The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) has more than one possibility to protect your tax refund money. Avoiding fraudulent tax returns can be a great relief for millions of American taxpayers.
Scams and theft are on the rise since scammers are constantly changing their methods to deceive you. IRS offers an IPPIN to prevent the misuse of your personal details and information to claim refunds fraudulently.
Do you have an IP PIN? The IRS recommends getting one
Basically, an IP PIN is a 6-digit number that can prevent scammers and thieves from making use of your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number to claim a tax refund illegally.
The IRS claims that an IP PIN is secret, so only you and the Internal Revenue Service know it. In this way, it can easily verify your identity. So, it is the best thing to make sure that it is you the person who is trying to claim a tax refund.
For your information, an IP PIN protects your IRS account even if you are not required to file. Thus, get an IP PIN even if you have no obligation to file a tax return generally.
How can I get an IP PIN to protect my IRS account?
The easiest and fastest way is to ask for an IP PIN through your Internal Revenue Service online account. However, if you do not have an online account, you should get one.
Remember that if you already have an Internal Revenue Service account, you do not need to create a new one. What is more, an ID.me account will help you sign in to several online services.
Some people may not been keen on Internet and online services. So, they can simply request in-person authentication for an IP PIN. Make an appointment to sort it out. For more details visit: https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office