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JacksonHarris

Can't access my IRS transcripts after ID.me login issues - need help ASAP for tax filing

So frustrating! I've been trying to get into my IRS account to view my tax transcripts for 2 weeks now. My old ID.me account seems completely locked out. When I try to log in, it keeps saying "we don't recognize this device" and then sends a verification code that never arrives to my phone. I tried resetting my password three times, and it says it worked but then still won't let me in! I need to see my transcripts to file my 2024 taxes correctly since I had some weird income situations last year. Has anyone dealt with this before? What did you do to fix it? I tried calling the ID.me support number but was on hold for 90 minutes before getting disconnected.

This is a very common issue right now, especially with ID.me's security upgrades from last December. Here are your options: 1) Create a completely new ID.me account using a different email address than your original one. This bypasses the device verification loop. 2) Call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 and request your transcripts by mail. They'll verify your identity over the phone and mail them within 5-10 business days. 3) File Form 4506-T for transcript request by mail. This takes longer (up to 3 weeks) but doesn't require ID.me access. 4) Visit a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person - you can get same-day transcript copies if you bring proper ID. The fastest option is usually #1 - creating a new ID.me account. Just make sure you have a different email than your original account.

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Thanks for the detailed response! I'm definitely going to try setting up a new account with my work email. Did not realize that was even an option. If that doesn't work I'll try the in-person TAC.

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I tried option 1 and it worked perfectly! Just used my backup email and was able to create a new ID.me account and link it to IRS. took like 15 mins total.

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just a heads up - the 800 number is IMPOSSIBLE to get through on. was on hold for 3 hours yesterday and never got a human

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Can confirm that the TAC center works well but you NEED to make an appointment first. They don't take walk-ins anymore at most locations.

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Wouldnt we have the same issue with #1 when we try and create the account? Like verifying our identity and everything? I'm stuck in the same loop as OP.

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When you create a brand new account, you go through a different verification flow than the login process. The device verification usually only happens on existing accounts.

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I literally just went through this exact nightmare last week. Spent hours trying every possible fix until I found out about taxr.ai and it basically saved my sanity. It connects directly to the IRS database and can pull all your transcript info without dealing with ID.me at all. I used it to check some weird 570 codes that were holding up my refund. It explained everything in plain english and even showed me what to do next. It's insanely good! I use it every week now to check for updates. https://taxr.ai

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Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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It does way more than just read it. It translates all those confusing IRS codes and dates, explains what's actually happening with your taxes, and gives you an action plan. It also alerts you about refund delays, identity verification needs, or audit risks. Saved me from having to decipher what all those numbers meant. I've been telling everyone I know about it!

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OMG I just tried it and this thing is INCREDIBLE 🔥🔥 It found an issue with my account I had no idea about - apparently I had an offset from an old student loan that was holding up my refund. Would have never known that without this tool. Why doesnt the IRS just tell us this stuff clearly?!?

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another app promising miracles... does it actually work or is this just marketing BS? 🙄

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My tax guy charges me $75 every time I ask him to check my transcript for me. This seems like it could save me a ton of money.

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I'm always skeptical of these tax services that claim to do what the IRS website should do... but after trying to remember my ID.me passowrd for the 17th time maybe I'll check it out

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After struggling with the exact same ID.me problems for weeks, I finally got desperate and used the Claimyr calling app (claimyr.com) to get through to an actual human at the IRS. They helped me recover access to my account AND got me my transcript info while I was on the call. Honestly it was the only way I could actually talk to someone who could help. The agent I spoke with was super helpful and even gave me her direct extension for follow-up questions. Talking to an agent got my account issues resolved in 20 minutes instead of waiting weeks for mail.

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wait for real? the IRS agent gave you their direct extension? thats like finding a unicorn 😂

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I was shocked too! Apparently if you get someone in the account management department they can actually do that. She said she'd rather have me call direct than go through the whole process again if I had follow-up questions.

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how does the calling app actually work? sounds sketchy

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It's not sketchy at all. They just navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you back when they get a human on the line. Then they connect you directly. Takes out all the hold time. Best money I've ever spent considering I'd already wasted 6+ hours trying to get through on my own.

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Does this actually work?? I've been trying to call the IRS for MONTHS. literally on hold right now as i type this (2hrs and counting...

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Yeah it works. My sister used it last month and got through in like an hour instead of the usual nightmare. said it was worth every penny.

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I just go to the local IRS office now. Made an appointment online and went in person. The lady printed all my transcripts on the spot. No more ID.me hell for me ever again!

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How long did it take to get an appointment? I tried checking online and the wait time was 6 weeks for my local office.

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I got lucky - only had to wait 2 weeks. But I've heard some offices are backed up for months. Depends on your location I guess. Still better than the online runaround tho.

