CP301 Notice from IRS
If you receive a CP301 Notice from the IRS, it means that you have set up online access with the IRS. If you did NOT do that, then you must call the IRS immediately at 1-888-841-4648 to DISABLE THE ONLINE ACCESS account.
The IRS online access was hacked about two months ago, so the IRS disabled the ability to get transcripts of your income tax return information downloaded through the online access account. However, a transcript can still be ordered this way, and it will come to you by snail mail to your address of record.
There are now only two other reasons for setting up the Online Access account with the IRS: to set up a payment plan or to get a PIN to e-file your tax return. This second reason, to get a PIN to e-file your tax return, is the PROBLEM right now. It means someone else can e-file a fake tax return in your name and claim refunds for direct deposit into an account that probably won’t exist later when the fake tax return is discovered.
So if you receive this CP301 Notice of setting up an online services account with the IRS, and you did not do so, IMMEDIATELY call the IRS and get the account disabled. Unfortunately, it will take at least 45 minutes on hold to get through to the IRS as they do not have enough staff to cover such calls.
How long does it take to receive the code in the mail? And where does it usually ship from?
I receive a irs.gov/cp301 form with an activation code. When I go to online services, there is nowhere to put the activation code. It tells me I have to have a confirmation code. It’s also asking for a password. I am trying to get one. I have done it 7 times and it tells me that my cell phone cannot be verified. That is why I received this letter in the first place. Now there is no place to enter the activation code.
I got a CP301 letter with activation code but I cannot login to my account. forgot username and password and I did not receive emails to get my username activated.
I was able to successfully log in with the CP301 activation code. Does this mean that I automatically completed the identify verification? I did not receive any statement when I logged in that my identity is verified.
If you set up your IRS account online, then received the activation code by US postal mail, and logged in, then yes, you have successfully set up your account and verified your identity by having received the activation code at your address of record with the IRS.