Taxpayers are receiving letters with the wrong tax year listed for their Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers(IP PIN) , which are generally issued to victims of tax-related identity theft.
The IP PIN listed on the CP 01A Notice dated January 4, 2016 and mailed in December is valid for use on all individual tax returns filed in 2016. The notice incorrectly indicates the IP PIN issued is to be used for filing the 2014 tax return instead of the 2015 tax return. The IRS emphasizes the IP PIN listed on the CP 01A notice is valid for the 2015 returns. Taxpayers are receiving the letters now through mid-January.
Use this PIN number for 2015 tax returns, which the IRS will begin accepting from taxpayers starting Jan. 19, 2016 or the return may be rejected.
An IP PIN helps the IRS verify a taxpayer’s identity and accept their electronic or paper tax return. The IP PIN prevents someone else from filing a tax return with a taxpayer’s SSN.
If a return is electronically filed with the taxpayer’s Social Security Number and an incorrect or missing IP PIN, the IRS’s systems will reject it until it is submitted with the correct IP PIN or if the taxpayer files on paper. If the same conditions occur on a paper filed return, the IRS will delay its processing and any refund that may be due to safeguard the taxpayer.
