A CP01A notice is good news, not a problem. It gives you your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), a six-digit number known only to you and the IRS. When you file a federal income tax return with that number, the IRS knows the return really came from you. You do not need to reply to this notice. You just need to keep the number safe and use it correctly when you file.
Why you got a CP01A
The IRS sends a CP01A each year with a new IP PIN to people it enrolled in the IP PIN program. The IRS says it mails the CP01A each year if it enrolled you because you were a confirmed victim of tax-related identity theft.
If you signed up for an IP PIN yourself through your online account, the rules are different. The IRS says that once you opt in online, you need to retrieve your new IP PIN online each calendar year, because a CP01A will not be mailed. According to the IRS, it also won't mail a CP01A if you opted in online after 2019, if it has no valid address for you, or if you have not filed a return in the last three years.
What the CP01A says
The notice includes:
- Your six-digit IP PIN for the current filing year.
- Instructions on where to enter it on your return.
- A reminder that the PIN is only for federal returns and that you should protect it.
The IRS also says you do not need to file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, just because you got a CP01A. File it only if you have a new identity theft incident after receiving the notice.
What to do
- Store the notice securely with your tax records. Do not share the number with anyone except the tax professional preparing your return.
- Use the IP PIN on every federal return you file this calendar year. That includes Forms 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR and 1040-SS, and any prior-year returns you file during the year.
- Enter it in the right place. Tax software will prompt you for it. On a paper return, the IP PIN box sits to the right of the signature line.
- Watch for next year's PIN. A new IP PIN is generated every year, so last year's number will not work.
Who enters which IP PIN
The IRS gives these rules:
- E-filed returns: Everyone on the return who has an IP PIN must have it entered: the primary taxpayer, the spouse and any dependent. If only one spouse has an IP PIN, enter it with that spouse's SSN. If both have one, enter both.
- Dependents with an IP PIN: Include the dependent's IP PIN on your return, and also on Form 2441 (child and dependent care expenses) and Schedule EIC if you file them.
- Paper returns: Enter the first taxpayer's IP PIN in the "Identity Protection PIN" box to the right of "Your signature and occupation." Enter the second taxpayer's IP PIN in the box to the right of "Spouse's signature and occupation."
The IP PIN works only for federal income tax returns. If your state gives you a similar PIN, use the state PIN only on your state return. They are different numbers.
If you lose your IP PIN or never got the notice
Look it up online. You can sign in to your IRS Online Account and find your current IP PIN on your Profile page. The IRS says IP PINs are generally viewable online from mid-January through mid-November. See our guide to the IRS Online Account.
Have it reissued by mail. Call the IRS at 800-908-4490 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time). If you can verify your identity with the phone assistor, the IRS mails your IP PIN within 21 days to your address on file. International callers can use 267-941-1000 (not toll-free).
When it cannot be reissued. The IRS will not reissue an IP PIN by mail if you opted into the program for the first time during the current calendar year, or during its end-of-year maintenance period, normally November through mid-January. If you can't get your PIN by mail or online, the IRS says to mail a paper return without it. The IRS will review the return to confirm you filed it, which may delay your refund.
For a child under 18. A minor's IP PIN cannot be retrieved online. Call the IRS to have it reissued by mail.
Do not file Form 15227 to replace a lost IP PIN. That form is only for new requests to join the program.
What happens if you ignore it
There is nothing to reply to, but you cannot ignore the PIN itself. The IRS says that if you file without the correct IP PIN, an electronic return will be rejected and a paper return will be held for identity review, which may delay your refund. Filing on time with the right PIN avoids all of that.
Is this notice real?
A real CP01A arrives by U.S. mail and simply tells you your PIN. It never asks you to pay anything, click a link or call to "confirm" the number. The IRS says it will never ask for your IP PIN, and that phone calls, emails or texts asking for it are scams. If you are unsure, sign in to your Online Account through irs.gov and compare the PIN shown there. Our IRS scams guide has more tips.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to respond to a CP01A?
No. The CP01A is informational. Keep it safe and use the IP PIN when you file.
Can I get an IP PIN if I never had identity theft?
Yes. The IRS says anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity can join the IP PIN program, and parents or guardians can request one for dependents. The fastest route is your online account. See our tax identity theft guide for more.
Does my tax preparer need my IP PIN?
Yes, if they are filing your return. The IRS says your IP PIN should be known only to you and your tax professional, and only when you are ready to sign and submit.
What if I'm filing an old return this year?
Use the IP PIN you have for the current calendar year. The IRS says the IP PIN must be used on any federal returns you file during the year, including prior-year returns.
Is my IP PIN good forever?
No. An IP PIN is valid for one calendar year, and a new one is generated each year.
Sources
IRSV.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the IRS. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; confirm details on IRS.gov or with a tax professional. Found an error? Tell us.