How to put an identity protection PIN on child's SSN for security?

Tax professional here - Yes, you absolutely can and should get an IP PIN for your children! Go to IRS.gov, use the Get An IP PIN tool. You'll need to verify your identity first, then you can request PINs for your dependents. New PINs are issued every year in December/January. Just remember you MUST use the PIN when filing returns or they'll get rejected.

Hey, you should check out taxr.ai - it's this new tool that helps analyze transcripts and can actually show you if anyone has tried using your kids' SSNs. Its only $1 and gives you a full security report. I use it for my whole family https://taxr.ai

Did this last year after my neighbors kid had his identity stolen. Super easy process but make sure you save the PIN somewhere safe!

omg its such a headache if u forget the pin tho 💀 speaking from experience lol

Just wondering - does anyone know if you have to renew these every year? Or is it a one and done thing?

its crazy we even need to do this tbh. like why cant the gov just protect our kids ssn better in the first place smh

Definitely worth doing! I set up IP PINs for both my kids after reading about how common child identity theft is. The process is straightforward - just make sure you have all their documents ready when you go through the verification. Also pro tip: set a calendar reminder for December each year so you don't forget to get the new PIN!

Good thinking getting ahead of this! I work in cybersecurity and child identity theft is unfortunately super common since kids' SSNs are "clean" and the theft often goes undetected for years. The IP PIN is definitely your best protection. One thing to add - you might also want to check if your kids already have credit reports by requesting them from the major bureaus (they shouldn't have any if their identities haven't been compromised). Keep those PINs in a secure password manager or safe, and like others said, mark your calendar for the annual renewal!

Just to add to all the great advice here - when you set up the IP PIN for your kids, make sure to also notify any tax preparer you use (if you don't do your own taxes). They'll need to know you have IP PINs so they can include them when filing. I've seen people get their returns rejected because they forgot to tell their tax pro about the PINs. Also, if you move or change addresses, you'll need to update that info with the IRS before requesting new PINs each year. The whole process has been a lifesaver for peace of mind though!

This is such important info - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I had no idea child identity theft was so common. Quick question for those who've done this: do you need any specific documents beyond the kids' SSNs when setting up the IP PINs? Like birth certificates or anything? Want to make sure I have everything ready before I start the process.

This thread is incredibly helpful! As someone who's been putting this off, all these responses have convinced me it's time to act. One follow-up question - for those who have kids of different ages, do you need to set up IP PINs for ALL of them or just older kids who might be closer to working age? My youngest is only 3 and I'm wondering if it's necessary to start that early or if I should wait until they're older?

This is such valuable information! I've been meaning to look into this for months but kept procrastinating. The step-by-step guidance from @NightOwl42 about using the IRS.gov Get An IP PIN tool is exactly what I needed. And wow, I had no idea about checking for existing credit reports for kids - that's genuinely terrifying that theft can go undetected for years. Definitely setting calendar reminders for December renewals and keeping everything in my password manager. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and making this feel less overwhelming!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! As a parent of two young kids (ages 5 and 8), I've been worried about data breaches but didn't know there was something proactive I could do. The advice about getting IP PINs for ALL children regardless of age really hit home - it makes total sense that younger kids are actually more vulnerable since the theft would go undetected longer. I'm planning to set this up this weekend along with checking for any existing credit reports. Quick question though - when you check for credit reports for minors, do you just contact the three major bureaus directly? And should I expect any pushback since kids shouldn't have credit files in the first place?