What Is a TPIN and How Do You Get One?
Demystify the TPIN: understand this key digital identifier, its role in securing online interactions, and how to manage it for your peace of mind.
A Transaction Personal Identification Number (TPIN) serves as a digital authentication tool designed to enhance the security of online financial and tax interactions. This unique identifier helps confirm a user’s identity and authorizes specific actions within secure digital platforms, protecting sensitive information.
Understanding TPIN
In the United States tax system, two main types of TPINs are used: the IRS Self-Select PIN and the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). The Self-Select PIN is a five-digit number taxpayers choose to electronically sign their federal tax returns. The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prevent tax-related identity theft, serving as a safeguard for sensitive taxpayer information.
Generating Your TPIN
The process for obtaining IRS-related PINs varies by type. The Self-Select PIN is created during the e-filing process. You choose any five-digit number, excluding all zeros, as your electronic signature. To validate it, provide your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your prior year’s tax return or the Self-Select PIN used previously. If filing for the first time or not having filed in the prior year, enter $0 for your prior year AGI.
The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), by contrast, is issued by the IRS. Individuals who have been victims of tax-related identity theft automatically receive an IP PIN via mail each year. To proactively protect your tax account, an IP PIN can be requested online through the IRS “Get an IP PIN” tool. This online method requires creating an IRS online account and verifying your identity, which may involve uploading a government-issued photo ID and taking a selfie. Once verified, the IP PIN is available immediately through your online account.
Using Your TPIN
Once generated, your TPIN authenticates your federal income tax return when e-filing. When submitting your tax return electronically through tax software or an authorized e-file provider, you will be prompted to enter your five-digit Self-Select PIN as your digital signature. This acts as your consent to file the return.
If you have an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), its use is mandatory for any federal tax return filed for that calendar year. Your tax software will have a specific field for this IP PIN. Failure to include a required IP PIN will result in the rejection of your electronically filed return. This applies to all individuals on the return who have an IP PIN, including spouses and dependents.
Protecting Your TPIN
Keep your Self-Select PIN and Identity Protection PIN confidential to maintain the security of your financial and tax information. Avoid sharing them with anyone other than your trusted tax professional when filing. The IRS will never request your IP PIN via phone calls, emails, or text messages; consider any such requests scams.
If you forget your Self-Select PIN, use your prior year’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to verify your identity when e-filing. If you lose or forget your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), retrieve it online through your IRS online account. If online access is not feasible, the IRS provides a phone number for assistance. Identity verification is required to reissue the PIN, which may take several weeks to receive by mail.