IRS Pin mismatch

[MJ_V]

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]

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

[fanfare]

@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]

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.

[fanfare]

the way you wrote it at first above makes it sound like you can't e-File with a 5-digiit PIN.

[macuser_22]

I do not think that I  said that.    I said "filing pin".    Up until a few years ago the IRS had a website to obtain a "filing pin " - that is how I got mine.   After hackers figured out how to obtain a filing pin and file fake tax returns the IRS got rid of the website and the pin became known as a "self selected pin".  Now that the self selected pin has been abused the IRS now calls it a signature pin and it can no longer be used for identification.  It is still there because of the law that Congress passed to allow electronic signing of tax returns (or other electronic documents) so the signature pin replaces your written signature and by law has the same meaning.

(Actually my "canned" answer is really about IP pins but I included the 5 digit signature pin in case of confusion between the two.  It was not intended to create additional confusion.)

[fanfare]

" the IRS now calls it a signature pin and it can no longer be used for identification. "

It can be used for Identification on a 2019 return because I used it without AGI.

And I will use it again in 2021 on my 2020 return, unless it is disabled at that time. I don't think it will be.