Protect Your Refund: Sign Up for an IRS Identity PIN!

Tax-related identity theft happens when a thief steals your Social Security number and uses it to file a tax return and claim a fraudulent refund in your name. According to an interim report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, 58,276 fraudulent tax returns were identified in the 2025 filing season. How can taxpayers fight back? The IRS recommends establishing an IRS Identity Protection PIN, also referred to as an IP PIN. This six-digit number is valid for one calendar year, after which a new IP PIN is generated. Your CPA can’t obtain the number on your behalf. You must get it on your own. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4fBnkiR  or talk to your tax advisor.