IRS Pin mismatch

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 13, 2020
6 replies
27 views

2019 TurboTax Deluxe will only allow a five digit pin to be entered while using the efile format. The IRS sent me a six digit pin for efiling. How do you address the issue?

macuser_22

Alumni - Champ

There are two types of pins:

1) The personal 5-digit filing pin that the IRS no longer issues or uses, but will still honor the pin that was used in 2018 if you know what it was. Now the IRS only used the 2018 AGI for filing identification.

2) The Identity Protection (IP Pin) which is a 6-digit pin issued each year by the IRS that the IRS mails to you each year that it is needed. It changes every year so you cannot use last years IP Pin.

If the IP Pin required by the IRS you cannot e-file without the IP PIN.

If you lost or did not receive it then your only options are to:

1) use the IP PIN recovery site:
https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin

2) Wait for the phone service to return.
Presently, because of the Corona virus shutdown, the IRS is not taking calls.

3) Print and mail file. (The IRS is currently only storing incoming mail until the IRS reopens).
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**

fanfare

Level 15

@macuser_22

"1) The personal 5-digit filing pin that the IRS no longer issues or uses, but will still honor the pin that was used in 2018 if you know what it was. Now the IRS only used the 2018 AGI for filing identification."

why do you say that? I just e-Filed and selected my new PIN for 2021.

macuser_22

Alumni - Champ

The electronic self-selected "signature' pin is not the same as the previous filing pin (entered in the same place). Did you also enter your 2018 AGI? Using the prior year "filing pin" does not require entering the 2018 AGI at all. If you have a prior year self-selected pin (or IRS issued pin that they used to issue via a website) then you can still use it as identification instead of the 2018 AGI.

See this IRS article.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/electronic-filing-pin-request

[quote]

When self-preparing your taxes and filing electronically, you must sign and validate your electronic tax return by entering your prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or your prior-year Self-Select PIN.

Using an electronic filing PIN is no longer an option. Generally, tax software automatically enters the information for returning customers. If you are using a software product for the first time, you may have to enter the information yourself.

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**