Why You Should Have an Account with the IRS and How to Set Your Account Up
Written By Marin Thompson, Administrative Assistant at BEC CFO & CPA
The Benefits of Having an Account with the IRS:
Secure Access to IRS Online Tools
An ID.me account allows taxpayers to securely access IRS online services. This includes:
Get Transcript Online: View or download tax transcripts.
Child Tax Credit Update Portal (when active): Check eligibility or payment status.
Online Account: View balance due, payment history, set up payment plans, make online payments directly and key tax records.
Refund Status: Check refund status
Identity Verification: Prove your identity online without waiting on the phone or mailing documents. It uses facial recognition, government ID scans, and MFA. It gives you a clear login trail, so you know when your account was accessed.
Identity Theft Protection: Request IP PIN for online filing protection. Without this number your tax return cannot be e-filed, adding additional protection to your tax filing.
Why are these the biggest benefits?
Because without an ID.me account, your only options are:
Calling the IRS (long hold times, limited hours)
Mailing documents (slow, risk of getting lost)
Visiting in person (requires appointments, limited availability)
With ID.me, you skip those roadblocks, saving time and reducing stress, while also adding a strong layer of identity protection through multi-factor authentication and verified credentials. ID.me uses multi-factor authentication (MFA), meaning you need more than just a password (like a phone code or biometric check) making access much safer. In short, you control your tax account directly and securely, with much faster resolution of issues that used to require weeks of mail or long IRS phone waits.
Additional Benefits: Access to Other Government Services
Besides IRS, the same ID.me account can be used for:
Social Security Administration (SSA) services
Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare portal
State unemployment systems
This creates a single sign-on experience for multiple agencies, making life simpler for users.
How to Create Your Account:
Step 1: Go to the IRS Website
Visit the official IRS website: irs.gov
Navigate to the service you want (like View Your Account or Get Transcript Online)
Click Sign in to your online account
You will be redirected to ID.me if you don’t already have an IRS online account.
Step 2: Create an ID.me Account
On the ID.me page, click Create an account
Enter your email address and create a password
Accept the terms and conditions
You’ll get a confirmation email — click the link inside to verify your email.
Step 3: Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Choose a method for MFA (multi-factor authentication), such as:
Text message code
Phone call code
Authenticator app (like Google Authenticator)
This protects your account with two layers of security.
Step 4: Verify Your Identity
This is the key step! You will need to provide identity documents, such as:
Driver’s license
State ID
Passport or passport card
You can take photos with your smartphone or upload scanned images.
Step 5: Take a Selfie (or Use Video Call)
ID.me uses facial recognition to match your selfie to your ID.
If you prefer not to use facial recognition, you can:
Opt for a video chat with an ID.me agent to verify live.
Step 6: Complete and Access IRS Services
Once your identity is verified:
You will be redirected back to the IRS website.
You can now log in with ID.me and access IRS tools securely anytime.
Tips for a Smooth Setup
Make sure you have a good internet connection and well-lit photos of your ID.
Use the same name and details as on your tax records.
Keep your phone near for MFA codes.
Here is a video about creating your account from BEC CFO team member Phil King: Creating an IRS account
Conclusion
An ID.me account is increasingly essential for securely accessing IRS online services, allowing taxpayers to verify their identity, manage tax records, view balances, set up payments, and resolve issues quickly without the delays of mail or long phone wait times. By providing strong multi-factor authentication and identity verification, ID.me helps protect sensitive tax information from fraud and identity theft while offering a convenient, self-service gateway to critical IRS tools. For anyone who wants faster, safer, and more direct control over their tax matters, setting up an ID.me account has become a key step.