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

[macuser_22]

Nobody here or at TurboTax can help with a required IP PIN issued by the IRS.   You would be wasting your time to call TurboTax because ONLY the IRS can issue or replace a lost IP PIN - TurboTax cannot help.

Unfortunately until the Corona virus IRS phone shutdown is over, there is probably nothing you can do but wait.

[epearson63]

i just got reading all the advice, and thank you for everyones input. i think we are all screwed who is having this issue right now (for now). there are road blocks everywhere to get our stimulus checks because we need our ip pin to file for the check, and cant get ther ip pin we have to verify our identity and the only way to do that is to have  credit or loans ( but we dont have credit cards or loans)!!! and to let them know that, we have to call the irs but  we cant get through to the irs cause the virus. cant irs phone people work from home? i hope this issue gets addressed soon!! its going to suck when everyone is getting there checks and ill be screwed cauuse they make you jump through hoops to get this pin #. (which i8 understand they make it hard so no one gets my info ) but its very frustrating. i dont think they thought of the issue people would have at hand. im glad im not the only one whos having this problem. please keep this chat going and if any one has new info please share it. my personal email is [email address removed]. (please email me if you find out anything and i willn do the same) thank you 

[Toyaw83]

I am unable to get my id pin number what do i do ???

[KelleeaShank]

I'm wondering if it would  be beneficial for me to file my taxes as married filing single (I was never issued a pin, just my husband) . I would at least be able to put in our bank info and hopefully that'll at least give us my $1200 of the stimulus check and when the irs is able to provide his pin, then we can file his taxes separately and hopefully they'll mail him his stimulus check later. Thoughts/opinions???

[Mithrandir23]

Unfortunately, it seems that Macuser above is correct.  Heres a few facts that may help what is undoubtedly thousands if not millions of us that have been issued an IP PIN in the past:

Some of the information in previous posts is misleading.  Here is what I have learned:

1. Your E-File pin is very different from you Identity Protection Pin (IP PIN).  Entering your AGI for 2018 or entering 0 for your E-FILE PIN does work for us "Non-Filers" but has absolutely NOTHING to do with an IP PIN.  One is 5-digit for example, the other is 6 digit, and they have completely different sections on your "Non-Filer" form submission.  Save yourself some time and disregard the previous posts about this being an IP PIN alternative, as I tried it all with no success.

2.Many, many people, even those who keep meticulous records like myself, never received an IP PIN in January like they usually do.  My opinion is that more than likely they were never sent, but I have yet to confirm this.

3. The IRS website requires an active credit card number, auto loan, mortgage, or student loan to have your IP PIN "reissued", which we clearly do not have.  However many people report having a credit card, trying to use it, and still not able to have their IP PIN reissued to them.  If this has or has not worked for you please post here, as I am considering getting a credit card just for this occasion and do not want to waste my time if it doesn't work anyway.  

4.  All IRS offices, including local ones, are not taking calls (appointed or not), and give the same pre-recorded message about COVID-19.  Thats right folks, some how the IRS phone lines are non-essential during the pandemic.  If someone tries to give you that same number to have your IP PIN mailed to you then scold them appropriately.  

That being said, here are my ideas on some possible workarounds, as for some of us the need is dire and simply waiting is not an option::

1.  Get a credit card just for this occasion and use it to prove your identity to the IRS.  As mentioned above there is a possibility this still wont work, Please post here if this does or does not work for you to help inform the community as this is the most up to date forum I have found on the subject. 

2.  Talk to my bank about getting a small "auto loan" and then have that immediately repaid by the direct deposit of the stimulus check.  Im sure large corporate branches will not go for this as they make their money on loans through interest and do not really want you paying them back quickly, but smaller local branches may do it out of the kindness of their heart.  But again, these two ideas still might not work if the system used to verify your identity through the IRS this way doesnt work.  

Please, post your ideas and experiences here and I will continue to do the same.

