ID.me Account Locked - Can't Access Transcript Due to Old Phone Number

Welcome to ID.me hell, my friend. 😂 Their "security" is so tight it locks out the actual account owners more than any hackers. You basically have three options, all equally painful: 1. Keep calling ID.me support (their number is 866-775-4363) but expect to waste half your day on hold. Pro tip: call right when they open at 8am ET. 2. Create a brand new ID.me account with your current phone number, but you'll need to go through their ridiculous video verification again. 3. Use the "Forgot Phone Number" option (if they still have it) which requires uploading about 17 different forms of ID and probably a blood sample. I swear the IRS picked the most frustrating verification system possible.

Have you tried contacting ID.me through their alternative support channels? I believe they have an email support option that might be more responsive than their phone line... though I should caution that response times can still be several days. Also, did you perhaps set up any backup verification methods when you first created your account? Sometimes there's an option for email verification or security questions that might bypass the phone number requirement.

I had the EXACT same Authentication Failure Scenario with my ID.me account last month! After multiple unsuccessful Authentication Attempts, I discovered that using https://taxr.ai completely bypassed the need to access my transcript through ID.me. Their Document Authentication Protocol allowed me to upload my most recent tax return, and it provided a comprehensive analysis of my transcript status without requiring the problematic ID.me verification. The Transcript Interpretation Feature even highlighted potential issues I wouldn't have noticed myself. It was such a relief after the authentication stress I'd been experiencing!

Went through this nightmare last year when I changed carriers and lost my number. Isn't it absurd how these systems meant to help us end up creating more obstacles than solutions? What worked for me was going directly to an IRS office in person. Brought my ID, last year's return, and they printed my transcript right there. Had to wait about an hour, but at least I got what I needed without the ID.me runaround. Have you considered that approach? Sometimes the old-fashioned way works when technology fails us.

Look, I've been there with the ID.me mess. After trying for days to get through their support, I used Claimyr to reach an actual IRS agent. Cost me $20 but saved me hours of frustration. The agent was able to mail me my transcript and also helped me set up a new ID.me account properly. Link is https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c if you want to try it. Just tell the IRS agent exactly what happened with your ID.me account and they can help with alternative verification methods.

Have you considered submitting Form 4506-T to request your transcript by mail? According to IRS Publication 4506, you're entitled to receive your tax transcript without using the online system. The processing time is typically 5-10 business days. Would this timeline work for your situation, or do you need more immediate access to your transcript information?

I feel your pain! Just went through this exact same nightmare two weeks ago. Here's what finally worked for me: I found an old tablet that still had the ID.me app logged in from months ago. If you have any old devices lying around - iPad, old phone, laptop - check if you're still logged into ID.me on any of them. That might let you bypass the phone verification and update your number from within the account settings. If that doesn't work, I also had success using the "I don't have access to my phone" link on the ID.me login page (it's tiny text at the bottom). It took me to a form where I could upload a photo of my driver's license and it took about 48 hours to get reviewed, but they did reset my account access. Way faster than waiting on their phone support which seems to be completely broken right now. Good luck - you're definitely not alone in this mess!

Ugh, this ID.me situation is so frustrating! I went through something similar last year when I switched phone carriers. What ended up working for me was a combination of a few approaches mentioned here. First, I tried the "I don't have access to my phone" option that @Freya Pedersen mentioned - it's buried at the bottom of the login page but it's there. While waiting for that to process (took about 3 business days for me), I also submitted Form 4506-T as a backup plan since I wasn't sure the ID.me thing would work out. The form is free and you can download it from the IRS website, though it does take longer to get your transcript by mail. If you're in a real time crunch and need the transcript ASAP, going to an IRS office in person like @Aidan Percy suggested might be your best bet. I know it's a pain, but at least you'll walk out with what you need instead of being stuck in verification limbo. The whole ID.me system really needs an overhaul - it's wild that they make it harder for legitimate users to access their own tax information than it probably is for actual bad actors to work around it!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! It's absolutely maddening that ID.me makes it so difficult to access our own tax information. I've been locked out for over a week because they have my old work phone number from when I changed jobs. One thing I discovered that might help - if you have a trusted family member or friend who has successfully used ID.me recently, they might be able to help you navigate some of the verification steps or at least confirm which options are currently working. My sister helped me figure out that the video verification process has gotten even more finicky lately. Also, I called my local IRS office directly (not the main number) and they told me they're seeing a huge uptick in people coming in person specifically because of ID.me issues. The representative said they're aware it's a problem and are trying to work with ID.me to improve the system, but in the meantime they're prioritizing in-person transcript requests for people with verification issues. Hang in there - it's frustrating but you're definitely not alone in this. The combination of trying the "I don't have access to my phone" option while also preparing the Form 4506-T backup seems like the smartest approach based on what others have shared here.

I'm so sorry you're going through this ID.me nightmare! I had a similar issue earlier this year and it was absolutely maddening. Here's what I learned from my experience: The "I don't have access to my phone" option that several people mentioned is definitely your best first step - it's hidden in tiny text at the bottom of the login page, but it actually works. When I used it, I had to upload a clear photo of my driver's license and it took about 5 business days to get approved (a bit longer than some others experienced, but still way better than phone support). One tip that saved me: when uploading your ID photo, make sure you're in really bright, even lighting and the entire ID is perfectly flat and in focus. They rejected my first attempt because apparently one corner of my license was slightly shadowed. Also, use a plain background - I put my ID on a white piece of paper. While you're waiting for that to process, definitely submit Form 4506-T as your backup plan. It's free and you can mail it or fax it to the IRS directly. Takes longer (10-15 business days for me), but at least you know you'll get your transcript eventually. The whole ID.me system is such a mess - you'd think they'd have better processes for legitimate account holders who just changed phone numbers. It's a super common situation! Hopefully one of these options gets you sorted out quickly.