The IRS has been modernizing its systems to improve the taxpayer experience. Part of that modernization includes providing taxpayers with online accounts that allow them to quickly access data, change payment information, and receive digital notices.
Benefits to Creating Your Online Account:
With your online account, you can:
- View and download your Account Transcripts, Tax Return Transcripts, and Wage & Income Transcripts
- Your Account Transcript shows general information about your taxes, such as whether and when a return was filed, whether and when a refund was issued, your filing status, and any changes made to your return.
- Your Tax Return Transcript is a simplified version of your tax return that can be useful if you do not have a copy of your original return.
- Your Wage & Income Transcript lists your income that was reported to the IRS. This can help you understand where you worked in years past and how the IRS calculated your tax liability.
- Make payments
- Check your balances
- Set up a payment plan
- Track your refund
- Receive digital notice of any audits or other updates relating to your taxes
- Sign up for an IP PIN
- An IP PIN is a 6-digit code known only to you and the IRS. It is valid for one year and prevents other individuals from electronically filing taxes with your Social Security Number or ITIN. Getting an IP PIN can help prevent Identity Theft.
How to Set Up Your Online Account
Setting up your account is a quick process that should only take between 10 and 15 minutes.
What You’ll Need:
- A computer
- An email address you can access
- A working smartphone with a camera and internet access
- A valid Driver’s License/State ID, Passport, or Passport Card
What to Do:
- Visit the IRS Website at Online account for individuals | Internal Revenue Service
- Click the blue button that says “Sign in or create account”
- Click the button that says “ID.me Create an account”
- The website may say that an error has occurred. If this happens, just click continue and try again until it works.
- If you’ve already registered with ID.me, you can simply enter your existing login information.
- Enter your email address and create a secure password
- Verify your email address by confirming it in an email sent to you by ID.me
- Choose a method of multifactor authentication
- Some of these methods involve downloading an app to verify your identity. If you are unsure of which to choose, verify via text message or phone call for the simplest option.
- Verify your identity
- First, click “Self-Service”
- Second, take photos of both sides of your License/ID, Passport, or Passport Card
- Third, allow ID.Me to scan your face. Be sure to hold still!
- Fourth, enter your Social Security Number/ITIN
- Fifth, verify your information by checking the box and clicking “Yes”
- Finally, click the blue box “Allow” to complete setting up your account.
From here, you should be able to access your online account through the IRS website.
For More Information About Online Accounts with the IRS, Please Visit: