What This Notice Means
The IRS unlocked your tax account. You asked for this, and it's done. That's all this notice says.
Accounts are locked as an identity theft protection when there's no need for returns to be filed. Unlocking it means the account is open for your filings again.
What to Do
- Keep filing all required federal income tax returns.
- If you don't have a current filing requirement, or don't expect one in the near future, contact the IRS again and ask to lock the account.
- Keep this notice with your tax records.
There's nothing to pay and nothing to send back.
If You Have Identity Theft Concerns
If you're dealing with identity theft related to your tax account, call the Identity Protection Specialized Unit at the number listed on your notice.
For other tax account issues, use the IRS online tools or call the main IRS individual help line.
Protecting Yourself Going Forward
Identity theft is the reason account locks exist. If you unlocked your account, protect it:
- Read Publication 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers.
- Review the IRS Identity Theft Central resources and IdentityTheft.gov.
- Use the Federal Trade Commission's consumer privacy and security information.
- Review the Social Security Administration Inspector General's guidance on protecting yourself from identity theft.
If you see a sign that someone filed a return using your information, act on it right away. The longer identity theft sits, the harder it is to clean up.
If identity theft is tangled up with your tax account, call us at (813) 229-7100.