IRS ID.ME Failure

[elgato81]

I need to access IRS.gov to verify my Economic Impact Statements. Last night

I was asked to create a new account using ID.ME which requires a scan of a document for facial recognition.

Giving this information to a subcontractor seemed to be a huge security violation and a really bad idea. Congress has decided the same and the IRS said they will discontinue this requirement.

However, nothing has changed and you still cannot login to IRS.gov without providing a photo ID.

Just when you need it most they make it impossible to login without providing information that they said that they will no longer require! Any suggestions?

[xmasbaby0]

You could check your bank statements to see if you had deposits of $1400 per person on your 2020 tax return.

[elgato81]

For married couples did each get a 6475 letter for $1400 or a single letter for $2800?

Would it be the only Economic Impact in 2021 and approx what month?

Amazing that the IRS has created this login problem when tax payers need it most.

Now that they are dropping the facial recognition there are concerns about the data that the contractor already has from millions of people.

Thanks

[xmasbaby0]

@elgato81 My spouse and I each received letter 6475 even though we filed a joint return.   But it is not certain that the IRS has done it that way consistently.   The IRS began to send out those 3rd EIP payments in March of 2021, and continued to send them during the year.   So you need to check your bank records for deposits of $1400 --or $2800---during 2021---starting back in March and onward.

[elgato81]

Thanks.

We also filed joint.

My wife received a letter for $1400 and I do not remember getting one.

There was a single deposit of $2800 in March so all must be ok.

[xmasbaby0]

@elgato81 That was it!   So in recovery rebate credit you need to say that you each received the $1400.   You cannot get it again so line 30 should remain blank on your Form 1040.

[LeeSL]

It is actually more secure than you may imagine. I was skeptical as well. I signed up through IRS.gov. I used my driver's license. The great thing about it is that once 10 mins later after the app on your phone and verified email, I was able to get a new IP PIN which was absolutely required to e-file my returns to the Fed and State.

Otherwise, I would have to wait for weeks for the IRS to mail me one. 

That is your choice, obviously.  I also find it comforting to have some protection through the credit bureau for id theft. More $$ out of my pocket, but peace of mind...