[eks391]

During tax season (in US), for security, you may optionally create a 5 digit pin. I wanted mine to be unaffiliated with any existing pin I have, and chose a 'random' number and wrote it down. A year later I repeated this (and had long since forgotten the previous pin), went to go write it in the same place, and saw that both 'random' numbers had the same first four digits. I now use a computer to choose random numbers because I no longer trust myself to be random.

[toast0]

I thought the self selected PIN for filing a return was required for online filing, and that it was just an indicator of intent, like a signature.

Does it serve a security function? Am I supposed to remember what it is?

I know the IRS does have an identity protection PIN process, but that's separate.

[eks391]

I know about the identity protection PIN, so I've been assuming this whole time that's what I was choosing a number for. It is possible I was just doing the self selected PIN and wasn't aware that I should be doing something additional for other one. FWIW I haven't needed the PIN later but saved them in case I did.