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Wish I could do this but my nearest IRS office is 128 miles away 😭

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This happend to me earlyer this year. The problem was that I had a new phone number and ID.me was trying to text my old number. I had to go thru their identity verification process all over again with uploading ID and doing a video selfie. Took like an hour but it worked.

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The way this government expects us to jump through hoops just to see OUR OWN TAX INFORMATION is ridiculous. ID.me is a private company that we're forced to use for a basic government service. It's a total scam and I hate it. The whole system is deliberately designed to make it hard for average people to understand their taxes.

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PREACH 👏👏👏 Its wild that we have to do all this just to see our own damn information

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Seriously! And if you try to call them the wait times are like 2-3 hours minimum. Its almost like they dont want us to access our info on purpose.

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Pro tip: complain to your congressperson. I did this after my 5th failed attempt with ID.me and the congressional liaison at the IRS called me back within 48 hours and sorted it all out.

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Have you tried using a different browser? There's a weird bug with ID.me and Chrome right now. I switched to Firefox and suddenly everything worked.

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I'll try that! Been using Chrome this whole time and didn't think about trying a different browser.

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Just went thru this last week. ID.me is total garbage. Try this workaround: go to the "forgot password" page, but then click the "need help" option (it's in small text at the bottom). It'll take you to a different verification path that doesn't use the device verification. Worked for me!

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This whole ID.me mess is why I started using taxr.ai to manage my tax stuff - it connects directly to the IRS database without all the login headaches. Shows you everything in your transcript in plain english instead of all those confusing codes. https://taxr.ai saved me so much time trying to decipher what was happening with my taxes.

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Not falling for another tax 'hack'... these never work

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This isn't a hack, it's a legit service that connects to the official IRS database. It just makes the information readable and actually useful. Try it before dismissing it.

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OK fine I'll bite... I just checked it out and WOW you're actually right. This is incredible. It just told me exactly why my refund is delayed and what to do about it. Where has this been all my life???

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Oh man id.me is complete trash. I work in IT and still can't figure out their login system half the time. Their customer service is even worse. I've started just requesting all my tax docs by mail which is ridiculous in 2025 but at least it eventually works.

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If you have a tax preparer, they can pull your transcripts for you using their professional account. Might be worth a call to your tax person if you have one.

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This! My H&R Block guy pulled my transcripts in like 2 minutes when I couldn't access them for weeks.

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Some tax preparers charge extra for this tho. Mine wanted $50 just to pull a transcript 😡

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Claimyr 100% got me through to the IRS when nothing else worked. After spending literally days trying to get through the normal phone line, I used the app (claimyr.com) and had an agent on the line in about an hour. The agent fixed my account access issues and I could see my transcripts right away. Talking to a real human solved in 15 mins what I'd been fighting with for weeks online. They even helped me understand some weird codes on my account that were preventing my refund from processing.

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sounds like one of those ads that pops up everywhere. anyone ACTUALLY try this?

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I used it last month. It works exactly as advertised - they navigate the phone system and call you when they get an agent. No more sitting on hold for hours.

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wait hold up - does this actually work or is it just the usual BS?

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It 100% works. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when they get a human. Saved me hours of hold music and frustration. It was the only thing that actually worked after weeks of trying.

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ID.me is the worst. The IRS should be ashamed for using them. I ended up just mailing in Form 4506-T to get my transcripts. Took almost 3 weeks to arrive but at least it finally worked.

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I had the same issue! Try clearing your cookies and cache completely, then use a private/incognito browser window. For some reason that worked for me when nothing else did.

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Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tonight.

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Yo this is why i just pay my accountant to handle all this nonsense. worth every penny to not deal with ID.me and the IRS website.

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FWIW, I've had better luck calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Line at 866-860-4259 and telling them you're having technical difficulties. Sometimes they'll help you even if youre not a tax pro. The regular number is useless.

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BE CAREFUL with this advice - they can blacklist your number if they figure out you're not actually a tax professional. Happened to my brother.

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So I was about to throw my laptop after 3 hours trying to decipher my transcript when a friend told me about taxr.ai - it's a game changer! Not only did it help me understand what all those weird codes on my transcript actually meant, but it showed me exactly why my refund was delayed and what I needed to do to fix it. The explanations are super clear and it even gives you a timeline estimate for when things will resolve. Honestly wish I'd found this months ago instead of trying to be a transcript detective lol. https://taxr.ai

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hmm I've been burned by so many of these 'services' before... what makes this different?

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It's different because it's not trying to file your taxes or anything sketchy - it just translates all the IRS jargon into plain English and tells you exactly what's happening with your account. I used it to figure out why my refund was stuck and found out I had a review code I didn't understand. Saved me having to call the IRS which is basically impossible these days.

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OK you convinced me - just tried it and I'm blown away. It explained a code on my transcript that I've been confused about for weeks. THIS SHOULD BE STANDARD FROM THE IRS ITSELF!!!

