. They asked several questions to verify my identity, then explained that when a primary taxpayer on a previous joint return passes away, the system sometimes triggers additional security measures for the surviving spouse's next filing. They cleared the PIN requirement for me and I was able to resubmit within 48 hours. Don't worry too much - this is actually the system working to protect you, even if it's inconvenient right now.

Have you considered that this might be related to the increasing identity theft problems the IRS is fighting? Why would they suddenly require a PIN from someone who never requested one? Could it be that someone attempted to file using your information earlier this tax season? The refund advance issue is probably separate - those offers are typically based on filing date and estimated refund amount. Did you file later than most people who received those offers? Are you sure you qualified based on TurboTax's specific criteria rather than just general tax situations?

This is a classic Identity Verification hold situation. According to IRS Procedure 2023-05, when there's a change in dependent claiming status due to death, the system often flags the return for additional verification. You need to contact the IRS Identity Verification department ASAP - their backlog is currently 45-60 minutes per call and growing by about 15 minutes daily as we approach the filing deadline. I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) last week when facing a similar issue and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I was facing. They confirmed my identity over the phone, removed the PIN requirement, and my resubmitted return was accepted within 48 hours. Worth every penny to avoid the endless redial game with the IRS phone system.

I had this EXACT problem after my spouse passed away two years ago! I was so confused and upset when my return was rejected. 😭 It turns out that when there's a death in the family that affects your filing status, the IRS sometimes automatically assigns a PIN as a security measure, but they don't always notify you properly. I spent THREE DAYS trying to figure it out on my own before finally reaching someone at the IRS who explained everything. I wish I had asked for help sooner! The agent was actually really kind and helped me get everything sorted out. I'm so grateful for communities like this where we can share these experiences.

Have you tried contacting TurboTax directly about this? Their customer service might be able to give you more specific information about the rejection reason. Sometimes these generic "PIN required" messages don't tell the whole story. Regarding the refund advance - those are typically offered early in the tax season (January-February) and have specific eligibility requirements. Were you filing relatively late compared to previous years? Did you have any unusual deductions or credits this year that might have affected your eligibility?

I've seen this happen before when someone has been a victim of identity theft without realizing it. Back in 2021, my sister had her return rejected for the same reason, and it turned out someone had tried to file a fraudulent return using her information earlier that year. The IRS had automatically assigned her an IP PIN but the notification letter got lost in the mail. You might want to check your credit reports just to be safe. I'm a bit worried that this could be more than just a system glitch, especially with the timing of your spouse's passing creating changes in your tax situation. The IRS sometimes flags returns with significant changes from previous years.

According to IRS Publication 5367, when a taxpayer experiences a change in dependent claiming status due to death, the IRS system is programmed to provide additional security measures. Per Internal Revenue Code §6109(i), the Identity Protection PIN program is one such measure. I successfully resolved this exact issue for a client last month. After contacting the IRS Identity Verification department, they confirmed this was an automatic security feature. They removed the PIN requirement immediately, and my client's resubmitted return was processed within 72 hours. Their refund was direct deposited exactly 21 days after the accepted resubmission date. The key is getting through to the correct department - specifically request to speak with Identity Verification when you call, not general tax assistance.