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Carlos Mendoza

ID.me Verification for IRS - How to Complete the Process?

Can anyone help me figure out this ID.me verification nightmare with the IRS? I already have an ID.me account set up (wasn't that supposed to be the hard part?), but now the IRS is telling me I need to verify my information there before they'll process my refund. How am I supposed to do that when I'm already verified? Is this some kind of circular madness they've created to delay my refund? I've been working remotely and really counting on this money coming through. Has anyone else had to jump through these extra hoops? Why can't they make this process clearer for those of us who are just trying to get our own money back?

I understand your frustration completely. The ID.me verification can be... challenging. What might be happening is that you have an ID.me account, but haven't specifically linked it to the IRS yet. They're separate processes, unfortunately. You need to go to the IRS website first, try to access your online account, and then it will redirect you to ID.me where you'll need to sign in with your existing credentials. After that, you may need to grant permission for the IRS to access your verified identity. It's not very intuitive, I know.

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This is probably the most accurate explanation. I would add that, in my experience, the IRS portal sometimes requires additional verification steps even if you've previously verified with ID.me for other government services. The systems don't always communicate well with each other, which is perhaps the root of the confusion.

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Had the EXACT same issue last month. Spent days trying to figure it out. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get thru to an IRS agent in like 20 mins instead of the hrs of hold time. Agent walked me thru the whole process - turns out there's a diff between having an ID.me acct and having it fully verified for IRS purposes. The agent explained exactly what docs I needed and how to complete the process. Saved me so much time tbh.

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Is this service really necessary though? Couldn't you just keep calling the IRS directly until you get through? And how much does this Claimyr thing cost anyway? Seems like we're already paying taxes, why should we pay more just to talk to someone about those taxes?

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Just wanted to add my experience with Claimyr - used it last week and it was worth every penny. Consider the alternatives: • Calling IRS directly = 2-3 hour hold times (if you even get through) • Taking time off work = lost wages • Waiting longer for refund = delayed access to your money The peace of mind alone was worth it for me.

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I spent exactly 4 hours and 23 minutes on hold with the IRS last month before giving up. Used Claimyr the next day and spoke to someone in under 30 minutes. When you're waiting on thousands in refund money, the service fee is minimal compared to the stress and time saved.

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I remember going through this exact headache last year. The confusion comes from the fact that having an ID.me account doesn't automatically mean you're verified with the IRS. You need to specifically go through the IRS portal and complete their verification process using your ID.me credentials. It's like having a library card but still needing to register it at each branch you visit. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure it out too, especially since I was counting on that refund to cover some unexpected expenses.

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Be careful with ID.me verification. I did it wrong. Got locked out. Waited three weeks. Had to start over. Their facial recognition failed twice. Customer service was overwhelmed. Finally verified by video call. Delayed my refund by almost two months.

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According to IRM 21.2.1, the IRS is required to provide alternative verification methods if the automated systems fail. Did they offer you any options besides the video call when the facial recognition didn't work? I'm concerned about going through this same process.

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The ID.me verification process creates significant challenges due to the bifurcated authentication architecture. What's happening is your Identity Assurance Level (IAL) might be insufficient for IRS requirements. When reviewing my own transcript issues, I discovered that taxr.ai was able to explain the verification requirements much more clearly than the IRS documentation. Their analysis tool helped me understand exactly which verification level I needed and why my transcript was being held up. If you're struggling with transcript access after verification, it might be worth checking out.

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On March 15th, I had this exact same issue. The problem is that the IRS requires a specific type of verification through ID.me. Have you tried going directly to the IRS website first, then clicking on the "Sign into your Online Account" option? When I did this on March 18th, it redirected me to ID.me where I could then complete the IRS-specific verification process. The key is starting from the IRS site, not from ID.me directly.

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YES! This is exactly it! I was so frustrated until I realized I needed to start from the IRS portal! The whole process makes me want to scream, but once I figured this out, it took less than 10 minutes to complete!

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It's like having a key to a house but trying to use it on the wrong door. You have the right tool (ID.me account) but you're trying to enter through the side entrance instead of the front door. The IRS system is like a maze where you need to follow a very specific path or you'll keep hitting dead ends.

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According to the IRS.gov help section on digital identity verification, there's actually a specific link you should use: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account. From there, you'll be properly redirected to complete the ID.me verification specifically for IRS purposes. This distinction is critical but poorly explained on their site.

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For IRS ID.me verification, you need to complete a Level 2 authentication process using the following steps: 1. Navigate to IRS.gov 2. Select "Sign in to your Online Account" 3. Choose ID.me verification option 4. Log in with existing ID.me credentials 5. Complete IRS-specific verification (this is the step you're missing) 6. Authorize information sharing between ID.me and IRS The IRS requires IAL2 (Identity Assurance Level 2) compliance, which involves validating your government-issued photo ID and either a biometric match or secondary verification methods.

