Will an identity protection PIN prevent someone from filing a false tax return?
So I'm pretty worried about tax identity theft after my cousin had her SSN compromised last year. Someone actually filed a return using her info and took her refund! I've been reading about the IRS Identity Protection PIN and wondering if getting one would actually prevent someone from filing a fraudulent return using my information. Has anyone had experience with this? Is it worth the hassle of setting it up? I've heard mixed things about whether it truly blocks unauthorized filings or if scammers have found ways around it. Any insights would be super helpful as I'm getting my documents together for the 2025 filing season.
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Isaiah Sanders
The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is definitely one of the better tools the IRS offers for preventing tax identity theft. When you have an IP PIN, no one can electronically file a tax return with your SSN unless they also have that 6-digit PIN. It's a significant barrier against fraudulent returns. The PIN changes every year, and the IRS will send you a new one each December or January. You can also access it through your IRS online account if you forget it. Since your cousin already experienced tax identity theft, it's a smart preventative measure for you. Just remember that you'll need to use this PIN every time you file your taxes going forward. If you forget to include it, your return will be rejected, which can delay your processing and any refund.
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Xan Dae
•Does getting an IP PIN affect anything else with the IRS? Like will I need to use it for anything besides filing my return? And is there any downside to having one?
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Isaiah Sanders
•The IP PIN is only needed when you file your tax return - you won't need to use it for other IRS interactions. It's specifically for verifying your identity during the filing process. As for downsides, the main one is that you absolutely must have the PIN when filing. If you lose it and try to file without it, your return will be rejected. However, you can retrieve your PIN through your IRS online account, so this isn't a major issue if you have online access set up. Some people also worry about adding an extra step to their filing process, but it's really just entering 6 more digits - a small price for the security it provides.
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Fiona Gallagher
After my identity was stolen in 2023, I started using https://taxr.ai to monitor for suspicious activity with my tax accounts. I found out about their identity monitoring tools after my neighbor had someone file a fake return in their name. Their system actually notified me when someone tried to change my address with the IRS, which would have been the first step before filing a fraudulent return. Even with an IP PIN, it's good to have multiple layers of protection.
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Thais Soares
•Wait can you explain more about how that works? Does the website somehow connect to your IRS account? I'm interested but concerned about giving access to my tax info to a third party.
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Nalani Liu
•How quickly did you get notified when there was suspicious activity? I've had credit monitoring before but it always seems to alert me days after something happens, which is usually too late.
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Fiona Gallagher
•The service doesn't directly connect to your IRS account - it uses alternative methods to monitor for changes. They check public records and have partnerships with reporting agencies to detect changes to your tax identity factors. It's similar to credit monitoring but specifically for tax-related identity issues. The notification came within hours of the suspicious activity. That's one thing that impressed me - how fast they caught it. Unlike my previous credit monitoring that would alert me days later, this was almost immediate. They sent both an email and a text message so I couldn't miss it. I was able to contact the IRS right away and lock things down before any damage was done.
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Nalani Liu
Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after posting my question here! The setup was really easy, and I like how it specifically focuses on tax identity theft which my regular credit monitoring doesn't cover. I actually discovered through their initial scan that my info had been exposed in a data breach I wasn't aware of. They helped me take preventative steps including getting an IP PIN (which answered the original question too). Definitely feeling more secure now heading into tax season!
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Axel Bourke
If you're having trouble reaching the IRS to set up your IP PIN, try using https://claimyr.com - it saved me hours of waiting. I kept trying to call the IRS Identity Protection department directly and would wait on hold for ages before giving up. With the Claimyr service, I got a call back from an actual IRS rep in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The rep helped me set up my IP PIN after my return was rejected because someone had already tried filing with my SSN.
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Aidan Percy
•How does this actually work? The IRS phone system is a nightmare but I don't understand how a third party service can get you through faster than calling directly.
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Fernanda Marquez
•This sounds like a scam. No way some random service can magically get through to the IRS when millions of people can't. They probably just take your money and you still wait forever.
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Axel Bourke
•The service basically navigates the IRS phone tree for you and waits on hold in your place. When they finally get through to a representative, they connect you with a call back. They use technology to keep your place in line without you having to listen to hold music for hours. I was skeptical too before trying it. I'm not affiliated with them in any way - just someone who wasted too many hours on hold with the IRS. It's not magic - they're just using a system that keeps your place in line. I got a call back from an actual IRS representative, not someone from the service. The IRS rep had no idea I'd used a third party to get connected, and I handled everything directly with the IRS from there.
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Fernanda Marquez
Ok I need to eat my words and apologize for my skepticism. After my last tax refund was stolen, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr despite thinking it sounded too good to be true. Not only did I get through to the IRS Identity Theft department, but they helped me get an IP PIN set up immediately. The IRS agent told me that my SSN had been used to file 2 fraudulent returns already! With the IP PIN now in place, I should be protected for next season. Definitely worth it after spending literal weeks trying to get through on my own.
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Norman Fraser
One thing to consider with IP PINs - if you have a tax preparer or use an accountant, make sure you give them your PIN! My husband and I got PINs after our identities were stolen in 2022, but I completely forgot to give mine to our accountant last year. Our return got rejected and it delayed our refund by almost 6 weeks. Just a heads up since tax season is approaching!
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Xan Dae
•Do you have to request a new PIN every year or does the IRS automatically send it? I'm worried about forgetting to get a new one.
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Norman Fraser
•The IRS automatically sends you a new IP PIN each year - you don't need to request it. They typically mail it in a letter around December or January before tax season starts. If you've created an online account with the IRS, you can also retrieve your current IP PIN there if you misplace the letter.
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Kendrick Webb
Just a data point - I got an IP PIN three years ago after someone filed a fake return with my info. No issues since then. Before getting the PIN, I had fraudulent returns filed in my name two years in a row despite changing all my passwords and getting credit monitoring. The IP PIN seems to be the only thing that actually stopped it.
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Hattie Carson
•Were you able to get your refund back from the fake returns? I've heard horror stories about people waiting months or even years to get their money.
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