Do You Need a New IRS Identity Verification?

Do You Need a New IRS Identity Verification?

the Internal Revenue Service launched an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and applications

 

In November of 2021, the Internal Revenue Service launched an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and applications.

Taxpayers using this new mobile-friendly verification procedure can gain entry to existing IRS online services such as the:

The IRS will transition additional IRS applications to the new method over the next year.

 

See Relax Tax’s Debt Guide at relaxtax.com/debt

 

How to Verify my ID.me Account

Identity verification is critical to protect taxpayers and their information and is the reason the IRS has been making improvements in this area, and this new verification process is designed to make IRS online applications and tools as secure as possible.

This new process can reach more people through the expanded use of identity documents and increased help desk assistance for taxpayers who encounter a problem when attempting to verify their identity online. 

 

See related post from Dennis Harabin: An Advisory for All Entrepreneurs: IRS Crisis Arises
 For several years now, the IRS has required payments made to merchants through various marketplaces, payment processors (credit & debit cards), and third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) to be reported on Form 1099-K. The purpose being to uncover merchants that do not report all of their income by comparing the 1099-K amounts to the amount reported on the individual’s or business’s tax return and following up with the under-reporters by correspondence or by audit. 

 

To provide this verification service, the IRS is using ID.me, a trusted technology provider. The new process is one more step the IRS is taking to ensure that taxpayer information is provided only to the person who legally has a right to the data.

When accessing the tools listed above, taxpayers will be asked to sign in with an ID.me account. People who already have IRS usernames may continue to use their credentials from the old system to sign-in until summer 2022 but are prompted to create an ID.me account as soon as possible. Anyone with an existing ID.me account from the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, or from another government agency, can sign in with their existing credentials.

 

Create an ID.me Account - If you do not already have an ID.me account and wish to create a new ID.me account, you’ll be asked to verify your email address, create a password, and secure your account. Afterward, you will be presented with steps to verify your identity. To verify your identity with ID.me, you'll need to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You'll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a computer with a webcam. 

 

See this related post from Dennis Harabin: 2022 Tax Season: Another Hectic Year for IRS and Taxpayers?
This could be another rough tax season for the IRS and taxpayers. Although this year’s filing season opens January 24, 2022 (i.e., it is the first day the IRS will accept and start processing 2021 returns), the Service still has a backlog of prior year returns to process and is plagued by staff shortages due to the pandemic and reduced funding in the last few years. Even though the majority of 2020 returns were filed electronically, many of those returns still required manual review, resulting in significant delays in IRS issuing refunds.
 
 

ID.me Registration

If you need help verifying your identity or to submit a support ticket, you can visit the ID.me IRS Help Site. If you need further registration assistance, a support request can be submitted on the help site by selecting the “Contact Us” option in the Support page header. Fill out the form as instructed on the page to submit a support request.

If you have multiple identity verification failures, ID.me may send you to a “Trusted Referee” process where you can upload alternative identity documentation, take a selfie, and then talk to an ID.me Trusted Referee via a video call.  Video calls are offered in American Sign Language if requested.

 

Does this sound too complicated? Dennis Harabin at Relax Tax makes it easy to understand.

 

If you have questions about your need for an ID.me account, please contact this office at 551-249-1040.

 

Recommended Readings:

 

***
Relax Tax is your trusted financial partner. 
We obsess about helping people retain more of what they earn. 
We can provide you with a set of solutions for your financial goals no matter your financial situation. If you want to learn more about taxes, obligations, investments, and how to handle them, download our FREE Playbook.
(No credit card or payment method required and includes simple to follow and quick to digest video content)
 
Or Click Here to schedule your initial meeting.
Back to blog