CP01H: Your Account Is Locked Due to a Social Security Number Match With a Deceased Person

Why you might get this

• The IRS received information showing that your Social Security number (SSN) matches a number for someone who died before the tax year of your return.
• If you filed jointly, your spouse's SSN may be the one that triggered the match.
• You may have typed your SSN or your spouse's SSN incorrectly on the return.
• The IRS locked your account to help protect you from identity theft, so it will not process the return until the issue is fixed.

The deadline

This notice does not set a strict legal deadline to reply, but your return will stay unprocessed until you fix the Social Security number records and send the IRS the documents it asks for. Follow the timing and instructions printed on your own notice, and act promptly so your return can move forward.

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

What to do

1. Check that the SSN you entered for yourself, and for your spouse if you filed jointly, matches the number on your Social Security card exactly.
2. If a number was typed wrong, correct it and follow the instructions on your notice to refile.
3. If the number is correct, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to fix their records.
4. After the SSA corrects their records, mail the documents to the address at the top of your notice: a copy of your CP01H notice, a written request to unlock the account, and your tax return with original signatures.
5. Include a photocopy of at least one government-issued ID, such as a passport, driver's license, Social Security card, or other valid U.S. federal or state ID.
6. File your return following the notice's instructions once the SSA record is fixed.

What happens if you ignore it

If you do nothing, your account stays locked and the IRS will not process your return. That means any refund you are owed will be delayed, and the underlying record mix-up will not get corrected on its own.

If you cannot resolve this on your own, you can authorize someone to represent you before the IRS. You may also qualify for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.

What the CP01H notice means

Getting a CP01H notice can feel alarming, but it usually points to a fixable records problem. The IRS sends it when a Social Security number (SSN) on your return matches a number for someone recorded as having died before the tax year you filed for. To guard against identity theft, the IRS locks your account and holds your return until the issue is cleared up.

Start by checking the SSN for yourself, and for your spouse if you filed a joint return, against your Social Security card. A simple typo is a common cause. If the number is correct, contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to fix their records, since the IRS relies on SSA data.

Once the SSA corrects their records, mail the address at the top of your notice a copy of the CP01H, a written request to unlock your account, your signed return, and a photocopy of a government-issued ID.

Free help is available through the Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic if you get stuck.

Once things are moving, Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so you know when the lock lifts and your return is processed.