An ongoing pilot program from the Internal Revenue Service is offering an Identify Protection Personal ID Number to taxpayers who filed federal returns last year in Georgia, Florida or the District of Columbia.
The IP PIN is a six-digit number that is used on a tax return, in addition to a Social Security number, to verify the taxpayer’s identity.
Taxpayers who qualify can visit IRS.gov (www.irs.gov/getanippin) to register and create an account. Taxpayers must also verify their identity as part of the process.
They should note, however, that for now, taxpayers who join the program will need to use their IP PIN for future filings, and there is currently no way to opt out of the program once they sign up. A new IP PIN will be mailed to them each year before filing season.
More information is available at
Georgia, Florida and D.C. were chosen for the pilot because they have higher levels of tax-related identity theft.
