Vancouver, Canada — The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has expanded its nationwide campaign to encourage taxpayers to renew and use Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers, known as IP PINs, as the 2026 filing approaches.
The six-digit number, designed to prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent returns, must be renewed annually and linked to a taxpayer’s Social Security number before electronic filing. Amicus International Consulting has announced a new calendarized tax-season identity plan, designed to help families, small businesses, and independent professionals build fraud-prevention habits across the entire year.
The IRS’s focus on IP PIN renewals is a response to persistent tax-related identity theft. Each year, criminals exploit stolen Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns early in the season, often before legitimate taxpayers file.
Without IP PINs, many victims only discover fraud when their e-filed return is rejected or when they receive IRS notices of suspicious activity. The agency’s latest outreach underscores the importance of renewing IP PINs on time and safeguarding them from misuse.
Amicus emphasizes that while IP PINs are powerful tools, they are only effective when combined with organized documentation and proactive filing habits. The firm’s calendarized plan breaks the year into manageable steps, ensuring taxpayers avoid missed renewals, filing delays, and preventable fraud.
Why IP PINs are essential in today’s environment
An IP PIN is a six-digit number that adds a second layer of authentication to federal tax returns. Unlike a password that can be guessed or a Social Security number that can be stolen, an IP PIN changes annually and is tied directly to IRS systems. Fraudulent returns filed without the correct IP PIN are automatically rejected. This protects refunds, blocks improper credits, and reduces audit-triggering errors.
The IRS initially offered IP PINs only to confirmed victims of identity theft. The program has since expanded, and all taxpayers may now opt in. Amicus recommends adoption for individuals in high-risk categories, including seniors, divorced spouses navigating joint returns, frequent movers, self-employed contractors, and military families.
IRS’s expanded awareness campaign
The IRS’s new awareness push is multifaceted. It includes direct mail notices reminding taxpayers of renewal deadlines, expanded digital education through IRS.gov, partnerships with libraries and community centers, and targeted messaging to prior victims of fraud.
The agency stresses that IP PINs are never issued via email, text, or unsolicited calls, a safeguard meant to reduce phishing. Taxpayers are urged to treat any such communications as scams.
The campaign also highlights that failure to renew can disrupt filings. If a return is submitted without the correct IP PIN, the IRS will reject it. Taxpayers must then wait for re-issuance, delaying refunds and creating stress during peak filing season.
The Amicus calendarized tax-season identity plan
Amicus International Consulting has developed a comprehensive framework that integrates IP PIN renewals into a household or business’s annual calendar. The plan aligns identity protection with the rhythms of tax preparation, making fraud prevention a matter of habit rather than crisis management.
January: Renewal and organization
Taxpayers confirm IP PIN renewal status, update IRS addresses if they have moved, and store renewal letters in secure folders. Families are advised to create both physical and digital binders for all tax-related documents, including PIN notices, W-2s, 1099s, and receipts.
February: Verification and preparation
Credit reports should be checked for inconsistencies. Taxpayers must confirm that their renewed IP PIN has been correctly linked to their IRS record. Preparers, accountants, or tax software systems should be updated with the correct number.
March: Fraud checks and monitoring
Applicants log into IRS accounts to review transcripts and ensure no fraudulent activity has occurred. Families run credit monitoring scans or dark-web checks for leaked Social Security numbers. Any anomalies are addressed before filing.
April: Filing early
Taxpayers are advised to file as soon as all required forms are received. Filing early reduces the window for criminals to submit fraudulent returns. Families double-check that the return includes the IP PIN.
May–July: Post-filing confirmation
Refund status is tracked through IRS.gov. Taxpayers log refund receipts and retain electronic acknowledgments. Monitoring continues for unusual IRS notices that could indicate attempted fraud.
August–October: Reflection and review
Households review what worked and what didn’t. Families assess whether filing was smooth, refunds were timely, and fraud alerts were avoided. Processes are refined, and new habits are documented.
November–December: Pre-season readiness
Families prepare for the next cycle by confirming mailing addresses, scheduling renewal reminders, and refreshing their documentation binders. By December, taxpayers should be fully positioned for January renewals.
