Identity protection pins available to all for 2021
Starting in January, the IRS will allow all individuals to receive an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN). The IRS announced () on Wednesday that it will unveil a portal in mid-January 2021, expanding to all individual taxpayers the opt-in program to voluntarily receive an IP PIN. The expanded initiative is part of the Security Summit effort between the IRS, state tax agencies, and the tax preparation industry. IP PINs were originally available only to identity theft victims, and the IRS has been running a limited pilot program, allowing other taxpayers to voluntarily receive IP PINs.
An IP PIN is a six-digit number designed to prevent the misuse of Social Security numbers to submit fraudulent federal income tax returns. It helps the IRS verify taxpayers’ identity and accept their electronic or paper tax return. The online immediately displays a taxpayer’s IP PIN; however, the tool is currently down while the IRS prepares for the 2021 tax filing season.
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