To use ID.me for IRS access, you create an ID.me account, upload a government-issued photo ID, pass a facial recognition check, and then link the verified credential to your IRS.gov sign-in. If the automated check doesn’t work, ID.me routes you to a live video call with an agent who can verify you manually. With documents ready and a decent camera, the whole thing usually takes under 15 minutes.
Which IRS Tools Require ID.me
Not every part of IRS.gov sits behind this identity check, but the useful ones do. You need a verified ID.me credential to open your Online Account (balance by tax year, payment history, payment plan details), to use Get Transcript Online, to apply for or manage an Online Payment Agreement, and to obtain or retrieve an Identity Protection PIN — the six-digit code that blocks anyone else from filing a return using your Social Security number or ITIN, on paper or electronically.1Internal Revenue Service. New Identity Verification Process to Access Certain IRS Online Tools and Services
Tax professionals fall under the same system. The Tax Pro Account and online submission of Forms 2848 and 8821 both require ID.me credentials.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Most verification failures come down to something small being off. Have all of this in front of you:
- Your Social Security number or ITIN. This gets matched against IRS records.
- A government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, passport, or passport card. The name and address must match what the IRS has on file. A missing middle initial or an abbreviated street name can trip the automated check.
- An email address for the account, and a mobile phone number for multi-factor setup. If you live outside the U.S. and have no U.S. phone number, ID.me offers an international verification path.2ID.me Help Center. IRS and ID.me
- A device with a camera. Camera quality is the single biggest factor in whether facial recognition passes on the first try.3Internal Revenue Service. Creating an Account for IRS.gov
Use your full legal name exactly as it appeared on your last tax return. Recent name changes from marriage or a court order that haven’t been updated with the IRS are a common reason the automated system rejects a match.
One boundary worth naming: if you’re verifying with an ITIN rather than a Social Security number, self-service isn’t available. ITIN holders go straight to the video call path with additional document requirements.4ID.me Help Center. Verify With ID.me Using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
How the Online Verification Actually Works
Verification happens on ID.me, not on IRS.gov. You build the account there first, then link it back.
Create the ID.me account. Go to ID.me and register with your email and a strong password. This is a separate login from anything you have with the IRS.
Upload your photo ID. Pick the document type, then photograph or scan both the front and back. Good lighting is not optional. The system reads text from your ID with optical character recognition, and shadow or glare will fail the read. Lay the ID flat on a dark surface.
Pass the facial recognition check. You’ll position your face in a frame, and the system may ask you to move slightly as a liveness check. It compares the live image against the photo on the ID you uploaded. Poor lighting and low-quality cameras cause most failures at this step.1Internal Revenue Service. New Identity Verification Process to Access Certain IRS Online Tools and Services
Set up multi-factor authentication. Once identity clears, you choose how to secure future logins. Text message codes are the default, but stronger options exist:
- Passkey, which uses your device’s face recognition, fingerprint, or PIN, and is the most phishing-resistant option.
- Code generator, a rotating six-digit code from the ID.me Authenticator app.
- Push notification approvals through the same app.
- A physical security key you tap over USB.
Whichever method you pick, set up backup codes at the same time. These are one-time codes that get you back in if you lose access to your primary method, and they save you from the full recovery process later.5ID.me Help Center. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Options for ID.me
Link back to the IRS. Return to IRS.gov, choose the option to sign in with ID.me, and grant the IRS permission to access your verified credential. That drops you into your account dashboard.
What Happens if the Automated Check Fails
When facial recognition doesn’t pass, ID.me sends you into a video call queue with a live agent. This is also the required route for anyone without a smartphone.6ID.me Help Center. Verifying With an Extended Video Call
For the call, you need your government-issued photo ID plus at least one secondary document. Accepted secondary documents include utility bills (water, gas, phone, cable), medical bills, tax forms like a W-2 or 1099, and phone bills. Each must show your full name and current address and be no more than one year old. Informal letters or account notifications from those providers don’t count; the document has to be an official statement or bill.7ID.me Help Center. Other Secondary Documents for Identity Verification
During the call, you hold documents up for the agent to inspect. They cross-reference what they see against the information you provided and may ask personal verification questions. If everything checks out, they approve you on the spot.
Wait times swing widely, especially during filing season. You can schedule an appointment up to one week ahead through ID.me’s website, which skips the queue entirely. If you join the live queue instead, early mornings Eastern Time tend to be shorter. The queue runs on Eastern Time regardless of where you are.8ID.me Help Center. Schedule an ID.me Video Call Appointment Online
Getting Back In After a Lockout
Too many wrong password attempts locks the account. Select the unlock link on the lockout screen, enter your email, and open the email ID.me sends you. The unlock link inside expires after 15 minutes, so move quickly. If it expires, request a new one. If unlocking still fails, wait 24 hours and try again.9ID.me Help Center. Unlock Your ID.me Wallet
Losing the phone that holds your MFA method is the more painful scenario. Go to the sign-in page, work through the prompts to the “Complete Your Sign In” screen, and pick the MFA recovery option. ID.me confirms account ownership through a selfie, video call, email confirmation, or document upload. Once confirmed, you have 30 minutes to set up a new authentication method. Miss that window and the recovery process starts over.10ID.me Help Center. ID.me MFA Recovery Steps if You Lost Access or Can’t Sign In
What Happens to Your Face Scan
The facial recognition step is the piece most people hesitate over. ID.me may retain biometric information for up to 36 months after verification, though some government agencies require the data to be purged within 24 hours of a successful check. The retention period depends on the agency you first verified with. ID.me does not hold biometric data beyond 36 months unless compelled by a subpoena or warrant.11ID.me Help Center. Understanding and Managing Your Biometric Information
If you want to close the ID.me account after finishing with the IRS, sign in and go to Sign In & Security, then Privacy, then “Manage my data,” and select “Remove my data.” Your profile is deleted within seven days, and you can reinstate it during that window by contacting ID.me support. Closing the account means losing access to any IRS online tool that requires it, and you would have to verify from scratch to get back in later.12ID.me Help Center. Close or Delete Your ID.me Wallet
If You’d Rather Not Use ID.me
You can handle most tax business without ever creating an ID.me account, though the online tools stay off-limits.
Transcripts by mail. Submit Form 4506-T and the IRS mails transcripts to your address of record within roughly 10 business days. The transcripts only go to the address on file; you cannot redirect them elsewhere.13Internal Revenue Service. IRS Form 4506-T – Request for Transcript of Tax Return
Phone. Call the IRS toll-free line for payment plans, notices, and account questions. Hold times run long, especially during filing season. The representative verifies you by asking questions based on your past filings before discussing anything.
An IP PIN without ID.me. Taxpayers with adjusted gross income at or below $84,000 (or $168,000 for married filing jointly) can submit Form 15227. The IRS then calls the number on the form to verify identity before issuing the PIN. If your income is above those thresholds or Form 15227 doesn’t work, book an appointment at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center.14Internal Revenue Service. Get an Identity Protection PIN
In person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. Call ahead; walk-ins may not be seen. Bring a current government-issued photo ID, a second form of identification, your Social Security card or ITIN documentation, and any relevant tax documents. Arriving more than 15 minutes late without checking in can get your appointment canceled.15Internal Revenue Service. Contact Your Local IRS Office
Through a tax professional. A CPA or Enrolled Agent with a verified Tax Pro Account can pull your transcripts and resolve account issues for you, so you never have to complete ID.me yourself. If you already work with someone, that’s often the fastest way through.