topic Re: IP PIN in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

IP PIN

cp246 — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:07:19 GMT

My tax return was rejected b/c I forgot to enter my IP PIN. I went back into my return to correct the problem. I navigated to the "Personal" tab; selected "Other Tax Situations" and scrolled down to "Other Return Info." When I clicked on "Start" I got the following message: "Hmm, looks like we've hit a snag. We recommend you revisit the last topic you were working on to make sure all your info's correct."

I have tried clicking through all topics and sections again and have also restarted the software, but I continue to get the same message when I attempt to enter my IP PIN. The only difference now is the button has changed from "Start" to "Update" next to the "Identity protection PIN" section.

Re: IP PIN

user17600572091 — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:49:45 GMT

I have the same issue! Please let me know if you get an answer.

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:29:54 GMT

@ cp246 and @ user17600572091

Several desktop users have reported that problem with the IP PIN section this afternoon/evening.

If you are using desktop software, you can also enter the 6-digit IP PIN in Forms Mode on the Federal Information Worksheet, Part VII. Go to Forms Mode, and in the left column forms list choose "Info Wks". That should be the Federal Information Worksheet. Scroll down to Part VII, and the IP PIN should be the first item in that part of the worksheet. Please report back if that worked for you.

Also, is your software up to date?

Re: IP PIN

cp246 — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 02:03:43 GMT

@mesquitebean @user17600572091

Won't know for certain until the IRS accepts the return, but this appears to have worked. I had previously attempted to add it directly in forms mode, but was not on the right worksheet. 1040 wouldn't accept the change directly. Thanks for the help!!!

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:35:01 GMT

@ cp246 wrote:
Won't know for certain until the IRS accepts the return, but this appears to have worked. I had previously attempted to add it directly in forms mode, but was not on the right worksheet. 1040 wouldn't accept the change directly. Thanks for the help!!!

I'm glad that method has worked for you (at least so far). Good luck!

Yeah, you can't enter it directly on the Form 1040. You have to do it on that Federal Information Worksheet, Part VII, then it flows from that worksheet to the Form 1040.

I've seen several users with this issue this afternoon/evening, so I've asked it be reported to Moderators so they can report it to developers.

Re: IP PIN

cp246 — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:43:24 GMT

As expected, IRS accepted the return this time. Thanks again, @mesquitebean Was a huge help! And thanks for forwarding it up the chain of command so others may be spared. lol

Re: IP PIN

eznoh — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 23:48:43 GMT

That did not work for me. The IP PIN that e-file submits is only 5 digits and the PIN is 6

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:09:08 GMT

@ eznoh wrote:
That did not work for me. The IP PIN that e-file submits is only 5 digits and the PIN is 6

This is an old thread from the last year when the IP PIN section was temporarily malfunctioning at the time. You should be able to enter it in the normal fashion once you go to the correct place. I will give you the steps below.

The 6-digit IP PIN is not entered in the FILE section. It is entered in an entirely different section and is completely different from the 5-digit "signing PIN". Here's where to enter the 6-digit IP PIN:

Federal Taxes tab (except it's the Personal tab in Home and Business)

Subtab "Other Tax Situations"

On the Other Tax Situations screen scroll down to "Other Return Info"

Use subtopic that says "IP PIN".

NOTE: The 5-digit PIN in the FILE section is a "signing PIN" and is not related to the IP PIN. When efiling, the signing PIN can be any 5 digits of your choice (except cannot be all zeros), and the screen will say that. It is on a screen with today's date and your birth date that appears near the end of the efiling process.

Re: IP PIN

eznoh — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:13:11 GMT

The rejection message says: IND-181-01 - The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for the first taxpayer on your return is missing.

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:39:55 GMT

@ eznoh wrote:
The rejection message says: IND-181-01 - The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for the first taxpayer on your return is missing.

Did you enter the 6-digit IP PIN in the correct place I mentioned above using the steps I provided earlier today? Did you find that category OK; i.e., in "Other Tax Situations>Other Return Info>IP PIN?"? I can make a screen image if needed.

Did you enter it for the "first taxpayer" on the return?

If so, are you sure it is the correct IP PIN? You have to get a new IP PIN every calendar year. Did you get and use your new IP PIN for this year? Some people get their new IP PIN each year in a letter from the IRS usually each January, while others (mainly those who opted in) do not get letters but can retrieve their new IP PIN each year in their online IRS account. How did you receive your new IP PIN to use for calendar year 2026--in an IRS letter or in your online IRS account?

Re: IP PIN

eznoh — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:57:30 GMT

I got it from the IRS website today.

