What happens if I lost my self-select PIN for tax filing?

You don't need to worry too much about the lost self-select PIN. The IRS doesn't actually store your previous year's self-select PIN, so there's no way to "recover" it. What you need instead is your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your 2024 tax return. For e-filing your 2025 return, you'll need either your previous year's self-select PIN OR your prior year AGI to verify your identity. If you can't remember your PIN, just use the AGI option. You can find your AGI on last year's tax return (line 11 on Form 1040 for tax year 2024). If you don't have a copy of last year's return, you can request a tax transcript from the IRS website which will show your AGI. Go to IRS.gov and search for "Get Transcript Online" or call the IRS transcript order line.

I had the exact same issue last month and was pulling my hair out! I tried using my AGI but still had problems because I couldn't find my exact paperwork from last year. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to help me track down my AGI and figure out the whole PIN situation. The site let me upload my old tax documents and it pulled out all the key information, including my AGI. What was really helpful is that it explained exactly where on my return the AGI was located and what I needed to do next. Saved me from having to paper file which would have delayed my refund by weeks!

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my questions about it. I decided to give it a try since I was still stuck with my PIN issue, and wow, it actually worked really well! Not only did it help me figure out my AGI from last year, but it also caught a mistake I had made on my return that would have cost me about $420. The document security seemed legitimate - they explain how all the encryption works on their site. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use and how quickly it helped solve my problem. Definitely going to use it again next year to double-check my return before submitting.

If you're still having trouble with your PIN or AGI and need to talk to someone at the IRS, good luck getting through the phone lines! I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to get help with my PIN issue. I finally used https://claimyr.com after someone recommended it to me. They have this service where they wait on hold with the IRS for you and then call you when an agent is on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It was such a relief not having to waste my whole day on hold. When I finally got connected to an IRS agent, they were able to help me with the verification process even without my PIN or exact AGI.

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After trying for TWO DAYS to get through to the IRS myself (calling at "off-peak" times, early morning, right before closing, etc.), I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was absolutely convinced it wouldn't work, but I was desperate. I got a call back in 62 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line! They helped me with the whole PIN/AGI verification issue on the spot. The agent told me they're currently experiencing 3-4 hour hold times for most callers, so this service actually saved me a ton of time. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good, especially when it means getting your tax problem fixed!

Here's another option: if you can't get your AGI or PIN figured out, you can always paper file your return. It's not ideal because it takes longer to process (like 6-8 weeks for refunds instead of 3 weeks for e-file), but it's better than missing the deadline and getting hit with penalties. You just print out your return, sign it, and mail it in. No PIN or electronic verification needed. I had to do this two years ago when I had a similar issue and couldn't get my e-file to go through.

If you filed with a professional tax preparer last year, they might have your PIN or a copy of your return with the AGI on file. Worth giving them a call if that's how you filed. I completely forgot I had used H&R Block last year until I started panicking about my PIN, gave them a call, and they had everything I needed.

Another option if you're still stuck is to request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS if you qualify. This is different from your self-select PIN and can be used for identity verification when e-filing. You can check if you're eligible on the IRS website - they've expanded the program in recent years. Also, just a heads up that if you do end up creating a new self-select PIN this year, consider storing it in a password manager or writing it down somewhere safe along with your AGI. I learned this lesson the hard way after going through the same frustration you're experiencing! The IRS recommends keeping your prior year tax return easily accessible for exactly this reason.