Internal Revenue Service and ID.me – ID.me Help Center

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) works with ID.me, a technology provider, to provide authentication and identity verification for taxpayers and tax professionals accessing IRS applications.

Proving your identity involves uploading government documents, taking a video selfie, and filling out personal information. These identity verification services are crucial for the IRS to ensure millions of taxpayers and tax professionals can securely access IRS online services.

Sign in or create an ID.me account

For certain IRS applications, you may only need to create an ID.me account, then set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). To verify your identity, continue to Verify for the IRS.

To sign in or create a new ID.me account:

Go to the IRS application you’d like to access.
Select Create an ID.me account then enter your email address and password.
- If you have an ID.me account, select Sign in with ID.me, then sign in to your account and complete MFA.
Confirm your email address. For more information, visit Confirming your email address.
Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) to further protect your account. For step-by-step instructions for setting up MFA, select one of the following MFA methods:

Tip: If you’re setting up MFA for the first time, make sure to save or download your recovery code to ensure you always have access to your ID.me account.

Verify for the IRS

As an IRS technology provider, ID.me offers secure and convenient identity verification options. Members can choose between self-service or a video call with a live agent. Both options meet the required government standards for accessing online government services. You only have to verify once.

Note: Individuals acting on behalf of a business, organization, non-profit, or other entity must still verify their own identity before accessing IRS services online.

How to verify

You can choose to verify your identity with:

Overview

Recommended method to verify.
It takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
Your selfie and biometric information is automatically deleted within 24 hours of verification.

For steps to verify, visit Verifying for the IRS using self-service.

Overview

It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete, plus the wait time for the next available Video Chat Agent. You can also schedule a video call appointment for a day and time that’s convenient for you.
No biometric information will be collected in this option.

For steps to verify, visit Verifying for the IRS on a Video Call.

After verifying your identity with ID.me, you will need to sign in with your ID.me account to use IRS tools and services.

Manage your ID.me account

After creating your ID.me account, manage your account settings, including:

How ID.me protects your privacy

ID.me provides the strongest identity verification system available to prevent fraud and identity theft. Visit the articles below to learn how ID.me protects your privacy and puts you in control of your information.

Troubleshooting

Visit the articles below if you’re having trouble with the verification process or your ID.me account.

Account

Multi-factor authentication

Troubleshooting multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Verification

Who to contact for support

ID.me does not process or handle any documents pertaining to your tax records or filing status. As a technology provider, ID.me only provides identity verification for IRS applications. ID.me Support can help with questions related to:

The verification process
Your ID.me account settings
Deleting your ID.me account
Other questions involving the use of ID.me

To contact ID.me Support, go to our contact page and sign in to your ID.me account.

You will need to contact the IRS for questions regarding:

Account balances
Payments and payment plans - For example, if you want to know if you owe anything to the IRS.
Questions about your tax records - Getting your tax transcripts from current or past years or checking on your tax refund
How to get your IRS IP PIN
If you were asked to verify your tax return information
IRS letters or other notices

To contact the IRS:

Visit the IRS tool or application login page.
Find and select the “What if I can’t verify my identity?” section.
Select the “Alternative options” link.

To contact the IRS, you can call the phone number on a notice or letter you received from the IRS. You can also visit the IRS website to learn more about online tools and resources, or receive telephone or local assistance.