Learn About ID.me and IRS Verification

What ID.me Is and How It Works

ID.me is a digital identity verification platform that helps people prove who they are online. The company was founded in 2010 and has grown to serve millions of users across government agencies, financial institutions, and private companies. Rather than creating yet another username and password, ID.me acts as a middleman that confirms your identity once, then shares that confirmation with different organizations you interact with.

The basic process works like this: you create an ID.me account and provide personal information such as your name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number. ID.me then verifies this information against government records and databases. Once verified, you receive a digital ID that you can use to access various services without having to provide your personal details repeatedly to each individual organization.

ID.me uses what's called "identity proofing," which involves multiple verification methods. Some accounts are verified using knowledge-based verification (KBV), where you answer questions about your past that only you would know, such as details about previous addresses or financial accounts. Other accounts may require document verification, where you submit a photo of your government-issued ID, or even a video selfie where you prove you're the person in the ID document.

As of 2024, ID.me has verified the identities of over 90 million people in the United States. The platform handles a significant portion of federal benefit fraud prevention, and state and local government agencies increasingly rely on it to verify applicants. The company has received substantial investment and partnership agreements with major institutions.

Practical takeaway: Understanding that ID.me serves as a verification tool—not a benefits program—helps clarify its role in the application process for government services. It confirms you are who you say you are, but it does not determine whether you receive any benefits.

The IRS and ID.me Verification Connection

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began using ID.me as part of its effort to prevent fraud and identity theft in federal tax administration. Tax fraud costs the government billions of dollars annually. Criminal organizations and identity thieves file false tax returns claiming refunds that don't belong to them. The IRS introduced ID.me verification to create a secure way for taxpayers to access online tax services and prove they are legitimate filers.

In 2021, the IRS launched the "Online Account" feature on its website, which allows taxpayers to view their tax information, payment history, and documents without logging in with a traditional username and password. To access this Online Account, users must verify their identity through ID.me. The IRS made this change after experiencing widespread fraud during the pandemic, when criminals filed millions of false unemployment insurance claims and tax returns using stolen identities.

The verification requirement applies to several IRS online services. These include accessing your Individual Transcript (which shows your tax filing history and income reported to the IRS), viewing your payment information, setting up a payment plan, and in some cases, adjusting your withholding. Not all IRS transactions require ID.me verification—you can still file your tax return using tax preparation software without it—but accessing certain account features does.

When you attempt to access an IRS online account that requires verification, you are redirected to ID.me's platform. You complete the identity verification process there, and once verified, you are returned to the IRS website with access to your account. This process typically takes between 5 and 30 minutes, depending on which verification method is used and whether your information matches government records immediately.

Practical takeaway: The IRS uses ID.me to confirm you are the real taxpayer requesting access to tax account information. This protects your tax account from fraud but does not change how your taxes are calculated or whether you receive a refund. Verification is a security measure, not a tax determination.

How to Navigate ID.me Verification for IRS Access

If you need to create an ID.me account to access IRS online services, the first step is visiting the IRS website and clicking on the login button for "Online Account." You will be directed to create an ID.me account. The process begins with entering your email address and creating a password. You should use a strong password—one that includes uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters—to protect your account.

After setting up your basic account, ID.me will ask you to provide personal information including your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and phone number. Have this information ready before you start. ID.me then attempts to verify your information by checking it against government records. Many people are verified automatically at this stage if their information matches Social Security Administration records and other databases the company has access to.

If you are not verified automatically, ID.me offers several paths forward. You may be asked to answer knowledge-based verification questions. These questions concern details from your personal history, such as "Which of these addresses did you live at in 2015?" or "Which of these is a former employer of yours?" Only you would know the correct answers. You typically must answer 3 to 6 questions correctly to pass this verification method.

If knowledge-based questions do not verify your identity, you may be offered document verification. This involves submitting a clear photo of a government-issued ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID card. You photograph the front and back of the document using your phone or computer camera. ID.me's system uses optical character recognition technology to read the information on the document and checks it against your provided information.

Some users are asked to complete video selfie verification, where you record a short video of yourself holding your ID document next to your face. This confirms that the person on the ID is the same person attempting to verify the account. Video verification takes only a few minutes and may be completed on a computer with a webcam or on a mobile device with a camera.

Practical takeaway: Gather your personal information and government ID before starting the verification process. Different verification methods work for different people depending on their circumstances and records. Being patient and thorough during verification prevents delays in accessing your IRS account.

Security, Privacy, and Data Protection Considerations

When you provide personal information to ID.me, your data security naturally becomes a concern. ID.me uses encryption technology to protect data in transit, meaning information sent between your device and ID.me's servers is scrambled and unreadable to anyone intercepting it. The company also claims to use data encryption at rest, protecting stored information. However, storing sensitive information like Social Security numbers anywhere carries inherent risk.

ID.me's privacy policy states that the company does not sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. However, the company does share information with government agencies and authorized partners to complete identity verification. For example, when you verify through ID.me for IRS access, ID.me shares your verified information with the IRS. This information sharing is necessary for the verification to work and is disclosed in ID.me's terms of service.

Your data is subject to ID.me's data retention practices. According to the company, it retains identity verification records for a specified period to prevent fraud and comply with legal requirements. After that period, some information is deleted or de-identified. However, the IRS and other government agencies may retain copies of your information in their own systems as required by law.

ID.me has experienced security incidents in the past. In 2022, the company disclosed that unauthorized individuals had accessed some user accounts through credential stuffing attacks, where hackers use lists of username and password combinations stolen from other companies to break into accounts. ID.me responded by requiring password changes and implementing additional security features. The incident affected a portion of the platform's user base but did not expose Social Security numbers or government ID images.

You can take several steps to protect your ID.me account. Use a unique, strong password that you do not use on any other website. Enable two-factor authentication if ID.me offers this feature, which requires a code from your phone in addition to your password to log in. Be cautious of emails claiming to be from ID.me and asking you to verify your account—legitimate companies do not request verification through email links. Verify you are on the real ID.me website by checking the URL in your browser.

Practical takeaway: ID.me implements security measures to protect your information, but no system is entirely risk-free. Using strong, unique passwords and staying alert to phishing attempts significantly reduces your personal risk when using any online identity verification service.

Troubleshooting Common ID.me Verification Issues