How irs.gov Helps Protect You Against Tax Scams and Identity Theft

irs.gov offers three practical protections: an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) that blocks anyone else from filing a return with your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a reporting channel for suspected tax scams, fraud, or identity theft, and guidance for verifying whether a contact claiming to be the IRS is genuine. These tools are most useful if you file electronically or on paper and want a safeguard against someone filing a false return in your name, or if you have received a suspicious call, email, or letter.

Use an IP PIN to Block Fraudulent Returns

An IP PIN is a six-digit number known only to you and the IRS. According to the IRS, it prevents someone else from filing a tax return with your SSN or ITIN and helps the agency verify your identity when you file, whether electronically or on paper.

How to get or manage your IP PIN

The IRS lists three ways to obtain one:

• Online: Sign in to or create an IRS account to get an IP PIN.
• By application: Use the IP PIN application option described on the site.
• In person: Arrange an in-person option where available.

If you already have an IP PIN but lost it, the site provides a way to retrieve or reissue it. Keep in mind that an IP PIN is an annual safeguard tied to filing season — you will need your current PIN when you file, so store it somewhere secure and do not share it.

What to expect

Once you have an IP PIN, any return filed under your SSN or ITIN without that number should be rejected by the IRS's verification process. This is the main reason to request one if you have reason to believe your SSN is exposed.

Report Tax Scams, Fraud, or Identity Theft

irs.gov provides a dedicated path to report suspected tax scams, fraud, or identity theft. Use it when:

• You receive a message or call demanding payment or personal information that claims to be from the IRS.
• You discover a return was filed in your name that you did not submit.
• You suspect someone is using your SSN or ITIN.

Reporting early matters because a fraudulent return can delay your legitimate refund and complicate your tax records.

Tell Whether a Contact Is Really the IRS

The site includes guidance on how to know it's the IRS. Use it to check a suspicious contact before you respond. As a general rule reflected in that guidance, the IRS initiates contact about a tax debt through mail, not by demanding immediate payment by phone or threatening arrest. If a caller or email pressures you for gift cards, wire transfers, or sensitive data, treat it as a scam and report it through the channel above.

Where These Tools Fit Alongside Your Account

These protections work together with an IRS account, which the site describes as a place to access and manage personal tax information, view tax records and transcripts, check refund status, and make payments. If you want the full set of self-service options, creating an account is the starting point; the IP PIN and reporting tools are the security layer on top of it.

Start with an IP PIN if your main concern is someone filing in your name, and use the reporting channel for anything that already looks like an attempt.