When does the IRS IP PIN tool shut down for 2026?

The IRS says the online IP PIN system becomes unavailable for annual maintenance in mid-November and is generally available again beginning in mid-January. In its October 22, 2026 news release (IR-2026-127), it told taxpayers who plan to file early in 2027 to request an IP PIN before that mid-November outage. The IRS did not give an exact shutdown date.

What is an IRS IP PIN?

An Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit number known only to you and the IRS. It stops someone else from filing a federal tax return with your Social Security number or ITIN. A new IP PIN is generated every calendar year.

Who can get an IP PIN?

Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity can enroll, even if they are not required to file a return. Parents and legal guardians can also request an IP PIN for dependents.

How do I get an IP PIN fastest?

Through your IRS Individual Online Account, in the IP PIN section of the Profile tab. If you don't have an account you must register and verify your identity first. Online you can choose continuous enrollment or one-time enrollment for the current calendar year.

What if I can't verify my identity online?

If the adjusted gross income on your last filed return is below $84,000 (individuals) or $168,000 (married filing jointly), you can file Form 15227 online; the IRS calls you to verify your identity and mails the IP PIN, usually within four to six weeks. Otherwise you can book an in-person appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center (844-545-5640) and get the IP PIN by mail, usually within three weeks.

Do I need a new IP PIN every year?

Yes. Each IP PIN is valid for one calendar year. If you opted in online, you retrieve the new one in your online account starting in early to mid-January; no CP01A notice is mailed. Confirmed identity theft victims get a CP01A notice by mail from mid-December through early January.

Where do I enter the IP PIN on my tax return?

Your tax software or preparer prompts for it on e-filed returns. On paper, enter it in the Identity Protection PIN box in the signature area of Form 1040. It is used only on Forms 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-PR, 1040-SR, 1040-SS and 1040-X, not on Form 4868 extensions or state returns.

What happens if I enter the wrong IP PIN?

An incorrect or missing IP PIN gets an e-filed return rejected, and a paper return is delayed while the IRS verifies it. If you lost your IP PIN, retrieve it in your online account or call 800-908-4490 to have it reissued by mail within 21 days. Do not file Form 15227 to replace a lost IP PIN.

IRS IP PIN 2027 — Get Your Identity Protection PIN Before the Mid-November Shutdown

If you plan to file your 2026 return early in 2027, the IRS wants you to get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) now. Its online IP PIN tool goes offline for annual maintenance in mid-November and generally comes back in mid-January. The IP PIN is a free six-digit number that blocks anyone else from filing a federal return with your Social Security number.

Official sources: IRS news release IR-2026-127 (Oct. 22, 2026), Get an identity protection PIN, and the IP PIN FAQs.

The short version

Question	Short answer
What is it?	A six-digit PIN known only to you and the IRS; required on your federal return once you have one
Deadline to act	Before the online tool goes down in mid-November 2026 (the IRS didn’t name an exact date)
When does it come back?	Generally mid-January 2027
Who’s eligible?	Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity, including dependents
Cost	Free
Fastest way	Your IRS Online Account, Profile tab, IP PIN section
Good for	One calendar year. A new PIN is generated every year

Why the mid-November date matters

The IP PIN section of your IRS Online Account is generally available from mid-January through mid-November. In late fall, the IRS takes it down to roll over to the next year’s PINs. In IR-2026-127, the IRS said:

Taxpayers who plan to file early in 2027 should request an IP PIN before the online system becomes unavailable for annual maintenance in mid-November. The system is generally available again beginning in mid-January.

If you enroll now, you’re in the program before the outage, and you’ll pick up your 2027 IP PIN in your online account once it reopens in January, ready for when you file. If you miss the window, you can still enroll after the tool comes back, or use the paper and in-person routes below, which take weeks.

