What to expect with my 2023 Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) - when will it arrive?
I received my first Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) last year in 2022, and I'm waiting for my 2023 one to arrive. From what I understand, the IRS should send a letter with my new IP PIN around January 2023. I know I can also access it through the IRS phone app once it's been issued, but I'm trying to be prepared. January is always hectic with mail, and I'm worried I might accidentally throw away the envelope with my IP PIN. I've been extra careful with anything that looks official lately. Does anyone know exactly when these typically arrive? Or if there's a way to request it early? I don't want to be scrambling at the last minute when I'm ready to file my taxes.
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Ravi Choudhury
The IRS typically mails out Identity Protection PINs (IP PINs) in December through early January each year. The notices are labeled CP01A and should arrive by mail before the filing season officially begins. If you already had an IP PIN for 2022, you'll automatically be issued a new one for 2023. You're absolutely right about using the IRS app - it's called IRS2Go. You can also retrieve your IP PIN through the Get An IP PIN tool on the IRS website once it's been generated. This is particularly helpful if you misplace the letter or accidentally throw it away. Just log in with your ID.me account or other IRS-approved authentication method. Keep in mind that IP PINs change every year, so your 2022 PIN won't work for your 2023 tax return. If you don't receive your CP01A notice by early February, I'd recommend checking the online tool or contacting the IRS.
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CosmosCaptain
•I used the Get An IP PIN tool last year, but I forgot my login credentials. Do you know if there's a way to retrieve the PIN by phone? I'm really not tech savvy and the whole ID.me verification process was a nightmare for me.
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Ravi Choudhury
•Yes, you can call the IRS Identity Theft Victim Assistance line at 800-908-4490 to request assistance with retrieving your IP PIN. However, keep in mind they'll need to verify your identity, which can take some time. The phone lines tend to be extremely busy during filing season. If you struggle with the ID.me process but want to try the online route again, the IRS has recently improved their authentication methods and added alternative verification options. They now offer live video chat verification if you're having trouble with the automated system.
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Freya Johansen
After dealing with a major headache trying to verify my identity with the IRS last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to be super helpful with organizing and keeping track of all my tax documents including my IP PIN letter. It analyzes your tax docs and gives you clear guidance on what each one means and what to do with it. I was in the same boat as you - worried about missing important tax mail. The tool helped me identify what was actually important vs. junk mail that looks official. Plus it reminds you about expected documents so you know what to look for. I set an alert specifically for my IP PIN letter so I wouldn't miss it.
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Omar Fawzi
•Does taxr.ai actually help you retrieve your IP PIN if you've lost it, or does it just help organize your documents? I've got a folder system but still managed to lose my PIN letter last year.
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Chloe Wilson
•I'm kinda skeptical about giving my tax docs to a third-party service. How secure is it? Do they store your actual IP PIN and personal info or just help track what you've received?
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Freya Johansen
•Taxr.ai doesn't actually retrieve your IP PIN - you still need to get that from the IRS directly. What it does is help you track when important documents like your IP PIN letter should arrive, and lets you store a secure digital copy once you receive it so you don't lose it. I took a picture of my PIN letter as soon as I got it. As for security concerns, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your actual tax return data or complete documents unless you explicitly upload them. I was hesitant at first too, but they explain their security measures on their site. You control what information you share with the service, and I just use it for document tracking and reminders.
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Chloe Wilson
Just wanted to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai after asking about it here and I'm actually impressed. Set up alerts for my IP PIN letter and other tax docs I'm expecting. When my CP01A notice arrived last week, I almost missed it because it was stuck between some junk mail, but got a reminder notification that it should be arriving, so I double-checked my mail pile. The document scanner feature is what really helped - I scanned the letter and it immediately identified it as my IP PIN document and encrypted it for storage. Now I don't have to worry about losing it since it's securely saved in my account. Definitely less stressful than my usual "where did I put that important paper" panic right before filing!
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Diego Mendoza
If you're worried about getting your IP PIN in time for filing, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS directly. I had issues with my IP PIN last year and spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS. Their hold times were 2+ hours when I could even get in the queue. Claimyr got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to verify my identity and provide my IP PIN over the phone after asking security questions. Saved me so much frustration compared to my previous attempts.
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Anastasia Romanov
•How exactly does this service work? I don't understand how they can get you through to the IRS faster than if you call yourself. Sounds too good to be true honestly.
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StellarSurfer
•I find it hard to believe any service can magically get through the IRS phone lines. I've tried calling at all hours, different days of the week, and it's always the same automated message saying they're too busy. How would this company have special access? Seems like they might be charging for something you could do yourself if you just keep trying.
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Diego Mendoza
•The service works by using their technology to navigate the IRS phone system and wait on hold for you. They basically call repeatedly until they get into the queue, then when they reach a certain point in the hold process, they call you and connect you directly to the IRS. It's not "special access" - they're just doing the frustrating part for you. I was skeptical too, believe me. But when I'd already spent three separate days trying to get through and getting disconnected after hours on hold, I was desperate. What impressed me was that they don't charge if they don't connect you, so there's really no risk. I filed with my IP PIN on time because of this service instead of having to file an extension and deal with the headache later.
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StellarSurfer
I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 17. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr as a last resort when my IP PIN letter never showed up and the online system wouldn't verify me. I was fully expecting it to be a waste, but I was connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed someone had tried to file a fraudulent return using my SSN (which is why I needed an IP PIN in the first place), and they were able to verify my identity and issue me a new IP PIN on the spot. I've been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS on my own with no success. Spent about 40 total hours on hold only to get disconnected. I don't usually promote services but this literally saved my filing season. Already submitted my return with the correct IP PIN and my refund is processing.
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Sean Kelly
Something nobody has mentioned yet - make sure you're checking BOTH digital and physical mail for your IP PIN. Last year I was waiting for the letter while my PIN was actually sitting in my e-services account the whole time. The IRS is pushing people toward digital communication but doesn't always make it clear that's how they'll contact you. Also, if you filed jointly with a spouse, BOTH of you will need separate IP PINs if either one of you has been issued one. My wife and I learned this the hard way when our return was rejected because I had an IP PIN but she didn't include hers.
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Zara Malik
•Wait, is that true about spouses both needing IP PINs? My husband got an IP PIN last year after some identity theft issues, but I never received one. We file jointly. Will our return be rejected if I don't have one too?
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Sean Kelly
•Not exactly - I should have been clearer. If only your husband was issued an IP PIN, then only he needs to enter one on the tax return. What happened in our case was that both my wife and I were separately issued IP PINs (we both had separate identity theft issues), but we only entered mine on our joint return. The rule is that anyone who has been issued an IP PIN must use it when filing, regardless of filing status. So if you personally weren't issued an IP PIN, you don't need one. But if your husband has one, he absolutely needs to include it on your joint return.
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Luca Greco
Has anyone else noticed that the IRS sends the IP PIN letters in a surprisingly plain envelope? Last year I almost threw mine away because it looked like junk mail. It wasn't clearly marked as being from the IRS on the outside - just had a return address from Kansas City that I didn't recognize at first glance.
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Nia Thompson
•YES! This happened to me too! The envelope was so basic looking that it sat in my "probably junk" pile for weeks. I only found it when I was specifically searching for tax documents. You'd think something this important would be clearly marked.
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