The IRS will now offer Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers (IP PINs) to any taxpayer, not just those at risk of identity theft. An IP PIN is a six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a taxpayers' personally identifiable information.

The numbers were originally given to previous victims of identity theft to protect them from further victimization by providing a way to confirm their identity to the IRS. Later, the IRS allowed taxpayers in certain states to request an IP PIN as an extra security measure, regardless of whether         

The numbers were originally given to previous victims of identity theft to protect them from further victimization by providing a way to confirm their identity to the IRS. Later, the IRS allowed taxpayers in certain states to request an IP PIN as an extra security measure, regardless of whether they had experienced identity theft. IP PINs are now available nationwide to anyone who wants one.

"This is a way to, in essence, lock your tax account, and the IP PIN serves as the key to opening that account," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Electronic returns that do not contain the correct IP PIN will be rejected, and paper returns will go through additional scrutiny for fraud."

Taxpayers who are confirmed identity theft victims or who have filed an identity theft affidavit because of suspected stolen identity refund fraud will automatically receive an IP PIN via mail once their cases are resolved. Current tax-related identity theft victims who have been receiving IP PINs via mail will experience no change.