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I tried following these steps last week but got stuck at step 5. Is there a specific document I need to have ready for the IRS-specific verification? My tax return is already delayed and I'm getting worried about meeting the April 15th deadline for some payments I need to make.

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I went through this exact same thing back in February! I remember sitting at my kitchen table for hours trying to figure it out. What worked for me was logging out of everything completely, clearing my browser cache, then going directly to the IRS website (not ID.me) and starting the process from there. When it redirected me to ID.me, I logged in with my existing account, and then there was an additional step to authorize the connection between ID.me and the IRS. After that, everything worked perfectly! Sometimes these systems just don't talk to each other properly.

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The IRS verification system is separate from just having an ID.me account. You need to specifically authorize the IRS to access your ID.me verification. Go to the IRS website first, then click on the option to view your tax records or account. It will redirect you to ID.me. Log in there. Then it will ask for permission to share your verification with the IRS. Accept this. That should solve your problem.

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I went through this exact frustration just two weeks ago! The key thing that finally worked for me was realizing that even though I had an ID.me account, I hadn't completed the IRS-specific verification step. Here's what solved it: Go to IRS.gov first (not ID.me), click "Sign in to your Online Account," then when it redirects you to ID.me, log in with your existing credentials. After logging in, there should be a step asking you to authorize the IRS to access your verified identity information - this is the crucial step that creates the connection between your ID.me account and the IRS system. Once I completed that authorization, I was able to access my account and check my refund status. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I figured out the right sequence. Hope this helps you get your refund sorted out quickly!

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Thank you so much for breaking this down step by step! I've been struggling with this same issue for weeks and your explanation about the authorization step makes perfect sense. I think that's exactly what I was missing - I kept trying to start from the ID.me side instead of going through the IRS portal first. Going to try this approach right now. It's so frustrating that they don't make this process clearer, especially when people are already stressed about their refunds!

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I had this exact same problem last month! The confusion is totally understandable - having an ID.me account doesn't automatically mean you're verified specifically for IRS purposes. What you need to do is start from the IRS website (not ID.me), click on "View Your Tax Account" or "Get Your Tax Record," and then it will properly redirect you to ID.me where you can complete the IRS-specific verification process. The key is that authorization step where you give permission for the IRS to access your ID.me verification - that's what creates the link between the two systems. I was in the same boat waiting for my refund and feeling frustrated by the unclear process. Once I figured out the right sequence, it only took about 15 minutes to complete. The whole system could definitely be more user-friendly, but at least there's a solution that works!

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This is exactly the information I needed! I've been going in circles for days trying to figure this out. I made the same mistake of starting directly from ID.me instead of going through the IRS portal first. It's so confusing that they don't explain this distinction clearly anywhere on their website. I'm going to try your step-by-step approach right now - hopefully I can finally get access to my refund status. Thanks for taking the time to explain the authorization step, that seems to be the missing piece everyone overlooks!

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I just went through this same headache a few weeks ago! The trick is understanding that ID.me verification for the IRS is actually a two-step process. Even though you already have an ID.me account set up, you still need to complete the IRS-specific authorization. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Go directly to IRS.gov (don't start from ID.me) 2. Click "Sign in to your Online Account" 3. When it redirects you to ID.me, log in with your existing credentials 4. Look for the authorization step - this is where you grant the IRS permission to access your verified ID.me information 5. Complete that authorization and you should be good to go The whole thing took me about 10 minutes once I figured out the right sequence. I know it's frustrating when you're waiting on your refund, especially working remotely like you mentioned. The IRS really needs to make this process clearer, but at least once you get through it, you'll have access to track your refund status online. Hope this helps you get it sorted quickly!

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This is super helpful! I'm actually dealing with this right now and have been so confused about why my existing ID.me account wasn't working. Your step-by-step breakdown makes it crystal clear - I had no idea there was a separate authorization step specifically for the IRS. It's ridiculous that they don't explain this anywhere obvious on their website. I've been refreshing my refund status page for weeks thinking something was wrong with my return. Going to try your method right now and hopefully finally get access to track my refund. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I totally get your frustration - I went through this exact same nightmare last year! The ID.me/IRS verification process is incredibly confusing and poorly explained. What's happening is that you have an ID.me account, but you haven't completed the IRS-specific verification link yet. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Start at IRS.gov (this is crucial - don't go to ID.me first) 2. Click "Sign in to your Online Account" 3. It will redirect you to ID.me - log in with your existing credentials 4. Here's the key step most people miss: after logging in, there will be an authorization screen asking if you want to allow the IRS to access your verified ID.me information 5. Click "Allow" or "Authorize" - this creates the connection between your ID.me account and the IRS system The whole thing is like having a key but not knowing which door it opens. Once you complete that authorization step, you should be able to access your account and track your refund status. I know how stressful it is waiting for that money, especially when working remotely. The process took me about 15 minutes once I figured out the right sequence. Hope this helps you get through it quickly!

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