Case study: family prevented refund theft
A family in Ohio enrolled in the IP PIN program after experiencing refund theft in 2023. In 2024, criminals attempted to file using their Social Security numbers but were blocked. By adopting Amicus’s calendarized framework, the family renewed their IP PINs in January, confirmed integration in February, and filed by mid-March. Their return processed smoothly, and the fraud attempt was rendered ineffective.
Case study: independent contractor’s recovery
A freelance designer in Texas ignored her IP PIN renewal in 2024 and faced a rejected return. The oversight delayed her refund for six weeks. In 2025, she adopted Amicus’s plan, placing her renewal on her January calendar and logging each IRS interaction. She filed by early March, avoided delays, and reported improved confidence in her tax season planning.
Case study: small business partnership
A family-owned business in California required all partners to adopt IP PINs after repeated phishing attempts. Amicus implemented a shared tax binder for the partnership, including IP PIN notices, renewal letters, and preparer confirmations. The firm renewed all PINs by January, logged confirmations, and filed early. No fraudulent attempts succeeded in 2025, protecting both refunds and business continuity.
Accessibility and equity challenges
Amicus warns that not all taxpayers benefit equally from digital tools. Seniors often struggle to access or store renewal letters securely. Rural families with unreliable mail delivery risk missing deadlines. Disabled individuals may require authorized representatives or caregivers to manage documentation. The Amicus plan addresses these challenges by recommending certified mail for critical communications, representative authorization letters, and physical documentation kits, thereby reducing reliance on digital portals.
Fraud trends during tax season
Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, using phishing emails disguised as IP PIN renewal notices or spoofed phone calls claiming to be from the IRS. Some attempts include fake “PIN recovery portals” designed to harvest Social Security numbers. Amicus emphasizes that the IRS never issues or confirms IP PINs by email or phone. Taxpayers should only rely on official IRS correspondence or IRS.gov.
Criminals also increasingly target small businesses, filing fraudulent employment tax returns using stolen EINs. Amicus recommends that business owners treat EINs as carefully as Social Security numbers and consider parallel protective measures.
Policy and systemic implications
The expansion of IP PIN awareness reflects a larger trend of shifting fraud-prevention responsibilities to taxpayers. While the program is effective, it requires high levels of organization.
Amicus argues that additional government support is needed, such as clearer caregiver designation systems, expanded outreach in vulnerable communities, and longer renewal windows for households facing logistical barriers.
Other jurisdictions provide valid comparisons. Canada, for example, has emphasized multifactor authentication and account monitoring for tax filers, while the UK’s HMRC has invested in call-back verification systems. These models suggest that stronger taxpayer support can accompany fraud prevention without reducing security.
Amicus recommendations
- Treat IP PIN renewal as a fixed annual task, scheduled every January.
- Store IP PIN letters securely, both digitally and physically.
- File as early as possible to shorten the fraud window.
- Educate family members, particularly seniors, about phishing tactics.
- Authorize representatives in advance to handle renewals if the taxpayer becomes incapacitated.
- Track all IRS notices and responses in a structured log.
Quotes from Amicus
“IP PINs are one of the most effective protections against refund theft, but only if taxpayers use and renew them consistently,” said an Amicus employee. “Our calendarized plan turns renewal into a family habit, like renewing insurance or updating wills.”
“Fraudsters move fast at the start of every tax season. Filing early with the correct IP PIN is the best way to stay ahead,” another employee explained.
Conclusion
The IRS’s expanded outreach on IP PIN renewals underscores the importance of disciplined, proactive identity management during tax season. Fraud prevention is no longer optional. Taxpayers who adopt Amicus International Consulting’s calendarized identity plan can protect refunds, reduce stress, and avoid the pitfalls of last-minute scrambling.
Tax identity protection is not only about technology, it is about routine. By integrating renewals into annual calendars, organizing documents, and filing early, families and businesses can stay secure in an environment of growing fraud threats.
About Amicus International Consulting
Amicus International Consulting guides lawful anonymity, identity protection, and compliance workflows. The firm develops structured checklists, documentation strategies, and calendarized plans that allow families and organizations to safeguard identities across multiple jurisdictions.
Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca
