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Identity and verification

CP01

Identity theft claim verified — account protected

What this notice is

A CP01 is a resolution letter: the IRS verified your identity theft claim, placed a protective indicator on your account, and will monitor it. It closes a chapter rather than opening one — no additional action is needed.

What the IRS is generally saying

“We've confirmed what happened, marked your account, and we're watching it. Keep filing on time. You'll use an Identity Protection PIN on future returns — a six-digit number we'll send you fresh each year — and any return filed without it under your number won't be processed.”

Does this type carry a deadline?

This letter asks for nothing. The IP PIN it describes becomes part of every future filing — losing track of it is the only way this protection turns into friction.

What people usually gather
  • The notice, filed with your tax records
  • Your annual IP PIN letters as they arrive each December or January
  • Credit reports, worth monitoring after any identity event
  • A request for a redacted copy of the fraudulent return, if you want to see what was filed
What a licensed professional handles
  • Filing correctly with the IP PIN so returns aren't rejected
  • Requesting the redacted fraudulent return on your behalf
  • Untangling any residue the fraudulent filing left on the account
  • Broader identity cleanup coordination — FTC, credit bureaus, state filings
This explanation of the notice type is compiled from the IRS’s own published description (retrieved 2026-08-21): irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp01-notice. It describes the notice type in general — not your letter, and not your situation.

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The next step

Holding a CP01 and want it handled?

Fifteen quiet minutes with a licensed professional usually settles what a letter means and what the sensible next step is. No pressure, no scare tactics, and nothing sensitive needed to start the conversation.

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