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Try using the Get Transcript by MAIL option on the IRS website. You dont need ID.me for that - they verify you with basic info like SSN, DOB, address, etc. Takes a week or so to arrive but at least it works.

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I fixed this by contacting ID.me on Twitter (or X or whatever). Their DM support actually responded within a day and helped me recover my account. Way faster than their normal support channels.

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THIS!!! Their social media team is 100x better than their regular support.

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I know this sounds weird but try logging in at like 2am. The ID.me servers are less busy and for some reason the verification works better. Thats how I finally got in after days of failing during normal hours.

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I feel your pain! I went through this exact same nightmare about a month ago. What finally worked for me was completely clearing all my browser data (cookies, cache, stored passwords - everything) and then trying the "forgot password" route one more time. But here's the key - I had to use a different phone number for the verification. I used my work cell instead of my personal phone and suddenly the verification codes started coming through. Apparently ID.me sometimes gets stuck trying to send to certain numbers. Also make sure you're not using any VPN or ad blockers when you try - those can interfere with their verification system. If all else fails, the mail option for transcripts really does work, it just takes forever. Good luck!

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This is such helpful advice! I never thought about the phone number being the issue. I've been using the same number that's probably flagged in their system somehow. I'm going to try using my backup phone number tonight and see if that makes a difference. The VPN tip is good too - I always have mine running so that could definitely be causing problems. Thanks for sharing what actually worked for you instead of just complaining about how broken the system is!

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Amazing tip about using a different phone number! I've been banging my head against the wall with the same number for weeks. Just tried it with my Google Voice number and the verification code came through instantly. Finally got into my account after clearing everything like you suggested. You're a lifesaver! Can't believe something so simple was the fix after all this time.

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Had this exact same issue last month! The device verification loop is the worst part of ID.me. What worked for me was using a completely different device (borrowed my sister's laptop) AND a different internet connection (used my phone's hotspot instead of home wifi). Apparently ID.me sometimes flags your home network or device fingerprint. Also try logging in during off-peak hours like early morning - their servers seem to handle verification better when they're not overloaded. If you're still stuck, the Form 4506-T mail option is slow but reliable. Just make sure you fill out all the fields correctly or they'll reject it and you'll have to start over. Hang in there!

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This is brilliant advice! The different device + different network combo makes so much sense - ID.me probably has all sorts of security flags that get triggered when you keep trying from the same setup. I'm definitely going to try the hotspot trick since I've been hammering away from my home wifi this whole time. The off-peak hours tip is gold too - never thought about server load affecting verification success rates. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of what actually worked instead of just saying "it's broken" like most posts!

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I went through this exact same ID.me nightmare a few weeks ago and it was absolutely maddening! What finally worked for me was a combination of things: First, I completely deleted my browser cookies and cache, then used Firefox in private browsing mode (Chrome was having issues with ID.me). But the real game changer was using a different phone number for verification - I switched from my main cell to my Google Voice number and suddenly the codes started coming through. Also make sure you're not on a VPN when trying to log in, as that can trigger their security flags. If you're still stuck after trying these tech fixes, honestly the mail option (Form 4506-T) is slow but it actually works - took me about 2.5 weeks to get my transcripts but at least I finally got them. The whole ID.me system is frustrating but don't give up! One of these workarounds should get you through.

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This is exactly the kind of detailed, practical advice that actually helps! I've been stuck in the ID.me loop for over a week now and getting more frustrated by the day. The Google Voice number trick is genius - I never would have thought of that. I've been using my main cell this whole time and just assumed the codes weren't coming through because of network issues. Going to try Firefox in private mode with my Google Voice number tonight and see if that breaks through. Really appreciate you taking the time to share what actually worked instead of just venting about how broken the system is (which, don't get me wrong, it totally is). The Form 4506-T backup plan is good to know too - 2.5 weeks isn't ideal but it beats being completely locked out indefinitely!

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I just went through this exact same ID.me hell about two weeks ago! The "device not recognized" loop is absolutely infuriating. Here's what finally worked for me after trying everything else: I had to use my work laptop (different device) connected to my phone's hotspot (different network) and switch to a backup phone number for verification codes. Apparently ID.me flags your usual setup after too many failed attempts. Also try logging in super early in the morning like 6am - their servers seem less overwhelmed then. If you're completely stuck, the congressional office route someone mentioned actually works - my friend's mom did that and got a callback from the IRS within 48 hours. It shouldn't be this hard to access our own tax information, but at least there are workarounds. Don't give up!

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This is super helpful! I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now and have been stuck for almost two weeks. The idea of using a completely different device and network makes total sense - I've been trying from my home computer on my regular wifi this whole time, which is probably flagged by now. I'm going to try borrowing my roommate's laptop and using my work phone number for verification. The early morning login tip is really smart too - I never considered that server load could affect verification success rates. Thanks for sharing actual solutions instead of just complaining! Really appreciate the congressional office backup option too, that's good to know if all else fails.

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