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Harper Collins

IRS ID.me account randomly suspended - no explanation given - can't access my transcripts!

I'm trying to understand why my ID.me account got suspended out of nowhere. I've been using it for almost a year with no issues to check my tax transcripts. Today I tried to login to check some updates on my 2024 return and got an error message saying my account has been suspended. No explanation, no email, nothing. I called the customer service number but got stuck in a loop of automated responses. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a way to get it unsuspended or do I need to create a whole new account? I really need to access my transcript ASAP because I'm waiting on a refund and want to see if there are any updates.

This happened to me back in October. From what I could find out, ID.me sometimes suspends accounts if they detect unusual login activity (different device, different location, multiple failed attempts, etc). You'll need to contact their support directly, but skip the phone and use their online chat support instead - much faster response. Go to help.id.me and click on the chat option. They should be able to tell you why it was suspended and help you reactivate it. In my case, they had me verify my identity again with new photos and then reactivated my account within 48 hours. Just be prepared to go through the verification steps again.

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Thank you so much! I'll try the chat option. Did they tell you exactly why yours was suspended?

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yeah they told me I had tried to login from a new device (got a new phone) and the system flagged it as suspicious. once I explained and verified my ID again they fixed it pretty quick

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This is super helpful info! I've been locked out for 2 weeks and been calling like a crazy person. Gonna try the chat right now.

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I tried the chat and they told me I need to go through the whole verification process again. such a pain 😩

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If you're having trouble accessing your tax transcripts, I highly recommend using taxr.ai instead. I was in the exact same situation last year - locked out of ID.me and desperately needed to see what was happening with my refund. Taxr.ai lets you understand your transcript without going through the headache of dealing with ID.me or the IRS portal. It actually explains everything in plain English too, not just the cryptic codes. I used it when my account got suspended and it was a game changer. Seriously check out https://taxr.ai - it solved my problem when nothing else worked.

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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 the transcript. It interprets all those weird codes and tells you exactly what's happening with your return, shows your refund timeline, explains delays, tells you what each notice means, and even predicts when you'll get your money. I was spending HOURS trying to understand my transcript before I found it. Can't recommend it enough!

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does it actually work tho? seems too good to be true

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100% works. I was skeptical too but it literally saved me from a nervous breakdown trying to figure out why my refund was delayed. Best thing I've found for dealing with tax season stress!

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Just tried it after seeing your comment. Holy crap, where has this been all my life?? 🙌 It explained everything about my transcript that I've been confused about for months!

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After dealing with a suspended ID.me account last month, I found a way to get through to an actual IRS person who helped me. I used the Claimyr app (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a live IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to verify my identity over the phone and give me access to my transcript while I waited for ID.me to sort out my account issues. Honestly it was worth every penny to finally talk to someone who could actually help instead of the automated system that just kept hanging up on me. The agent even explained why my refund was taking so long and what I needed to do next.

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Wait is this real? I thought it was impossible to talk to a human at the IRS 😂

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I thought the same thing until I tried it! I spent 3 days trying to get thru on my own and kept getting disconnected. With claimyr I was talking to an agent in under 30 min. They basically hold your place in line and call you when they get an agent.

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Hmm sounds sketchy. How do they get you through when nobody else can?

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They use some kind of system that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you. Not sketchy at all - they don't ask for any personal info, they just connect the call to you when they reach a human. Saved me HOURS of frustration.

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used it yesterday and it worked exactly as described. wish i knew about this months ago lol

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omg thank you for sharing this! just used it and finally got my issues resolved after 2 months of trying 😭

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This happened to me too! I think there was some kind of security update they did recently that triggered a bunch of suspensions. I ended up having to create a new account which was super annoying because I had to go through the whole verification process again. Make sure you have your driver's license and a good quality camera ready because the verification is really picky. Also, when you set up the new account, use a different email than your old one or it might give you issues.

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The ID.me system is such garbage. I've been locked out THREE TIMES in the past year for absolutely no reason. The worst part is their customer service is practically non-existent. Did you try reaching out to them on Twitter? Sometimes they respond faster there than through their official channels. Tag them in a public post (not DM) and they might get back to you quicker. That's what worked for me last time.

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omg THIS. their twitter team actually helped me when nobody else would. public shaming works lol

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I don't have Twitter but maybe I'll create an account just for this. Their customer service is horrible!