Three ways to get an IP PIN

Method	Who it fits	How long
IRS Online Account	Anyone who can verify identity online (ID.me or Login.gov)	Fastest; shown in your account
Form 15227 (online application)	Can’t verify online and last-filed AGI below $84,000 single / $168,000 married filing jointly	IRS calls to verify you, then mails the PIN, usually 4–6 weeks
In person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center	Can’t verify online and don’t qualify for Form 15227	Book at 844-545-5640; PIN mailed usually within 3 weeks

Online: continuous or one-time

Continuous enrollment. You stay in the program this year and future years. You’ll need to retrieve a new PIN online each January.
One-time enrollment. Covers the current calendar year only; you’re opted out automatically at year end.

Because the IRS issues PINs by calendar year, think about which one you need. If your goal is protecting the return you’ll file in early 2027, continuous enrollment keeps you in the program into 2027. A one-time enrollment made in 2026 ends on December 31, 2026.

In person: what to bring

For yourself: one federal or state photo ID plus one other form of ID. For a dependent, also bring two documents for the dependent, such as a birth certificate and Social Security card. The IRS FAQ (questions 4 and 5) lists other acceptable documents, and proof of legal guardianship may be required.

IP PINs for dependents

18 or older with an online account: they sign in and request their own.
18 or older without one: they register with ID.me or Login.gov first, then request it.
Under 18, or can’t set up an account: file Form 15227 for them; the IRS calls the phone number on the form to verify before issuing.
Still stuck: book a Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment.

If you claim a dependent who has an IP PIN and you e-file, you must enter the dependent’s PIN on Form 1040, Form 2441 (child and dependent care), and Schedule EIC, or the return is rejected. Paper returns don’t need the dependent’s PIN.

Using the IP PIN when you file

E-file: your software or preparer prompts for it. Search the software for “Identity Protection PIN” if you can’t find the field.
Paper: write it in the Identity Protection PIN box in the Form 1040 signature area.
Married filing jointly: each spouse who has an IP PIN enters their own.
Which forms: only 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-PR, 1040-SR, 1040-SS and 1040-X. Not Form 4868 extensions, and not state returns.
Prior-year returns: use the current year’s PIN on any federal return you file during that calendar year, including late or amended ones.
Wrong or missing PIN: e-file is rejected; a paper return is delayed until verified.
Refund speed: an IP PIN doesn’t speed up or slow down your refund.

Lost it?

Log in to your online account to view your current PIN. If you can’t, call 800-908-4490 (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. local time) and the IRS will mail it to your address of record within 21 days. Don’t file Form 15227 to replace a lost PIN.

Scam warning

The IRS will never call, email, text, or message you on social media asking for your IP PIN. Give it only to a trusted tax preparer, and only when you’re ready to sign and submit your return. It also isn’t accepted as proof of identity when you call or visit the IRS.

Can you opt out later?

If you volunteered and weren’t an identity theft victim, you may be able to opt out in the IP PIN section of your online account, or by calling 800-908-4490. Allow up to 72 hours after opting out before e-filing without a PIN. Confirmed identity theft victims are enrolled automatically and get a CP01A notice with their new PIN by mail each year, from mid-December through early January.

What to do before mid-November

Sign in or create your IRS Online Account and verify your identity.
Enroll in the IP PIN program from the Profile tab. Pick continuous enrollment if you want coverage for your early-2027 filing.
Do the same for your spouse and any adult dependents; use Form 15227 for minors.
Set a reminder for mid-January to retrieve your 2027 PIN online.
Sketch your 2026 tax while you wait, in the federal tax calculator, so you know whether you’re likely to get a refund.

What this does not do

It’s not personalized tax advice and doesn’t cover state identity protection programs.
The IRS hasn’t published an exact shutdown date; “mid-November” is its wording.
Educational only. Confirm details on IRS.gov/IPPIN.

How this federal tax estimate is built: what the calculator does and doesn’t model before you file
ACA open enrollment 2027: another fall deadline, Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027
IRS adoption credit carryforward refund: automatic refunds landing through the end of 2026
IRS CP321J notice and the Saver’s Match: a real IRS letter this fall; the IRS won’t ask for your PIN in any of them
How federal tax brackets work: what you’ll owe or get back
This year — tax: 2025 and 2026 brackets and standard deductions

This page summarizes IRS guidance as of October 29, 2026. Check IRS.gov for the exact maintenance dates before you rely on them.