Self Select PIN vs. IP PIN?

The Self-Select PIN and the IP PIN are two different things, as you surmised. The Self-Select PIN acts as a kind of electronic signature when you file your return online using software such as TurboTax. The IP PIN is a number the IRS issues to taxpayers who have reported identity theft or who wish to use this special PIN to better protect their identity.

If you forgot last year's Self-Select signature ID, you'll need to provide your 2021 adjusted gross income (AGI) for verification purposes. See this help article for information on how to obtain your 2021 AGI. 

See this help article for more information about the Self-Select signature ID.

Per IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/self-select-pin-method-for-forms-1040-and-4868-modernized-e-file-mef#PIN5, I need to leave my PIN blank if I am a first time filer.  How can I do that in TurboTax?  TurboTax won't allow me to continue if the PIN is blank.  Thanks!

From the information in your previous post, I had understood that you were filing in TurboTax for the first time, but that you filed using another method in the past, since you got the rejection message "IND-031-04 - The primary taxpayer's AGI or Self-select PIN from last year does not match IRS records".  

If you don't have the PIN you used last year to file a return, then you need to obtain your AGI from last year's return as per my previous response.

See the comments in this thread for more examples.

No.  I never, ever filed any tax before.  This is the first time in my life.

If this is your first time filing  AND the zero AGI trick did not work then your only option is to mail in the return this year. 

If you select to file with the Mail-In Option (US MAIL)

TurboTax should skip all this rigamarole.

start again at the FILE tab.

As I said before, IRS will record the AGI on your 2022 tax return.

My husband and I both have IP pins. TurboTax never asked for the prior year's AGI and it auto generated a self select Pin for each of us. Our return was accepted. Is this because we both had IRS issued IP pins? 

IRS requires that you enter either the AGI or the self-select PIN from last year.

as far as I can tell TurboTax does not support the prior year self-select PIN.

TurboTax may be entering  your AGI from last year's filing  if you used the program last year.

If IRS assigned an IP PIN, that must also be entered.

@Boombaby99 

@fanfare I found the answer on the IRS website. The IP PIN acts as the identifier instead of last year's AGI or previous year's self select PIN. You must always use the IP PIN, but you can change the self select pin and don't need to enter the previous AGI. 

@Boombaby99 

Thanks.

I think that is a new simplified procedure with IP PIN.

My wife has a IP Pin but it keeps rejecting the return due to her last year AGI or self select line being incorrect. I thought the IP Pin would be the only verification needed so why is it being removed due to last year's AGI or self select pin?

No, the IRS needs both the IP PIN and your last year AGI for Efiling.  You don't need to enter a Self Select PIN.

Here's How to Add or Remove an IP PIN and How to Find Last Year's AGI.

If you're using TurboTax Online, close the program, clear Cache and Cookies, then return to FILE.

@rayj212 

I did not have to enter my previous year AGI and the IRS already accepted my return. The only thing I can think is that TurboTax or my computer saved my self select pin from last year because I didn't enter that either. There was already a pin there. The IRS website, as highlighted above, says you shouldn't need your previous year's AGI or self select pin as an identifier. Maybe because this is a new thing, the system is glitching? 

@MarilynG1 

I'm not sure, but I didn't have to enter in my previous year's AGI and the IRS website says you shouldn't have to. But since it seems to be glitching, I would just look at your return from last year and enter in last year's AGI. Also double check that the IP Pin is correct. 

@rayj212 

"No, the IRS needs both the IP PIN and your last year AGI for Efiling.  You don't need to enter a Self Select PIN."

that's not what the IRS text says and it contradicts what other users have reported.

IP PIN is now sufficient to e-File . Turbotax supports this, according to the forum, but other tax sofware may not.

@MarilynG1 

Otherwise, if TurboTax still needs "both the IP PIN and your last year AGI for Efiling" then the software needs updating. As far as I can tell, TurboTax has never supported last year's self-select PIN alone instead of last year's AGI, as other tax software will.

That's what's so frustrating. I'm using the correct IP Pin and correct AGI and it's still getting rejected. It seems like there is a glitch in the program so now they are saying I have to mail in my return. 

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@rayj212 wrote:

That's what's so frustrating. I'm using the correct IP Pin and correct AGI and it's still getting rejected. It seems like there is a glitch in the program so now they are saying I have to mail in my return. 

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If you entered the 6 digit IP PIN and the 2023 AGI and your tax return is being rejected by the IRS, then there is a good possibility that the IRS does not have your 2023 AGI in their database.

Try entering a 0 (zero) for the 2023 AGI and e-file the 2024 tax return again.

I've tried that, and they do have the correct AGI as we've checked the IRS transcript for last year.  

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@rayj212 wrote:

I've tried that, and they do have the correct AGI as we've checked the IRS transcript for last year.  

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Then you will have to print, sign, date and mail the federal tax return to the IRS.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for how to print a tax return for mailing when using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/printers-printing/print-mail-return-turbotax-online/L5bwuqXGy_US_en_US?uid=m76a5ke4

Make sure you include a copy of all forms W-2 and 1099 which have taxes withheld with the tax return.

Go to this IRS website for the mailing address of a federal tax return, by state, with and without a tax payment - https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment

That's a terrible answer. Maybe TurboTax should fix the problem not just say to mail it in

I agree.  This is TurboTax answer to me last year as well and I ended up mailing in the tax instead of e-filing.

My story is that in 2023, it asked for pin in 2022, but I did not have the filing for 2022, so there is no record of last year e-pin number.  The software asked for the last year e-pin, but since there was no 2022, I am stuck.

Fast forward to 2024, I am again asked for 2023 which I did not e-file because of the same problem.  It looks like I am stuck again because of this e-pin issue.

This will be two years in the row that I have to mail in the tax because Turbo Tax did not fix the problem with this e-pin issue.

I am truly disappointed in Turbo Tax for not having the answer for the problem that plague so many users.

" I am again asked for 2023 which I did not e-file because of the same problem. "

Please tell me where TurboTax asks for the prior-year PIN, such that you know it is the prior PIN ,

not the to-be-selected new PIN. As far as I can determine from forum comments TurboTax does not ask for a prior PIN.

Thanks.

@ngoc2 

@ngoc2 

You don't need the prior PIN to e-File if you have the prior AGI.

IRS accepts either.

The prior year was never asked but when I put in the e-pin, it stated invalid pin was entered for prior year pin.