Tax Year Prior to 2020: Unable to get IP PIN number because I don't have any credit card or loans. Do I have to send in paper return and not file online

[jrobinsonchicago]

Same here. I never filed for an IP Pin. When I submit the stimulus form I get denied for IND-181-01. That means that you are required to provide an IP Pin on your application. The problem is I don't have one, and I never signed up or requested one.

When I went to the IRS website trying to retrieve it, I put in all of my correct information. When I got to step two I put in a valid credit card. That didn't work. Then I put in a valid student loan. That didn't work. Then I put in another valid credit card. That didn't work either.

Every time I receive an error message that says the addresses, credit cards and student loans I've provided don't match their records. Then it locks me out for 24 hours.

Because they won't accept any of the information that I know for a fact is correct, and because you can't call to get your IP Pin anymore, it looks like we won't be getting a stimulus check. Pretty ridiculous to require something like an IP Pin if no one can access it.

[gpolll3505]

I agree with you.  There are many of us unable to get an IRS-issued PIN by trying to use their GET IP PIN website, as the site doesn't recognize any of the input criteria (e.g. credit cards, student loans, etc.) as a match for their records, same as your experience.

The IRS needs to expand their criteria, e.g. allowing the input of last year's AGI as a valid identity check.  As the GET IP PIN operates now, it is too much of a burden on tax payers. 

Turbotax experts, if you have any means of raising awareness about this issue to the IRS, please chime in.

[macuser_22]

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@jrobinsonchicago wrote:

Same here. I never filed for an IP Pin. When I submit the stimulus form I get denied for IND-181-01. That means that you are required to provide an IP Pin on your application. The problem is I don't have one, and I never signed up or requested one.

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You can never "sign up" or "request" an IP PIN.   The IRS issues them based on criteria that the IRS does not share.   Most often it has nothing to do with you at all, but what the IRS suspects might be potential fraudulent returns filed by other filers.    It is all part of the IRS clamp down on tax fraud and ID theft that taxpayers (and Congress) have demanded that the IRS take action on.

Currently there is no really good way for a taxpayer to identify themselves on a e-filed tax return.   They used to use 5 digit pins but stopped using those after hackers and ID thieves learned to defeat it.   Now they only use last years AGI, but ID thieves have learned that a large percentage of taxpayers do not have a 2018 AGI so 0 works.

Even the IP PIN recovery tool seems to be shut down because hackers figured a way to defeat it.

[jrobinsonchicago]

Then how are we supposed to get our IP PIN so that we can file for the stimulus and unemployment if you can't call and the IP PIN recovery website is not working? It's a catch 22. Those of us who don't have or know our IP PIN are screwed.

[macuser_22]

There is no answer to that question currently, until the IRS re-opens.

[Butters101]

Well I think after countless hours and days trying to find an answer, I do have it. AND INTUIT IS A JOKE. Not just THEY created both, Turbo Tax and irs.gov website. But they offer no help that make people get the answers and intuit knows but wont tell. They just make us run in circles getting nowhere. 

SO here is the ANSWER all us must do to fix this problem.  

Go to your search engine and look up the 1040 form and download it with the PDF and mail it to the IRS. 

[Butters101]

Well either way you still have to mail in

[macuser_22]

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@Butters101 wrote:

Well I think after countless hours and days trying to find an answer, I do have it. AND INTUIT IS A JOKE. Not just THEY created both, Turbo Tax and irs.gov website. But they offer no help that make people get the answers and intuit knows but wont tell. They just make us run in circles getting nowhere. 

SO here is the ANSWER all us must do to fix this problem.  

Go to your search engine and look up the 1040 form and download it with the PDF and mail it to the IRS. 

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TurboTax has nothing to do with IP PIN's whatsoever - that is an IRS inventions and requirement.

Why would you want do do your tax manually when you can just print it from TurboTax and mail it the same way?

Of course, you can always download blank forms from the IRS.

Here is the link:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

Of course if you need any of the additional schedules to attach then it can become complicated (that is why people use tax software that automatically adds and fills out the necessary schedules.)

Also keep in mind that the IRS is not currently processing any mailed returns - just storing them until the IRS re-opens and by then the backlog of mail will take a long time.

[Butters101]

Well that would work but one thing. IF you can not get or obtain your IPpin like for example this year. We the People need these answers up front. I did Turbo Tax and would like to know where to find the print your tax form? 

[macuser_22]

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@Butters101 wrote:

Well that would work but one thing. IF you can not get or obtain your IPpin like for example this year. We the People need these answers up front. I did Turbo Tax and would like to know where to find the print your tax form? 

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The IP PIN (if required by the IRS) is ONLY for e-file.  There is  no IP PIN for mailed tax returns.

To print your tax return instead of e-file then in the File tab choose mail (print) instead of e-file.

[Butters101]

That is what I just said.  If you can't get your IP pin then your going to MAIL in your forms.

[jrobinsonchicago]

If you're going to mail it in, forget about getting a stimulus check, PPU, or unemployment. The IRS has been out for weeks and won't be back for several more.

If you mail your return in it won't be seen for months, then they're going to deny it because there's no IP Pin on your paper file. You'll then have to go through an additional identity verification process. This is right off the IRS website.

If you need help now, and can't access your IP PIN, forget about ever getting financial help. By the time the IRS gets back, the window to apply will be closed. 

[Gonzo113]

I get the exact same message 😪 I'm trying to login to my account and I cant I put my address name social and birthdate and it says information not matched it's really aggravating 

[jrobinsonchicago]

Wait until you get past that step. Then theres more ID verification questions. You'll have to enter the last 8 numbers of a credit card, a student loan account number, a mortgage account number, or a home equity line of credit account number.

Then when you do that, it will tell you none of the information matches. I tried all four of my active credit cards and two active student loan numbers. They're all valid numbers and it tells me they arent.

Then, it says you have more options to get your IP Pin. It tells you that you can call and get it. Nope! The IRS is closed indefinitely until further notice.

Not really appropriate for the IRS to be out of the office when we are on the verge of a financial crisis. Our tax dollars hard at work. 

[bd6510]

I need to file my taxes. But unable to get Personal pin and I don't have any loans or credit cards or a cell phone bill in my name