ALERT: IRS Services

An IP PIN, you ask – what is it?  Well, it is an Identity Protection PIN which prevents the filing of a tax return using your Social Security Number by someone other than you. 

These PINs have been around for several years but were issued only when someone had fraudulent activity on their account or were victims of identity theft.  The IP PIN is valid for one year.

What was once available for only certain individual taxpayers is now available to all individual taxpayers through the Opt-In Program.  As long as you can verify your identity, you can protect yourself. 

Here are a few things the IRS shares that taxpayers should know about the IP PIN:

• It’s a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS.
• The opt-in program is voluntary.
• The IP PIN should be entered onto the electronic tax return when prompted by the software product or onto a paper return next to the signature line.
• The IP PIN is valid for one calendar year; taxpayers must obtain a new IP PIN each year.
• Only dependents who can verify their identities may obtain an IP PIN.
• IP PIN users should never share their number with anyone but the IRS and their trusted tax preparation provider. The IRS will never call, email or text a request for the IP PIN.

Currently, taxpayers may obtain an IP PIN for 2021, which should be used when filing any federal tax returns during the year. New IP PINs will be available starting in January 2022.

To obtain an IP PIN, the best option is the Get an IP PIN, the IRS online tool. Taxpayers must validate their identities through Secure Access authentication to access the tool and their IP PIN. Taxpayers who cannot validate their identities online, or on the phone with an IRS employee, may call the IRS to make an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. They will need to bring one picture identification document and another identification document to prove their identity. Once verified, the taxpayer will receive an IP PIN via U.S. Postal Service within three weeks.

The IP PIN process for confirmed victims of identity theft remains unchanged. These victims will automatically receive an IP PIN each year.

Do what you can to protect yourself.  An ounce of prevention can be worth more than a pound of cure.

The Internal Revenue Service continues in its fight against cyber criminals and is constantly finding new ways that these criminals are obtaining information.  There is no limit to the means in which crimes can occur.  Whether through a telephone call, text message or email, the con artist tries to convince the recipient that they need to provide Social Security numbers, bank account or credit card information or passwords. The scam may also include sending links that once clicked on can download malicious software that collects, or “mines”, personal data.

Often, criminals pose as someone the recipient knows or frequently interacts with, whether a social or family relationship or a business contact. They gather much of this information from social media. A person’s contacts or ‘friends’ are used to bait the recipient into thinking they’re dealing with someone they know.  The IRS warns taxpayers to be alert for a continuing surge of fake emails, text messages, web sites and social media attempts to steal personal information.

Phishing scams target individuals with communications appearing to come from legitimate sources to collect victims’ personal and financial data and potentially infect their devices by convincing the target to download malicious programs. Cybercriminals usually send these phishing communications by email but may also use text messages or social media posts or messaging.

These phishing schemes can be tricky and cleverly disguised to look like they’re from the IRS or from others in the tax community. Taxpayers are reminded to continually watch out for emails and other scams posing as the IRS, like those promising a big refund, missing stimulus payment or even issuing a threat. People should not open attachments or click on links in those emails or text messages.

Individuals should be wary of unexpected phone calls asking for personal financial information. The IRS has seen an increase in voice-related phishing, or “vishing,” particularly from scams related to federal tax liens. For those receiving phone calls out of the blue, security experts recommend asking questions of the caller but not providing any personal information. If in doubt, hang up immediately.

The IRS urges taxpayers to remain vigilant and to remember the following things about the IRS:

• The IRS generally first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes.
• The IRS may attempt to reach individuals by telephone but will not insist on payment using an iTunes card, gift card, prepaid debit card, money order or wire transfer.
• The IRS will never request personal or financial information by e-mail, text or social media.

Recipients of these calls should hang up before giving out any information. If anyone receives an unexpected call from the IRS that they believe to be a scam, they can report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

Social media scams have also led to tax-related identity theft. The basic element of social media scams is convincing a potential victim that he or she is dealing with a person close to them that they trust via email, text or social media messaging.

Using personal information, a scammer may email a potential victim and include a link to something of interest to the recipient, but which contains malware intended to commit more crimes. Scammers also infiltrate their victim’s emails and cell phones to go after their friends and family with fake emails that appear to be real, and text messages soliciting, for example, small donations to fake charities that are appealing to the victims.

Individuals should know that any of their information that is publicly shared on social media platforms can be collected and used against them. One way to circumvent these scams is to review privacy settings and limit data that is publicly shared.

The IRS reminds taxpayers to keep abreast of news about fraud-related behavior. Report any instances of fraud immediately.

I mentioned in a prior article that individuals would be able to participate in the identity protection PIN program.  This PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help prevent misuse of Social Security Numbers being used on fraudulent federal income tax returns. 

If you would like to take advantage of this program, you will need to pass the Security Access authentication protocol.  There are requirements to verify a taxpayer’s identity and are available on irs.gov for Secure Access requirements.

You can utilize the online tool Get An IP PIN at irs.gov and receive your PIN immediately. If you cannot pass the authentication online, you can file IRS Form 15227 via mail or fax if you have income of $72,000 or less.  An IRS employee will call the taxpayer to verify their identity using a series of questions.  If you are unable to obtain a PIN through either of these two methods, you should make an appointment to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center.  

The PIN is valid for one year and a new PIN must be obtained each January. 

You must have a Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number to participate in the program. 

There is no change in the IP PIN program for confirmed victims of tax-related identity theft. 

For more information about identity theft, visit IRS.gov.