- The IRS advises early filers to request an Identity Protection PIN before its online tool pauses in mid-November 2026.
- The online tool is expected to return in mid-January 2027 after annual maintenance; the PIN program will continue.
- Taxpayers can apply using Form 15227 or an appointment if they cannot verify their identity online.
The IRS is urging taxpayers who plan to file early in 2027 to request an Identity Protection PIN before its online tool goes offline in mid-November 2026. The tool is expected to return in mid-January 2027.
The agency issued the reminder on October 22, 2026. The pause is for annual maintenance, not an end to the PIN program.
There is no exact shutdown date. The IRS has not provided a specific start or end date for the online interruption.
People who already have a PIN should not assume they can retrieve or replace it online during the pause. The IRS has not specified whether those functions will remain available during this outage.
The recommended request window is not a legal filing deadline
The IRS recommends that early filers act before the mid-November closure. That is guidance about access to the online tool, not a universal tax filing deadline.
The online service is generally available again beginning in mid-January. Until then, users who wait for the tool to close should expect to lose online access to it.
The IRS has not said precisely when the temporary interruption begins or ends. The program itself continues, and the maintenance window does not mean an existing PIN stops protecting an account.
Taxpayers can request a free six-digit PIN through an IRS account
The PIN is a free, six-digit code intended to help prevent someone else from filing a federal return using a taxpayer’s Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Anyone can request one, including people who are not required to file a return.
To Get an IP PIN online, sign in to an IRS Individual Online Account, complete identity verification if needed, and choose the PIN option under Profile. People who cannot verify their identity online can consider the alternatives below.
A new calendar-year PIN is needed for 2027 filings
The IRS issues a new code for each calendar year. A PIN obtained for 2026 is not the new code for a return filed in 2027.
Online enrollees retrieve their new PIN through their account. They do not receive the annual CP01A notice by mail.
For tax year 2026, filed in 2027, taxpayers should use the PIN issued for 2027, not the prior calendar year’s code.
Taxpayers who selected one-time enrollment are opted out at the end of the calendar year, December 31, 2026. Those seeking continued protection in 2027 can choose continuous enrollment or register again.
Form 15227 and appointments offer other application routes
People who cannot complete online identity verification may have other ways to apply. The IRS has not said whether every alternative will be available or processed during the online outage.
- Form 15227: Applicants may qualify if the adjusted gross income on their last-filed return was below $84,000 for single filers or $168,000 for married filing jointly. They also need a phone and an SSN or ITIN. The IRS calls to verify identity, then mails the PIN, usually within four to six weeks.
- Taxpayer Assistance Center: Someone unable to verify online or by phone, ineligible for Form 15227, or facing technical problems can seek an appointment. The appointment route does not guarantee that a PIN will arrive during the online pause.
The appointment number listed for Taxpayer Assistance Centers is 844-545-5640.
Protect the code and account credentials
Share the PIN only with a trusted tax professional when the return is ready to prepare and submit. Do not share IRS account credentials.
IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said protecting account credentials and getting a PIN lets taxpayers “file their tax return with greater confidence.”
Taxpayers who want to use the online route can request the code through the IRS Individual Online Account before the mid-November pause. Those unable to verify online can check whether they qualify for Form 15227 or seek a Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA about your specific situation.
