If you’ve misplaced your Preparer Tax Identification Number, the fastest way to find your PTIN number is to log in at rpr.irs.gov/ptin, where your active PTIN appears in your account dashboard. If you can’t get into the account, call the PTIN Information Line at 877-613-7846. Both routes reach the same record: an eight-digit number preceded by the letter “P” that the IRS assigns to every paid preparer and requires on every return you prepare for compensation.
Look It Up in Your Online PTIN Account
Go to rpr.irs.gov/ptin and sign in with the User ID and password you created when you first applied or last renewed. Most preparers set their email address as the User ID by default. Your PTIN account credentials are separate from any Electronic Filing Identification Number login you may also hold, so don’t reuse EFIN credentials here.
Once you’re in, the dashboard displays your PTIN along with its expiration date. The same screen lets you renew, update your mailing address, and edit credential information for a CPA license or Enrolled Agent status.1Internal Revenue Service. Update Your PTIN Account Information Before you try to log in, confirm you still have access to the email address tied to the account, because verification and password resets run through that address.
Recover a Forgotten User ID or Password
If you can’t remember your credentials, use the recovery links on the login page. Do them in order: get your User ID back first, then reset the password.
- Click “Forgot User ID,” enter the email on file, and the system emails your User ID to that address. Check spam if it doesn’t arrive within a few minutes.
- Click “Forgot Password,” enter the same email, and the system sends a reset link. The link expires after 12 hours, so use it right away.
There are no security questions in either flow; both rely entirely on your email.2Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions: PTIN Application/Renewal Assistance That is the limitation. If you no longer have access to the email address on the account, self-service won’t work and you’ll need to call.
Call the PTIN Information Line
The PTIN Information Line is 877-613-7846, staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central time.3Internal Revenue Service. Contact the Return Preparer Program Have your Social Security Number and date of birth ready. The agent has to confirm you’re the account holder before releasing your PTIN or changing the email on file.
International callers who can’t reach the toll-free line can use +1 915-342-5655 during the same hours. The TTY line for hearing-impaired callers is 877-613-3686.3Internal Revenue Service. Contact the Return Preparer Program
Request It by Mail
If the online system and the phone line both fail you, submit a paper request on Form W-12, the IRS Paid Preparer Tax Identification Number Application and Renewal. You’ll provide your legal name, Social Security Number, date of birth, mailing address, and professional credential information. Send the completed form to:2Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions: PTIN Application/Renewal Assistance
IRS Tax Pro PTIN Processing Center
PO Box 380638
San Antonio, TX 78268
Paper processing takes about six weeks.4Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form W-12 If a filing deadline is anywhere near, use the phone line instead.
Check Whether Your PTIN Is Still Valid
Finding the number is only useful if it’s current. Every PTIN expires on December 31 regardless of when it was issued, and you have to renew before the next filing season to keep preparing returns for compensation.2Internal Revenue Service. Frequently Asked Questions: PTIN Application/Renewal Assistance Your dashboard shows the expiration date next to the number. Online renewal takes about 15 minutes and costs $18.75 for 2026, the same fee for renewals and first-time applications, and the fee is nonrefundable.5Internal Revenue Service. IRS Reminds Tax Pros to Renew PTINs for the 2026 Tax Season Filing an electronic return with an expired PTIN can trigger a rejection, so verify the status while you’re already logged in.