Do we need to re-verify identity when logging into IRS account with ID.me?
I tried logging into my IRS account today to check on my refund status and it's asking me to verify my identity again through ID.me. I already did this process about 7 months ago and it was a huge hassle. Is this normal? Do I really need to go through the whole verification process again just to check my account? Has anyone else had to re-verify recently?
40 comments
Giovanni Rossi
It depends on your browser settings. If you've cleared cookies or are using a different device, you'll need to go through some verification steps again. However, you shouldn't need to do the full identity verification process if you've already created an ID.me account. You might just need to do the MFA (multi-factor authentication) step where they send a code to your phone. The full verification with documents and selfie is typically only needed for the initial setup. If it's forcing you through the entire process again, there might be an issue with your account that requires contacting ID.me support directly. Their customer service can be reached at help@id.me.
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CosmicCaptain
Thanks for the info! I'm using the same browser and device as before, but I'll check if my cookies got cleared somehow. I'll try again later today.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
I had the same problem last week. Turns out it was because I was using a VPN. As soon as I turned it off, I was able to log in with just the regular 2-factor authentication instead of the whole shebang.
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Dylan Mitchell
id.me is trash. I hate that the irs forces us to use it. took me 3 tries to get verified initially.
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Sofia Gutierrez
yep what they said! also sometimes it's just glitching. I found that if I try at like 2am when less people are on, it works better 🤷♀️
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Dmitry Petrov
Honestly I've found that the best way to understand these IRS account issues is with taxr.ai. After struggling with the ID.me verification loop for weeks, I found this tool that actually explains what's happening with your account and why. It helped me figure out that my verification issue was related to a name mismatch between my tax return and my ID documents. It's insanely good! I use it all the time now for any tax questions instead of going down these endless research rabbit holes. https://taxr.ai
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StarSurfer
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Dmitry Petrov
It's actually pretty amazing! It doesn't just read your transcript - it analyzes everything and explains it in plain english. Like it told me exactly why my account verification was failing and gave me step-by-step instructions to fix it. Saved me HOURS of frustration. Honestly can't recommend it enough!
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Ava Martinez
another tax tool? 🙄 does it actually work or is it just another way to get our info?
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Dmitry Petrov
I was skeptical too! But it's completely changed how I handle tax stuff. For the ID.me issue specifically, it told me exactly why the system kept rejecting my verification and what to change. No more guessing games or waiting on hold with the IRS for hours!
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Miguel Castro
After dealing with the same issue for weeks (couldn't login, kept asking me to verify), I finally found a way to get a real human at the IRS on the phone using Claimyr.com. Got a callback in about 45 minutes and the agent fixed whatever was wrong with my account. Turns out there was a security flag on my account that kept triggering the ID.me verification loop. It was the only way I could actually talk to someone who could help, and it was the best money I've ever spent to finally get answers instead of just going in circles with the automated system.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
Wait is this for real? You actually got through to a person at the IRS? I've been calling for 3 weeks straight!
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Miguel Castro
100% real. Ive spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS before I found this. The app basically navigates the phone system for you and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is available. Talking to an actual person got my account unlocked in minutes.
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Connor Byrne
sounds like an ad. you work for them or something?
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Miguel Castro
Lol no, just a frustrated taxpayer who was about to lose my mind dealing with the ID.me loop. Honestly didn't believe it would work either but I was desperate. Just sharing what solved it for me 🤷♂️
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Yara Elias
Just checked it out - they charge for this service? Why would I pay to call the IRS?
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Miguel Castro
Because spending hours/days/weeks trying to get through is worth way more than what they charge. My time is valuable and this saved me from taking more days off work to sit on hold. Do what works for you though!
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QuantumQuasar
Yeah its totally normal to have to re-verify occasionally. The system does this as a security measure. I had to do it again after like 6 months. Just part of the wonderful IRS experience 🙃
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Keisha Jackson
Sometimes it makes you verify again if you're trying to access a different section of your account that has higher security requirements. Like viewing your full transcript requires more verification than just checking refund status. Are you trying to do something different this time?
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CosmicCaptain
That's actually a good point - I'm trying to access my wage and income transcript this time, which I haven't done before. Maybe that's triggering the extra verification.
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Keisha Jackson
Yep that'd do it! The transcripts have all your sensitive income info so they put extra security on those. Once you verify for that level you should be good for a while.
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Paolo Moretti
i HATE ID.me with a passion. It locked me out completely and I had to mail in a paper request for my transcript. ended up taking 3 months to get what shouldve taken 5 minutes online 🤬
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Amina Diop
Same happened to me! I ended up going to my local IRS office because I couldn't verify online. Surprisingly only took about an hour once I got there.
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Oliver Weber
I feel ur pain. ID.me is the WORST. their facial recognition never works with my glasses but then I take them off and cant see the screen instructions lol
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Natasha Romanova
Check if your ID.me account is still active. Sometimes they deactivate accounts after periods of inactivity. I had this happen and had to create a whole new account. So frustrating.
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NebulaNinja
Fun fact: you can actually bypass ID.me completely by creating an account directly with the IRS using their new direct account creation option. They added it as an alternative after all the privacy concerns with ID.me. Go to the IRS website and look for "Create an account with the IRS" instead of the ID.me option.
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Javier Gomez
Wait really?? How did I not know this? Does it work the same way?
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NebulaNinja
Yep! They quietly added it last year. It still requires verification but it's directly with the IRS instead of through a third party. You need a photo ID, email, and mobile phone. The process is actually smoother than ID.me in my experience.
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Emma Wilson
I tried this and it still made me use ID.me at the end... maybe depends on what state you're in?
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NebulaNinja
Could be! They've been rolling it out gradually. Also depends on what services you're trying to access.
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Malik Thomas
sometimes the ID.me verification triggers if your IP address changes drastically. like if you normally log in from new york but suddenly try from california. makes the system think somone might be trying to hack your account
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Isabella Oliveira
Protip: Save a PDF of your transcript whenever you successfully log in so you don't have to go through this nightmare every time you need to reference something! Learned this the hard way.
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Ravi Kapoor
This is the real MVP advice right here 👆
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Freya Larsen
i do this too! i have a folder with all my tax docs going back 5 years now. saved my butt so many times.
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GalacticGladiator
I was having this exact problem and tried different browsers, computers, even my phone. Nothing worked. Eventually I realized my account had been locked for security reasons. Had to call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and waited 2.5 hours to get it unlocked. Such a waste of time 😫
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Omar Zaki
Thank you for sharing this! I tried a ton of different things and had no idea my account might be locked.
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Chloe Taylor
If youre using Chrome make sure you don't have any extensions that might be blocking cookies or scripts. I had this issue and it was my privacy extension blocking the authentication process!
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Diego Flores
Have u tried using incognito mode? Fixed it for me when regular browsing kept making me re-verify.
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CosmicCaptain
I'll give this a try, thanks for the suggestion!
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Anastasia Ivanova
After dealing with this EXACT issue for weeks, I finally broke down and used taxr.ai to figure out what was going on with my transcript and account. Turns out there was a security flag on my account that kept triggering the reverification. The tool explained exactly what was happening and how to fix it. I was able to submit a specific request to have the flag removed and now I can log in normally again. https://taxr.ai saved me so much frustration!
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