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CP01E notice: what it means and what to do
Got an IRS CP01E notice? Here is what it means, your deadline, what to check before you answer, and how to reply. Check your own letter free: it stays on your phone.
Check my CP01E notice freeWhat the IRS says this notice is about
Someone may have used your Social Security number (SSN) to get employment. We placed an identity theft indicator on your tax account and will monitor activity on your account to prevent future fraud.
What you need to know
- There’s currently no known impact to your tax account due to this potential misuse of your SSN.
- File your tax returns on time.
Recommended actions
Consider taking the following steps to safeguard your financial and credit information, and note that some individuals, such as minor children, dependents, and non-filers, may not be able to use these protections due to a lack of credit or financial history:
- Review your earnings with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ensure their records are correct and create an account on their website to help prevent unauthorized use of your Social Security number (SSN).
- Monitor your credit reports and financial accounts regularly for signs of misuse of your personal information.
- Place a one-year fraud alert on your credit accounts by contacting: Equifax : 800-525-6285
- Experian : 888-397-3742
- TransUnion : 800-680-7289
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and browse a complete list of recovery steps .
- Consider locking your SSN through the Department of Homeland Security to prevent anyone else from using your SSN for employment purposes.
- Get an identity protection PIN (IP PIN) for added security. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps verify your identity when you file your personal tax return, preventing identity theft.
Your deadline
Answer by the date printed on your notice. If there is no date, answer as soon as you can, and call the number on the notice if you need more time.
What to check before you answer
Verify your identity before the date
Use the online service or phone number printed on your letter. Have the letter, your tax return for that year, and the one for the year before. Your return is not processed until you verify.
Is this letter really from the IRS?
The IRS writes first by mail. A real letter shows a notice or letter number, your name and part of your tax ID number. The IRS does not ask for payment by gift card, crypto or wire transfer. If in doubt, sign in to your IRS online account, where many notices are listed.
Common questions
Although there is no current impact to your tax account, both your notice and this web page explain steps you should consider taking to protect your financial and credit accounts. You can also find more information at the following sources:
- Publication 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers PDF
- IdentityTheft.gov
- Social Security Administration Fraud Prevention and Reporting
- IRS's Identity Theft Central
The SSN used for employment belongs to the individual listed on the notice. If they haven’t filed a tax return, the notice was sent in care of the second name listed. Employment-related identity theft is not related to the filing of a tax return, but rather the misuse of an SSN for employment purposes. This type of identity theft can affect anyone, including minor children, dependents and individuals who don’t file tax returns.
We know that someone used your SSN on a Form W-2. However, due to Federal disclosure laws, we can’t disclose additional taxpayer information.
No. The identification of potential employment-related identity theft doesn’t impact your current or future tax return or any refund you may be expecting. Continue to file and pay your taxes on time.
Although there’s currently no impact to your tax account, IRS offers the option of obtaining an IP PIN for added account protection. The IP PIN authenticates you as the valid filer of the return. If you or your dependent don’t currently have an IP PIN, you can apply for one. For more information, review the IP PIN FAQs page.
We’ve detected that someone used your SSN on a Form W-2 that wasn’t yours. We’re not sure if it was intentional or accidental. We’re notifying you so you can take steps to protect yourself.
Identity thieves can obtain personal information through data breaches , scams , phishing , or stealing mail.
No, we can’t say that a mistake on your part led to the misuse of your SSN.
It may affect these benefits, so take steps to protect your credit and financial accounts.
No, we’ve already added an identity theft indicator on your account to protect against future tax-related identity theft.
Call the Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.
Call us at 800-829-1040 .
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