If you were a victim of identity theft, you may receive IRS Notice CP01A containing a single-use 6-digit Identity Protection (IP) PIN. If you have misplaced the IRS letter containing your IP PIN, you can retrieve it from the IRS website.

To enter the IP PIN in the TaxAct^® program:

1. From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click Federal. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then click Federal.
2. Click Miscellaneous Topics in the Federal Quick Q&A Topics menu to expand, then click Identity Protection PIN.
3. Enter the 6-digit Taxpayer's IP PIN next to the applicable taxpayer listed on the return (if any), then click Continue.

Each spouse on a married filing joint return will have his or her own IP PIN. If only one spouse received an IP PIN, that PIN would need to be entered for that spouse. If your dependent has an IP PIN, you must enter it on your Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 2441 Child and Dependent Care Expenses, and Schedule EIC Earned Income Credit.

The IP PIN will appear on the printed copy of your return. The PIN is automatically transmitted to the IRS with an e-filed return.

What to do if you believe you may be at risk for tax-related ID theft:

Fill out IRS Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit and either fax or mail the form to the IRS so your account can be monitored for any questionable activity. To complete Form 14039 electronically, visit FTC's IdentityTheft.gov.

How to access Form 14039 in TaxAct:

To access the form in the Online program:

1. From within your TaxAct Online return, click Tools down the left to expand, then click Forms Assistant.
2. Click to expand the FEDERAL Forms folder, then click to expand the Forms and Schedules folder.
3. Scroll down, then click Form 14039 - Identity Theft Affidavit.
4. Click Add to create a new form or click Form to edit an existing form.

To access the form in the Desktop program:

1. From within your TaxAct Desktop return, click Forms.
2. Click to expand the FEDERAL Forms folder, then click to expand the Forms and Schedules folder.
3. Browse for, then open Form 14039.

Tips for minimizing identity theft risk:

Read the information on the IRS Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers and Victims webpage. This will explain what to do if you think you're a victim of identity theft.

Related Links

• Identity Theft
• IRS Identity Theft Central webpage
• FTC IdentityTheft.gov website
• FTC Consumers Information website

Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the document at the time it is accessed.