Your New Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

Why you might get this

• You signed up for or were placed in the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, which adds a security code to your tax return.
• You had an identity theft issue in the past, so the IRS now sends you a new PIN every year.
• The IRS mails this notice each December or January with your next PIN — it's a routine yearly update, not a sign of a new problem.

The deadline

This notice does not set a payment or reply deadline. The main timing point is that you need your IP PIN ready when you file your federal tax return for the year. Keep the notice with your tax records until then.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Find the 6-digit IP PIN printed on the notice and keep it somewhere safe and private.
2. Enter the IP PIN in the correct spot when you file Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, or 1040-SS.
3. If you file electronically, make sure every family member who got an IP PIN (you, your spouse, and any dependents) enters theirs with their own Social Security number.
4. On a paper return, write your PIN in the 'Identity Protection PIN' box next to your signature (and your spouse's box for a second PIN).
5. Only use this PIN for federal returns — if your state has its own PIN, that's a separate one.
6. Do not share your IP PIN with anyone except your tax preparer.
7. You can also sign in to your IRS Online Account to view and download this notice.

What happens if you ignore it

If you file without entering your IP PIN, the IRS will reject an electronically filed return, and a paper return may take longer to process — which can delay any refund you're owed. You won't be fined for the notice itself, but you can't skip the PIN when you file.

If you can't find your IP PIN or think you may have another identity theft issue after getting this notice, you can retrieve or replace your PIN through the IRS 'Get an IP PIN' tool or by contacting the IRS. If you experience new identity theft after receiving CP01A, you may need to file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit). Free help is available through the Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

What the CP01A notice means for you

Getting a CP01A notice is usually good news, not a warning. It means you're part of the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, and the IRS is sending you a new 6-digit IP PIN — a secret code that proves a tax return is really coming from you.

You'll get a new one by mail every December or January. Store it with your tax records and treat it like a password: only your tax preparer should ever see it.

When you file your federal return, enter the PIN in the right spot. If you e-file, everyone in your household who received a PIN must enter their own. If you file on paper, it goes in the "Identity Protection PIN" box beside your signature. Leaving it off can get an e-filed return rejected or slow down a paper one — and delay your refund.

Remember, this PIN only works for federal returns. If your state issues its own PIN, that's separate.

If you lose your PIN or run into a new identity theft problem, the IRS can help you recover it.

Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so you're not caught off guard when a notice like this shows up.