IRS Electronic Filing PIN

[Yardley CPA]

Anyone know when the IRS will offer the PIN for the 2015 filing season?  Not looking to rush things here considering we just got through tax season; just want to prepare and send a letter to my clients suggesting that they obtain the PIN for the coming year.  I had one client experience a fraud and want to try and ensure this does not happen to any of my clients as we move forward.

Currently, the IRS website still reflects 2014 information:

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Electronic-Filing-PIN-Request

 

[Jack from Ohio]

Seems WAY too soon to me.  This is a November issue.

[Lee B]

Copied from irs.gov:

To e-file your 2014 tax return or other electronic forms, you must verify your identity with your Self-Select PIN or your Adjusted Gross Income from your 2013 tax return. If you don't have either, you can get an Electronic Filing PIN. 

	Determine Your Eligibility You filed a 2013 Form 1040, Form 1040A, Form 1040-EZ or Form 1040-SS (PR) Your return was processed by Nov. 23, 2014			Gather Your Information Copy of last year’s tax return Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification number First and last name, date of birth and filing status Complete mailing address as it appeared on your 2013 tax return
	Get Your Electronic Filing PIN Access the Electronic Filing PIN online			E-file Using Your PIN When you're ready to file your return, enter your Electronic Filing PIN in the "Electronic Filing PIN" field Keep a copy of your signed tax return for your records

*The Electronic Filing PIN service is unavailable on Sundays between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. EST for system maintenance.

Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 20-Jan-2015

 

This was discussed in another thread last week and I fail to see that this provides any protection.

There is another PIN called an IP PIN, which is used for identity theft protection purposes, but it is only available

in three states that are designated "high risk states" by the IRS. If you are in one of those 3 states then the IP PIN

can be obtained. If this 3 state trial is successful, then perhaps it will be offered in more states.

[Jack from Ohio]

Every one of our clients that had a fraudulent return filed using their SS#, was assigned an Identity Theft PIN for the next  filing season.  Several states.  Once the client's SS# has been compromised, no future returns will be accepted without the PIN being included on the 1040.

This has been proven by the number of returns filed for 2014 for these clients where the client did not get the PIN that were rejected until the client called and obtained the PIN.

All of this drama will not stop the fraudulent returns.  Only stopping the "almost instant" issuing of refunds will make a difference.  The Congress will never change it because the American taxpayer is addicted to those large tax refunds and will never re-elect anyone who delays the process.  This will be a problem for our clients for the next 20 years.

[jklcpa]

​From the IRS page of info about the IP PIN: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-An-Identity-Protection-PIN

You must get an IP PIN to file your current or prior year returns in 2015 if:

• You received a CP01A Notice with your new IP PIN and you lost it, or
• You had an IP PIN in a prior tax year and you didn’t receive a new one this year, or
• Your e-filed return rejected because your IP PIN was missing or incorrect

You may choose to get an IP PIN if:

• You filed your federal tax return last year with an address in Florida, Georgia, or the District of Columbia, or
• You received a letter or CP01F Notice inviting you to get an IP PIN.

Note: Users who choose to get an IP PIN must do so using this online IP PIN system.

 

Plus, more info here on the FAQ page: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Frequently-Asked-Questions-about-the-Identity-Protection-Personal-Identification-Number-(IP-PIN)

 

[SaraEA]

You're right that congress enables refund fraud by mandating speedy refunds.  By law the IRS has to pay interest on refunds they don't pay within 60 days of receiving the return, and on their tight budget they can't afford it.  I'm sure the agency would rather wait until its computers can match tax reporting information to the return.  Then they wouldn't have to pay the 3,000 agents working in the identity theft unit, all the back and forth postage, not to mention trying to catch the crooks and reclaim all the refund money that was stolen.

I disagree that this is going to be a problem for clients for the next 20 years.  It has simply gotten too big both in terms of the monetary loss and the number of taxpayers victimized.  This year for the first time large numbers of state returns were affected. The states are NOT going to take it. They will apply pressure on the feds to do something to verify the identities of those filing returns.  If that fails, they'll do it themselves and thus become a proving ground for a model the IRS can emulate.