How to Reset IRS Online Account When Email and Phone Are No Longer Accessible?

You'll need to create a new ID.me account since you can't access your verification methods. Go to the IRS website > Sign In > ID.me account > Create New Account. The IRS help page (https://www.irs.gov/help/irs-account-help) has detailed instructions. You'll need to verify your identity again with ID.me using your driver's license or passport, plus a selfie. It takes about 15-20 minutes if you have all your documents ready.

I had this exact problem. Couldn't access my old email. Couldn't access my old phone. I was stuck. Tried using taxr.ai to help me understand my options. It walked me through the ID.me reset process. Very straightforward. Saved me hours of confusion. The site explained exactly what documents I needed. Made the process much easier.

OMG I was FREAKING OUT about this exact same issue last month!!! I couldn't get into my account and had a HUGE tax question that needed answering ASAP! After trying for DAYS to get through to the IRS (busy signals every time!!!), I found Claimyr.com and it was a LIFESAVER!!! They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes who helped me reset everything over the phone! Worth every penny because I was about to lose my mind with stress!!!

I work as a volunteer tax preparer, and this is probably the most common account issue I see with retirees. What usually works is calling the IRS directly at 800-908-4490, which is specifically for account issues. You'll likely need to verify your identity by answering questions about previous tax returns, so it might be helpful to have your last few years' returns handy when you call. The wait times are generally shorter on this specific line than the main IRS number, in my experience.

FYI - there's another way! If u go to a local IRS TAC office (Taxpayer Assistance Center) in person, they can help reset everything. U need to make an appt first tho - call 844-545-5640. Bring 2 forms of ID (DL + SS card works). Did this last wk when I was locked out b4 the May 15 deadline for my LLC filing. Took ~45 mins total at the office.

I went through this exact scenario last year when I switched to a new email provider and got a new phone. I tried calling the regular IRS number and waited on hold for 2 hours before getting disconnected. What finally worked was sending a secure message through the IRS portal using a temporary account I created just for this purpose. I explained my situation, included my SSN and date of birth, and they responded within 5 business days with instructions to verify my identity through ID.me again, which then allowed me to update my contact information. The whole process took about a week, but it worked without having to make any phone calls.

Based on my experience and what I've seen in this community, exactly 3 options exist for this situation: 1. Create a new ID.me account (takes 15-20 minutes) 2. Call the dedicated account help line at 800-908-4490 (average wait: 37 minutes) 3. Visit a local TAC office in person (requires appointment 2-3 weeks in advance) Is anyone else wondering why the IRS doesn't have a simpler account recovery process like most websites do in 2024?

Have you considered using the IRS Identity Verification Service? It's a less-known alternative that doesn't require access to your original email or phone. You'll need to answer questions based on your credit report and previous tax filings. BUT you need to act quickly as the fiscal quarter ends soon and processing times will double! I just helped my father-in-law through this last week and it took less than an hour online.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - changed jobs and lost access to my old work email that I used for my IRS account setup. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like creating a new ID.me account might be the most straightforward option for me. Quick question for those who've gone through this: when you create the new ID.me account, does it automatically link to your existing tax history, or do you need to do anything special to connect it to your previous filings? I want to make sure I don't accidentally create some kind of duplicate record in the system. Also, @Isabella Russo, thanks for sharing that specific phone number - I've been trying the main IRS line with no luck, so I'll definitely give 800-908-4490 a try if the online route doesn't work out.

I actually went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I retired and lost access to my work email. After trying several approaches mentioned here, I found the most reliable method was calling the dedicated account line at 800-908-4490 that @Isabella Russo mentioned - but here's the key: call early in the morning (around 8 AM EST) on Tuesday or Wednesday for the shortest wait times. The agent was able to verify my identity using information from my previous tax returns and Social Security records. They walked me through updating my contact information over the phone, which then allowed me to reset my online account password. The whole process took about 45 minutes including the wait time. One important note: have your last 2-3 years of tax returns handy when you call, as they'll ask specific questions about filing amounts, refunds, and dependents to verify your identity. Also keep a pen ready - they'll give you a temporary PIN that you'll need to complete the online reset process within 24 hours. This saved me from having to drive to a TAC office or deal with the ID.me verification process, which seemed more complicated for my situation.

