In an information release (IR), the IRS announced a new identity verification process that taxpayers will use to access IRS online services. The IRS has also released a Fact Sheet that contains additional information about its new ID verification process. 

New ID verification process. According to the IR, taxpayers will use the new identity verification process to sign in to online services such as the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, Online Account, Get Transcript Online, Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) and Online Payment Agreement.

The IRS has also incorporated its new ID verification process into some applications used by tax professionals, including those used to request powers of attorney or tax information authorizations online using Tax Pro Account or to submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online. 

The IRS will transition additional tools and applications to the new identity verification process over the next year.

Accessing IRS tools. Under the IRS’s new ID verification process, taxpayers will sign in to IRS online services using ID.me. To obtain an ID.me account, new users will have to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport. They will also need take a selfie with a smartphone or a computer webcam.

According to the information release, anyone with an existing ID.me account can sign in to IRS online services with their existing ID.me credentials.

Individuals who have credentials to access IRS online tools obtained under its old system may continue to use those credentials to sign in to IRS tools until summer 2022. However, the IRS encourages all taxpayers who already use its online services to create an ID.me account as soon as possible.

For more information about ID verification or how to obtain help obtaining an ID.me account, visit the ID.me IRS Help Site.