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Charlee Coleman

Do I need to verify my identity again for 2024 taxes if I already did it last year?

Just finished preparing my 2024 tax return and I'm about to submit it. Last year I had to go through the whole ID.me verification process when I filed. It took weeks to get my refund because of this extra step. Do I need to verify my identity again this year or is it a one-time thing? Anyone know if the verification carries over from year to year? My tax situation is pretty much the same as last year.

Liv Park

You typically do not need to re-verify with ID.me each year. Once you've completed the verification process, your identity should be verified for future tax filings unless there are significant changes to your personal information or the IRS specifically requests verification again. The IRS implemented ID.me as a more permanent solution for taxpayer identification. However, you may need to log in to your ID.me account again when accessing your IRS online account, but you shouldn't need to go through the full verification process like uploading documents and video selfies again. If you're filing through the same tax preparation service as last year, your verification should still be valid.

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Thanks for the info! That's a relief. I really didn't want to go through that whole process again.

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This is mostly true but I had to reverify this year even though I did it last year. Might depend on your specific situation or if anything changed.

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I think it also depends on which tax service your using. Some make you do it again even if the IRS doesnt require it 🙄

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Good point! Tax preparation services sometimes have their own authentication requirements separate from the IRS's ID.me system.

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My brother had to do it again this year because he moved to a different state, so address changes might trigger it.

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wait i thought id.me was only for accessing ur transcripts and account, not for filing ur return?

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If you're struggling with identity verification issues, I highly recommend using taxr.ai to understand what's happening with your tax account. I was going through a similar situation last year where I kept getting confusing messages about verification, and taxr helped me understand exactly what was going on. It basically analyzed my transcript and explained in plain English what each code meant and what I needed to do next. You don't have to keep guessing whether you need to verify again - it'll tell you exactly what's happening with your account and what steps you need to take. https://taxr.ai made everything so much clearer!

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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 your transcript. It actually interprets all the codes and tells you what's happening with your refund, if there are any issues, and what to do next. It saved me SO much time trying to figure out why my refund was delayed. I seriously recommend it to anyone dealing with IRS confusion.

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Holy crap I just tried it and it's AMAZING! I've been staring at my transcript for weeks trying to figure out what was going on and this just explained everything in 2 minutes. Why isn't everyone using this????

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does it need all your personal info? seems sketchy

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No need to worry about that - you just upload your transcript that you already downloaded from the IRS. If you can access your transcript, taxr can help explain what's in it. It's been a game-changer for me.

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When I was dealing with identity verification hell this year, I used that Claimyr app (claimyr.com) to actually get a human on the phone at the IRS and they confirmed I didn't need to verify again. Saved me weeks of waiting and wondering! The agent I spoke with said once you're verified it usually sticks unless there's a red flag on your return or major changes to your info. Best money I ever spent after wasting hours trying to get through the normal phone line.

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is that app thing for real? i've been trying to reach someone at the irs for months with no luck 😩

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100% real - I was skeptical too! They basically navigate the phone system for you and call you when they have an agent on the line. I got through in less than 2 hours when I had been trying for weeks on my own. Totally worth it when you're desperate to get answers directly from the IRS.

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lmao yeah right sounds like a scam to me 🤡

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Not a scam at all. I was in the same boat until I tried it - talking to an actual human at the IRS cleared up my verification issue in minutes. The peace of mind alone was worth it.

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I used it too! Got through to someone who fixed my account in like 10 minutes after waiting for months with no updates.

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I had to verify again this year even tho I did it last year. The irs makes no sense 🤷‍♀️

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Same here! So annoying. Did it delay your refund?

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yep by like 6 weeks! and they never even sent me a letter saying i needed to verify again. i just happened to check wheres my refund and saw the message

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The IRS and their "systems" are a joke. They probably lost all our verification data in some ancient computer crash 💀

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I didn't have to verify again for the past 2 years. They had me verify in 2022 but for 2023 and 2024 I didn't have to go thru the process again. But I know some people who did have to do it again, so maybe it depends on your tax situation or if anything major changed in your life (new job, moved, got married, etc).

