IRS Notice CP01A: Your Identity Protection PIN
IRS Notice CP01A is an identity verification letter from the IRS. The IRS sent you a six-digit Identity Protection PIN to use on your federal return. A new one comes each year. This is not a bill. It is about confirming that you are the person who filed the return.
What this letter usually means
The IRS sent you a six-digit Identity Protection PIN to use on your federal return. A new one comes each year. This is not a bill. Until you verify, the IRS usually holds the return. Use only the steps on your letter or on irs.gov.
Category: Verify your identity
What people usually do first
Read each page and look for a printed date. Then compare what the letter says with your own records.
What to have ready
- The letter, every page
- A safe place to keep the number, not email
What may come next
This letter does not point to a specific follow-up letter. Any later step will be described in mail from the IRS.
Read the IRS page
The IRS letter itself is the final word on what it means for you. Read the IRS page for CP01A.
Common questions about CP01A
What is IRS notice CP01A?
The IRS sent you a six-digit Identity Protection PIN to use on your federal return. A new one comes each year. This is not a bill.
How long do I have to respond to a CP01A notice?
The date to respond or pay by, if there is one, is printed on your letter. Check it, and read the IRS page for CP01A for more.
Is a CP01A notice a scam?
A real CP01A comes by mail and should match your own records. You can also sign in to your IRS Online Account on irs.gov to see your account directly.
What should I have ready for a CP01A notice?
The letter, every page, A safe place to keep the number, not email.
Scan your letter in the OweRight iPhone app
The OweRight app can tell you what a CP01A letter is and points you to the IRS page for it.
OweRight is not the IRS and does not give tax or legal advice.
Related notices
- IRS Letter 5447C: IRS needs you to confirm a tax return
- IRS Letter 5071C: Verify your identity
- IRS Letter 4883C: Verify your identity
- IRS Letter 5747C: Verify your identity in person
- IRS Notice CP303: Someone accessed an IRS online service
- IRS Notice CP54B: Name or ID number does not match