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IP Pin Rejection

Cait0714

We are trying to file 2023 and 2024 taxes this year and they keep getting rejected. I have been to the IRS website so many times to triple check. It wouldn’t let me e file these old returns without a spouse IP PIN in addition to mine, so he got one online Friday. Rejected with that pin Friday, rejected Saturday, rejected Sunday, and rejected again today even though I went online again and triple checked it’s the right pin! I don’t know what else to do. Our purchase of our home is riding on these getting filed and paid quickly so this is really stressful. :( any advice? We do not have the time to print and wait for processing that way, we will lose out on house and all earnest money…..

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JMSSGV

Do you know for sure that the six-digit IP PIN is the reason for the reject? If so, did you make sure you entered the correct IP PIN for the correct spouse, and in the correct location on the software?

Does the error message indicate which PIN is incorrect?

Cait0714

yep and yep unfortunately

I know some people confuse the IP PIN and the e file numbers you choose yourself but I have double and triple checked this as well :(

Message is below:

Spouse's Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN)

The IRS is rejecting your return because you didn't enter an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) for your spouse or the IP PIN you entered isn't valid. If you just applied for an IP PIN, it can take the IRS 24-48 hours to have it ready for e-filing. Try again in 48 hours.

MatthewD

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7471#Comment_7471

Hello Cait0714,

The IP PIN is entered on the Identity Protection PIN page of the MISC menu. Make sure that the IP PIN is entered there correctly for you and your spouse. Then resend your tax return. I am including a couple of screen shots to help.

Click here:

And then enter the IP PINS here and click Save and Continue. Then continue to the Final Steps menu and resend your returns.

Cait0714

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7485#Comment_7485

I have done that multiple times in the MISC area. Thank you for the screen shots but I have everything in the right place according to these screenshots. :(

MatthewD

Hello Cait0714,

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. Contact Customer Support while signed into your account and see if they can find any issues.

If you continue to get rejected, mailing your return is the best option.

Cait0714

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7488#Comment_7488

like Free Tax customer support? IRS phone folks were less than helpful :(

MatthewD

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7489#Comment_7489

Yes, FreeTaxUSA Customer Support. A support agent can tax a look at your account and perhaps help you out.

ar_martinez

Was this ever resolved? I'm having the same issue.

kiarab

Hello ar_martinez,

I'm sorry to hear that. You can try contacting customer support to see if there is anything that may have been missed with your IP PIN. However, if it continues to be rejected, you will probably need to mail in your return this year.

Sometimes people do not realize that they need a new IP PIN every year. If you haven't gotten a new one, you'll need to retrieve it from the IRS. Please note that since you have tried submitting your return, even though it was rejected, you should have an extra 5 days past the filing deadline to fix it. There is also not a penalty for filing late if you are owed a refund. If you do file after the filing deadline, please include a copy of your rejection notice with your returns.

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/retrieve-your-ip-pin

GPK

I had this problem when amending my 2024 return last month. You must use the latest issued IP PIN (the one for your 2025 taxes), not the one issued the year of the original return. After I used this year's PIN it processed properly.

Damageking

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/3234/ip-pin-rejection

same thing here. IRS told my wife today yes you have an IP PIN but not to include it. It is not needed x I hope to go back into the software, remove her IP PIN and resubmit. I don’t know if I can submit 2024 without it???

ar_martinez

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7881#Comment_7881

Tbh, I ended up using another online tax service and initially it was rejected again but then I included my previous year (2023) AGI and then it was accepted. Through FreeTax, putting in the previous AGI wasn't needed because of the IP PIN, but that was the only difference between the 2 services.

JMSSGV

OK, you are confusing the IP (Identity Protection) PIN (6-digits) with the 5-digit self-selected e-filing PIN.

The IP PIN is for identity theft protection and is assigned to you by the IRS because you requested one or because the IRS determine you had identity theft issues. It is ONLY for people who have had this PIN assigned to them by the IRS. You get a new one every year for all returns filed that year. If you don't include it ON YOUR RETURN (not as part of the e-filing process), it will be rejected.

The Self-Selected 5-digit PIN is used to identify you when you're e-filing. It has absolutely nothing at all to do with the IP PIN. You create this 5-digit number yourself. The IRS does not assign it to you. And everyone who e-files needs to create and use one.

Damageking

No confusion here. I know the difference in the 5 number pin for verification and the IP PIN due to a fraud alert. IRS said they assigned it last week but not to enter it.

JMSSGV

I was replying to ar_martinez.

ar_martinez

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/comment/7883#Comment_7883

I know the difference between the two and submitted my 2025 tax return using both mine and my spouse’s IP PIN. The IP PIN is required to submit previous year taxes. Putting in my 2023 AGI with my 2024 tax return using a different tax preparing software was the only difference that resulted in my tax return being accepted. I’ve already received both my state and federal refund. It was just a bummer since I paid for the state tax return with FreeTax and was never able to have my return accepted. I didn’t see anywhere I could’ve entered my previous year’s AGI.