The Internal Revenue Service has introduced what it says is an improved identity verification and sign-in process for securely accessing and using IRS online tools and applications. The agency says the process reaches more people through the expanded use of ID documents and increased help desk assistance for verifying taxpayer identities.Initially, the procedure can be used on services such as Child Tax Credit Update Portal, Online Account, Get Transcript Online, Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) and Online Payment Agreement. The new process will spread to additional IRS applications over the next year. The system has also been integrated with Tax Pro Account or to submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online used by tax professionals.
The IRS is using the services of ID.me with taxpayers asked to sign in with an ID.me account. Those with existing IRS usernames can use those until the summer of 2022 but are prompted to create an ID. Me account.
The system will prompt taxpayers to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport and they also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or with a webcam on a computer. They can access on the online services once their identities have been verified.
