Renner Individual News; September 14, 2026
When most people hear PIN number, they think of the bank. But your local Wells Fargo or Bank of America isn’t the only place where a PIN is a crucial tool.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) also uses a PIN number system for individual taxpayers, known as an IRS Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, as a critical defense tool against identity thieves filing fraudulent tax returns. It also helps the IRS verify your identity when a federal tax return is filed.
The IP PIN is a six-digit number known only to the taxpayer and the IRS. You can get an IP PIN even if you are not required to file a tax return.
“Taxpayers and tax professionals should take advantage of the powerful tools available to help protect against identity theft,” IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said in a release. “Using multifactor authentication, IP PINs, and other protections adds important layers of security that helps safeguard sensitive data held by practitioners, taxpayers, and IRS systems.”
An IP PIN is valid for one calendar year, and a new number is generated each year. Tax professionals cannot obtain an IP PIN for you. Taxpayers must obtain their own.
You can get one by visiting Get an Identity Protection PIN on IRS.gov.
You should never share your IP PIN number with anyone but the IRS and your trusted tax preparation provider. The IRS will never call, email, or text to request an IP PIN.
The IP PIN is generally available to view online starting in mid-January through mid-November. It must be used when filing any federal tax returns during the year including prior year returns.
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