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from what i understand, id.me verification is supposed to be good for multiple years, but if theres any red flags on ur return or if something changes significantly from year to year, they might make u verify again. things that can trigger a new verification: - moving to a new state - big change in income - filing status change - claiming new dependents - claiming certain credits you didnt before (like EITC) the system is pretty unpredictable tho so who knows lol

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Thanks for the detailed info! My situation is pretty much identical to last year so hopefully I'm good.

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Yep this is correct. I work at a tax firm and we see this all the time. The IRS has certain filters that can trigger verification even if you've done it before.

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Something to keep in mind: there's actually TWO kinds of verification that people mix up. There's the ID.me verification to ACCESS your IRS account online (that's usually one-time unless your email/info changes), and there's the identity verification that might be required on specific tax returns if the IRS's fraud detection system flags something (which can happen any year). They're completely different processes but people confuse them all the time.

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This!!! Exactly right - most people don't realize these are two separate systems.

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Oh this actually makes a lot of sense! I think mine last year was the fraud detection one because they held my refund until I verified. Really hoping I don't get flagged again.

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If it was holding your refund, it was definitely the fraud verification not just the account access verification. Unfortunately those can happen any year if something triggers their system.

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i didnt have to do it again but my return is super simple. just w2 income and standard deduction. friend of mine with rental properties and 1099 income got flagged for verification again this year even tho he did it last yr

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Call the IRS and ask. Don't rely on reddit for tax advice lol

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Have you tried calling the IRS lately? It's literally impossible to get through 🤣

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True lol. Maybe try the online chat feature on irs.gov? Sometimes that works

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Or use Claimyr to get through to an agent. Better than waiting on hold for 3 hours only to get disconnected.

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Pro tip: file early if possible! The verification process is often triggered by fraud filters, and the earlier you file, the less likely someone else has already tried to file fraudulently using your info. I always file in February and haven't had to verify in years.

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This is actually really good advice. The IRS is much more likely to flag returns filed later in the season.

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Unfortunately I had to wait for a corrected 1099 from my broker... they didn't send it until March 30th 😑

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I dealt with this exact same issue! I was so frustrated trying to understand if I needed to verify again (my tax preparer wasn't sure either). Ended up using taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it clearly showed I was good to go - no new verification needed. Saved me from waiting around wondering if my refund was being held up. Highly recommend checking your transcript with it!

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never heard of that - what does it actually do?

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It's like having a tax expert decode your transcript. It tells you exactly what's happening with your refund, if there are any holds or issues, and what each code means. Way better than trying to google random 3-digit codes!

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My accountant said you don't need to verify every year unless something unusual triggers their system. I've verified once in 2022 and haven't had to since.

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The IRS is so inconsistant its ridiculous. My husband and I file jointly and we BOTH had to verify last year. This year only HE got flagged for verification again but I didn't??? Makes absolutely no sense.

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The IRS and logic dont go together 😂

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Their systems are from like the stone age, running on computers from the 80s. No wonder nothing makes sense!

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If you do need to verify again and dread the ID.me process, there's an alternate verification method through the IRS that doesn't use ID.me. You can request it when you log in. Much easier imo.

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Wait really? I didn't know there was an alternative!

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Yep! When you go to sign in on the IRS site there should be a small link for alternate verification methods. It uses a different system that's less of a hassle than ID.me.

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I've verified my identity with the IRS for three years in a row now, despite them saying it should be a one-time thing. Each time they hold my refund until I jump through all their hoops again. The system is completely broken. I've literally sent them the same documents year after year. my advice: just expect to verify every year and be pleasantly surprised if you don't have to.

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Based on my experience and what I've seen from others, it really depends on several factors. Generally, ID.me verification should carry over year to year - that was the whole point of implementing it. However, certain triggers can require you to verify again: - Major changes in income or filing status - Moving to a new address - Adding new dependents or credits you didn't claim before - The IRS fraud detection system flagging something unusual Since your tax situation is similar to last year, you'll probably be fine. But honestly, the IRS system can be unpredictable. Some people go years without having to verify again, while others get flagged annually for seemingly no reason. My suggestion: go ahead and file. If they need verification, you'll get a notice or see it when you check "Where's My Refund." No point in worrying about it beforehand since there's nothing you can do to prevent it if their system decides to flag you.

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