[macuser_22]

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@Mithrandir23 wrote:

1.  Get a credit card just for this occasion and use it to prove your identity to the IRS.  As mentioned above there is a possibility this still wont work, Please post here if this does or does not work for you to help inform the community as this is the most up to date forum I have found on the subject. 

2.  Talk to my bank about getting a small "auto loan" and then have that immediately repaid by the direct deposit of the stimulus check.  Im sure large corporate branches will not go for this as they make their money on loans through interest and do not really want you paying them back quickly, but smaller local branches may do it out of the kindness of their heart.  But again, these two ideas still might not work if the system used to verify your identity through the IRS this way doesnt work.  

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FYI:  Simply getting a credit card or bank loan itself might make no difference unless the credit information is submitted to the 3 major credit reporting services (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax).   The IRS does not interdependently verify the information you give them.   Those are the same questions asked by the credit report services and the IRS uses one of those services and your answers your verify that there is a credit report in your name and SSN.    If a lender or CC company does not report anything then there will not be any credit report.   You can pull your own credit report from those companies for free to verify.

[rtgiilbert]

Im new to the whole tax filing scene and have never gotten any of the forms for the ip pin therefore i do not have one. I need to e-file my taxes because i can not afford to wait several weekd for the return. Is there anyway i can still e-file without that ridiculous pin?

[rtgiilbert]

see every time ive clicked "get my ippin" I go to sign up or rather register an account I get told that my information does not match their records. OF COURSE IT DOESNT HINTS THE NEW ACCOUNT...…...

[macuser_22]

If you never filed before then why do you think you need an IP PIN?  That is mainly for victims of ID theft.

[rtgiilbert]

ive never filed taxes before so I dont of the AGI or IPPIN you get on your return. 

[macuser_22]

Leave the IP PIN blank and enter 0 for the AGI.

[rtgiilbert]

my taxes of been rejected every single time ive tried because I dont have the pin

[macuser_22]

If the reject specifically says you need the IP PIN then the IRS has sent one to you. 

If the IRS database says you must have it then you cannot e-file without it.  Currently with the Corona virus shut down there does not appear to be able to do anything but wait or paper file and the IRS is not currently possessing mailed returns.

The ONLY other option is to pay a professional tax preparer to file using professional software that does not require the IP PIN because the professional must verify your identity in person and you must physically sign a release for the professional to e-file for you.

[epearson63]

Thank you so much for the responses. This is def a cluster f#ck!! I wanted to comment in getting a credit card or small loan. I have bad credit and don't have much of it to be honest so that could be a problem. In Dec i got a jcpenny cc by my surprise cause I can NEVER GET THOSE!!  So when it came to verify who i was I was stoked because I actually had one!! Anyways. .they ask for the last 8 digits on ur card. And it came back error!!! And i tried a few times. U looked into my credit card account cause....i know....wait for it....i owe them money!! Big surprise there ! My account is past due so they closed it do to none payment ...im guessing tgats why i could not proceed. My point is that a lot of us cant get cc or loans...and if u can yeah whats it gonna hurt...? But boy what a hassel. U hope this helps somewhat. Any one on the same boat as me and whats to comment about possible solutions please do 🙂 I hope we can get to the bottom of this so we can all get our check cause I dont know about ya all but im freakin broke as **bleep**. Good night. 🙂  :(

[Butters101]

This is crap!!!! The IRS issue a ip pin number to me. They did not get my address fully right. Who ever put down my address did not put my apartment number, and they wont fix it. So now I don't have to file and yet they want a number they wont give me! A couple of years ago I called IRS, and that was a complete waste of life on the phone. Now I don't have a credit card or a student loan nor a mortgage. HOW AM I TO GET THE  STEMULUS? They cant mail it to me because of the idiot could not put the correct info in. and I cant get it Direct deposit because they did not send my ip pin to the address on my W4s. Oh and can not call them either, that is understandable. May all  be healthy.