Why Enrolling in the IRS Identity Protection PIN Program Is a Smart Move Before The Tax Season (Safety Tips Included)

With the relaunch of its Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) program, the IRS is urging all US taxpayers to act quickly and safeguard themselves against identity theft and fraudulent tax returns.

Last year alone, the IRS flagged 2.8 million suspicious returns, making consumer vigilance and proactive security against misuse of users’ PII imperative.

What Is an Identity Protection PIN?

An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that adds an extra layer of security to your tax filings. This PIN, valid for the current tax year, is replaced annually to ensure continued protection. Known only to the taxpayer, their accountant (if applicable), and the IRS, the IP PIN is designed to prevent scammers from using stolen Social Security Numbers and personal information to file fraudulent returns.

The program, which assigns a unique six-digit number to taxpayers, is now open for enrollment.

“As the 2025 tax season approaches, the IRS encourages all taxpayers to take an important step to safeguard their identity by signing up for an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN),”  said an October notice. “This simple yet crucial step can provide an added layer of security, helping protect against tax-related identity theft.”

Enrolling in the IP PIN program can be done online or offline. More details can be found on the IRS website. Remember to keep your IP PIN private and only share it with your accountant if they are filing on your behalf.

The IRS encourages US taxpayers to enroll as early as possible in the calendar year to stay ahead of cybercriminals, who often try to file fraudulent returns early to defraud legitimate taxpayers.

Bitdefender Antispam Lab Sees Scammers Exploiting the IRS Name in Fraudulent Schemes

While the IRS’s IP PIN program offers significant protection, scammers often exploit the name of government agencies such as the IRS to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting users. Bitdefender Antispam Lab has identified numerous phishing campaigns where cybercriminals impersonate the IRS to trick victims into providing sensitive details or paying fraudulent fees.

For example, a recent scam uncovered by Bitdefender Antispam Lab involved fraudsters claiming to deliver overdue funds through an ATM Visa Card. This scam incorporates a novel payment approach requiring victims to purchase gift cards such as Steam, Google Play, or Apple Gift Cards and share their codes.

Unlike similar messages reported in the past, this particular scam provides detailed payment options, specifying courier services and their costs. This added level of detail is designed to make the communication appear more credible, further exploiting the trust users place in official-sounding communications from the IRS.

Sample Scam Message:

Greetings From The Internal Revenue Service United States of America. Your total funds worth $850,000.00 Thousand USD will be delivered to your home address through any company of your choice from the below-mentioned so kindly update us with the following:

We hereby officially notify you about the present arrangement to pay you, your overdue Winning Prize/inheritance fund you could not complete the process of the release of your transfer pin code through the Digitized Payment System. and you have spent a lot of money and a lot of time sending money to different people just to make sure you receive your funds and after you are set and done you receive nothing.

We have decided to pay your funds through (ATM VISA Card). This arrangement was initiated/constituted by the World Bank, United Nations, and Paris Club, due to fraudulent activities going on within the world.

The message also details specific courier services and fees, which must be paid using gift cards. Victims are instructed to scratch off the label and send photos of the gift cards. This elaborate ruse underscores the lengths scammers go to in order to deceive victims using convincing but entirely fabricated scenarios.

Cybersecurity Tips

To protect yourself from scams exploiting the name of trusted agencies like the IRS, follow these essential tips:

1. Verify Communications: Always verify IRS-related emails or texts by visiting the official IRS website or calling their official helpline.
2. Avoid Gift Card Payments: The IRS will never request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Treat such requests as major red flags.

3.      Use Trusted Security Tools:

• Bitdefender Scamio: Proactively detect scams before they can harm your identity and finances. It’s a free tool allowing you to bust scams and scammers in real time across multiple platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, web browser or Discord.
• Bitdefender Link Checker: Verify the legitimacy of links in emails, messages, and online searches for free.
• Bitdefender Total Security: Comprehensive protection against malware, phishing, and cyber threats.
• Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection can help you fight identity crimes with combined fraud detection, real-time alerts and identity recovery services.  Our identity protection plans (US only) offer continuous monitoring of your SSN, financial accounts, and medical data against identity theft and fraud, alerting you to any suspicious activity.

3. Educate Yourself: Familiarize yourself with common scam tactics by regularly checking updates from on the Bitdefender blog and other trusted sources.
4. Secure Your Devices: Enable multi-layered security to protect personal and financial data stored on your devices.