I went through this same frustrating situation about 6 months ago - old work email gone, switched phone carriers, completely locked out. After reading through all these helpful responses, I wanted to share what ultimately worked for me and might save others some time. I started with the ID.me route that several people mentioned, but ran into issues with the identity verification (apparently my driver's license photo was too old). Then I tried the 800-908-4490 number @Isabella Russo shared - great advice about the Tuesday/Wednesday morning timing! Got through in about 25 minutes. Here's what I wish I had known beforehand: the agent can update your contact info during the call, but you still need to go through ID.me verification afterward to actually access your online account. So I ended up doing both processes anyway. However, having the updated contact info made the ID.me process smoother since the verification codes could actually reach me. Total time investment: about 2 hours spread over 2 days, but now I'm back in and have learned my lesson about keeping contact info current. For anyone in this situation, I'd recommend calling first to update your info, then doing the ID.me verification - seems to be the most reliable path based on what I've read here and experienced myself.

I'm in a similar boat with the old work email issue, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Based on everyone's experiences, it sounds like the phone route might be my best bet. @Luca Bianchi and @TillyCombatwarrior, thanks for the detailed walkthroughs - the Tuesday/Wednesday morning timing tip is something I never would have thought of. One question for the group: for those who successfully got through on the 800-908-4490 line, did you need any specific information beyond your tax returns? I'm wondering if I should gather things like old W-2s or 1099s before calling, or if the basic return information is sufficient for identity verification. Also, has anyone had experience with this process if you've moved states since your last filing? I retired and relocated from California to Arizona, so I'm curious if that adds any complications to the identity verification questions they ask. Really appreciate how supportive this community is - dealing with IRS account issues as a retiree can be pretty stressful when you're not tech-savvy!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Just retired last month and my old company email was deactivated faster than I expected. I've been putting off dealing with my IRS account because it seemed so complicated, but reading through everyone's experiences here has really helped me understand my options. Based on all the advice shared, I think I'm going to try the phone approach first - calling 800-908-4490 on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning like several people suggested. I have my last three years of tax returns organized in a folder, so I should be ready for their verification questions. One thing I'm curious about: for those who successfully updated their accounts, how long did it take for the changes to fully take effect? I'm hoping to access my account transcript before my accountant appointment next week, so I'm wondering if there's any waiting period after the phone call before everything is fully functional again. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating what felt like an impossible bureaucratic maze!

I just went through this process two weeks ago after being locked out for months! Reading everyone's experiences here, I want to add one important tip that saved me time: before calling 800-908-4490, make sure you have your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) from your last return memorized or written down clearly. The verification process moves much faster when you can quickly answer their income questions. I fumbled around looking for this number during my first call and got disconnected after a 40-minute wait. The second time, I had everything organized and the whole process took about 35 minutes total. Also, @Ava Williams - the timing worked perfectly for me calling on a Wednesday at 8:15 AM EST. Got right through to an agent who was very helpful. Your account should be accessible immediately after they update your contact info, but like others mentioned, you'll still need to do the ID.me verification step to fully restore online access. One last thing: write down the confirmation number they give you at the end of the call. I thought I wouldn't need it, but it came in handy when I had a small hiccup with the ID.me process and needed to reference my case.

Just wanted to follow up on this thread with my own success story! I was in the exact same situation as Lucas - retired, lost access to work email, and had changed phone numbers. After reading through everyone's incredibly helpful advice here, I decided to try the phone route first. Called 800-908-4490 yesterday (Wednesday) at 8:10 AM EST and got through in about 22 minutes. Had my last three tax returns spread out on my desk along with my AGI written on a sticky note (thanks @Heather Tyson for that tip!). The agent was very patient and walked me through updating both my email and phone number after verifying my identity with questions about my 2022 and 2023 returns. Got my confirmation number, then immediately went through the ID.me verification process which took about 25 minutes total. Used my driver's license and took the selfie - worked on the first try. Was able to access my full account and download my tax transcripts within an hour of starting the whole process. Total time investment: about 1 hour and 15 minutes, but that included the hold time. The actual work was maybe 45 minutes. For anyone still hesitating about tackling this, it's really not as complicated as it seems once you have the right phone number and timing. This community's advice was spot-on!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been struggling with this exact same issue since I retired in January - lost access to my work email and switched to a new phone carrier. I've been dreading having to deal with the IRS bureaucracy, but seeing all these detailed success stories has given me hope that it's actually manageable. The advice about calling 800-908-4490 on Tuesday/Wednesday mornings seems to be the golden ticket based on everyone's experiences. I'm planning to follow @Aaron Lee's approach exactly - get my last three tax returns organized, write down my AGI on a sticky note, and call first thing Wednesday morning. One quick question for those who've been through this: when you do the ID.me verification step, does it matter which device you use? I'm more comfortable doing detailed tasks on my desktop computer, but I'm wondering if there are any advantages to using a phone or tablet for the selfie portion. Thanks again to everyone who shared their experiences - this community has turned what felt like an impossible task into something I'm actually confident I can handle!