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:23:12 GMT

@ eznoh wrote:
I got it from the IRS website today.

Then that should indeed be new then. So are you all squared away now about how to get to the IP PIN questions and where to enter it so you can resubmit your efile? BTW, are you using Online TurboTax or the desktop version?

This user forum works like a bulletin board, not a chat. So there can be long intervals before someone responds.

Re: IP PIN

eznoh — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:54:25 GMT

I've done all that and TT (Windows desktop version) even lets you edit the IP PIN you will be submitting but it only allows 5 characters and my PIN is 6. My e-file was rejected 4 or 5 times yesterday. Looks like paper for me. 😓

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:21:01 GMT

@ eznoh wrote:
I've done all that and TT (Windows desktop version) even lets you edit the IP PIN you will be submitting but it only allows 5 characters and my PIN is 6. My e-file was rejected 4 or 5 times yesterday. Looks like paper for me. 😓

Since you are using desktop software, have you checked for the latest TurboTax updates?

If it were me, I wouldn't file on paper unless it was a last resort. A paper return guarantees that a return will not be processed for weeks or longer. The filing deadline is still a month off. If necessary, you could phone TurboTax Support (link below) to see if there's any known IP PIN entry issue pending repair, but there is not a noticeable increase in people posting IP PIN issues in the forum. Look at the 2 images I posted below. Is the first one what your screen looks like (or similar) when entering the 6 digits?

It's also possible to enter the IP PIN in Forms Mode on the Federal Information Worksheet, Part VII. Or is it not working there either?? See this image:

Otherwise, if you wish, you can phone TurboTax Customer Support to see if there is any known issue.

Hours are 5AM-9PM Pacific, 7 days/week.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/contact/

Re: IP PIN

eznoh — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:03:37 GMT

Thanks for the help but I'm done.

Mike

Re: IP PIN

mesquitebean — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 01:34:16 GMT

@ eznoh wrote:
Thanks for the help but I'm done.

You're welcome. Sorry I can't explain why you're having difficulty. I don't know if the folks at TurobTax customer support have been getting any calls on this issue or not. If I see folks in the forum reporting it, I'll post back.

As you likely already know, if you do file by mailing a paper return, you should still enter the IP PIN on your return (manually in this case.) It's down in the signature section just to the right of the occupation field. It's recommended to mail by a method that has tracking. The filing instructions for a mailed return should print out with the return, or you can get them in Forms Mode from the forms list. It may not appear there in the list until after you change the filing method from efile to mail.

Re: IP PIN

Brown1186 — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:26:08 GMT

Thank you ! Going to the worksheet to enter the pin worked for me. I was trying to enter it on the form.

Re: IP PIN

Cbbutler07 — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:46:52 GMT

I signed into to www.irs.gov/getanippin to verify my IP PIN. There was some sort of glitch or error on the original IP PIN on the IRS end and they revised my IP PIN!

Re: IP PIN

user17742953601 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:50:29 GMT

This doesn't work on my desktop version of Deluxe. I can find where the PIN should be input, but when I type it in, nothing happens and it's not saved.

Re: IP PIN

CatinaT1 — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:07:00 GMT

Do you have your new IP Pin to use for 2026? This number changes every year.

You can get an Identity Protection pin here, or if you lost your IP PIN, you can go here to Retrieve IP PIN.

Here are two ways to navigate to the section to enter the 6 digit IP PIN:

Log in and open your return ("Take me to my return")
Once the return is open, then go to the Federal Taxes tab.
Subtab Other Tax Situations
Scroll down to Other Return Info.
Choose Identity Protection PIN and Start (or Revisit.)
Next screen asks: "Did you or any of your dependents get an IP PIN from the IRS for this year's taxes?"

Or another way:

Open your return if not already open. ("Take me to my return.")
Once the return is open, click at the top on MY ACCOUNT, then choose TOOLS.
In the Tools window choose TOPIC SEARCH.
Enter IP PIN without quotes.
In the selection list highlight IP PIN and click GO.
Next screen asks: "Did you or any of your dependents get an IP PIN from the IRS for this year's taxes?"

Here's how you can fix a reject:

Sign in to your account and select the Fix my return button. Follow any “fix it” instructions to update the information causing the rejection.

Note: Not all rejections will have explicit guides to fix the information. You’ll need to navigate to the program area to address the cause of the rejection.

Time-saving Tip: If what you originally entered is correct, you won't be able to e-file. There's probably a data mismatch at the government, a dependent that's already been claimed, or some other situation beyond your control that prevents your return from being e-filed. In this case, your only option would be to print and mail in your return. This article will give you instruction on how to print and mail your return.

Additional reject instruction here.