IRS ID.me account

[garycarols]

When I log into my IRS account, it gives me a message that I should establish a new account.  I assume this is the new ID.me-type account.  It was my understanding that ID.me--because of taxpayer backlash--no longer required facial recognition to establish an account.  Thinking that, today I decided to establish the new account, but the FAQs state that a photo ID AND a selfie photo are still required to establish that new account.  I do not want to go anywhere NEAR an account that requires facial recognition, but it appears that the IRS may still be going down that alley.  Does anyone know what gives?  Has anyone established a new IRS account in the last month or two?  If so, was a photo ID/selfie required to be downloaded?  Thanks for your help!

[DoninGA]

I also was asked several months ago to create a new account using ID.me.  I refused to do this so have continued to use my IRS User ID and Password to access my IRS tax account and IRS transcripts.  If you established an IRS User ID and Password in the past those should still work.

[garycarols]

Thanks, DoninGA.  I was able to recently log in with my previous username and password as well.  Do you know--or even have a feeling--when or if we will need to update to the ID.me account?  Again, thank you.

[DoninGA]

No, I do not have any direct knowledge of if or when an ID.me account would be required by the IRS.  However, my feeling is that with the amount of pushback from the public and the Congress also not enthralled with this, the ID.me requirement will not be enforced as the only way to access an IRS account.

[garycarols]

That seems so reasonable to the two of us . . . hopefully it will be the case!  Thanks, DoninGA.  

[Mike9241 · Accepted solution]

from IRS website

February 21, 2022

The IRS announced today that a new option in the agency’s authentication system is now available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. This is consistent with the IRS’s commitment earlier this month to transition away from the requirement for taxpayers creating an IRS online account to provide a selfie to a third-party service to help authenticate their identity. Taxpayers will have the option of verifying their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents; no biometric data – including facial recognition – will be required if taxpayers choose to authenticate their identity through a virtual interview.

Taxpayers will still have the option to verify their identity automatically through the use of biometric verification through ID.me’s self-assistance tool if they choose. For taxpayers who select this option, new requirements are in place to ensure images provided by taxpayers are deleted for the account being created. Any existing biometric data from taxpayers who previously created an IRS Online Account that has already been collected will also be permanently deleted over the course of the next few weeks.

While this short-term solution is in place for this year’s filing season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to roll out Login.Gov as an authentication tool. The General Services Administration is currently working with the IRS to achieve the security standards and scale required of Login.Gov, with the goal of moving toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline.

see this ID.me page at the very top which confirms no biometric data is needed.

https://sa.www4.irs.gov/secureaccess/ui/?TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-0006b18e-628e-1187-a229-7c2b0ad00... 

[DoninGA]

Thanks for the update @Mike9241 

[garycarols]

Thank you.  I guess our options now are 1) Do nothing at this time, and sign in with our old username and password  (and assume we will eventually need to create an ID.me account) or 2) Go the ID.me route now, and choose the video-with-a-live-person option (for those of us who do not want to participate in the facial recognition thing).  Do we have a feeling what most taxpayers are doing?