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I work in cybersecurity and I can tell you ID.me suspends accounts for all kinds of reasons they don't always tell you about. Some common triggers: - Multiple login attempts from different IP addresses - Using a VPN when accessing the site - Not logging in for an extended period (90+ days sometimes) - Having another account with the same SSN or phone number - Browser extensions that interfere with their security checks - System glitches on their end (more common than they admit) Your best bet is to contact them directly through their support portal. Be persistent - sometimes you have to try multiple times to get someone who can actually help. And if all else fails, you can always request your transcript by mail or Form 4506-T, though that takes much longer.

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This is super helpful information! Do you know if using a different browser could help prevent issues in the future?

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Yes, using Chrome or Edge tends to work better with their system than Firefox or Safari in my experience. Also disable any privacy-focused extensions when logging in.

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I bet it was a VPN that triggered it. I always forget to turn mine off when accessing government sites 🤦‍♂️

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The whole ID.me system is a joke. I had this exact problem and ended up having to mail in a paper request for my transcript which took almost 3 weeks to arrive. The IRS needs to come up with a better system that doesn't rely on a third-party verification service that breaks all the time.

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preach! 🙌 the government spending millions on a system that barely works half the time is peak bureaucracy

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Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but when this happened to me last year, it took over a month to get resolved. If you absolutely need your transcript now, you might want to try calling the IRS transcript line directly at 800-908-9946. Sometimes they can mail you a copy without going through ID.me. It's not instant, but it's better than waiting for ID.me to get their act together.

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A month?? That's insane. I'll definitely try calling that number tomorrow. Thanks!

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That number is useless too. I called 27 times last week and either got hung up on or was on hold for 2+ hours before getting disconnected. The system is broken beyond belief.

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Have you checked your email spam folder? When my account was suspended, they actually did send an email, but it went straight to spam. The email had instructions on how to reactivate the account, which involved taking new verification photos and answering some additional security questions. Worth checking before you go through all the hassle of creating a new account!

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Just checked all my folders including spam and nothing from them. So frustrating!

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I had exactly the same issue last month! What fixed it for me was using taxr.ai to help me understand what was going on with my taxes. Unlike the ID.me mess, it was super straightforward and I was able to see everything I needed without the headache. https://taxr.ai saved me from having to deal with the whole ID.me disaster while I got my account situation sorted out. It actually explains your transcript in normal human language instead of IRS code-speak too.

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I'll look into that! Did it show the same info I'd see on my actual transcript?

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Yes! And it goes beyond that - it explains what each code means, when you can expect your refund based on your specific situation, and breaks down any issues that might be causing delays. So much better than trying to decipher those cryptic codes on your own.

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Try calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They sometimes can help with ID.me issues and might be able to get you your transcript through alternative means if you explain that you're having a hardship due to not being able to access your information.

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After battling with ID.me and the IRS for WEEKS, I finally got through to a real person using claimyr.com. I was so frustrated with the endless hold times and disconnects, but this service actually connected me to an agent who helped unlock my account. They basically wait on hold for you and then call you when they get a human on the line. Completely changed my situation - the agent I spoke with was able to see exactly what was happening with my account and gave me alternative ways to verify my identity. Honestly was the best decision after wasting days trying to get through on my own.

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Did you have to pay for that service? Seems like we shouldn't have to pay just to talk to the IRS...

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Yeah there's a fee but honestly after spending 3 days trying to get through myself and getting nowhere, it was totally worth it to finally get my issues resolved. Think about how much your time is worth - for me it was a no-brainer.

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how long did it take to actually get connected to someone?

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About 45 minutes from start to finish. WAY faster than the 3+ hours I spent trying to do it myself (and never actually getting through).

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There's actually a backdoor way to get your transcript without using ID.me at all. If you have a student loan account on studentaid.gov, you can sometimes access your tax transcript through their system since they already have your tax info. Not many people know about this workaround. Worth a try if you have student loans!

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wow didn't know this! gonna try it right now

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Sounds like a security flag on your account. Have you logged in from a new device recently? Used a different IP address? Changed any of your personal info? Any of these can trigger their automated security system. When this happened to me, I had to verify my identity all over again - they made me do a video call where I showed my ID and answered questions. Super annoying but it did get resolved eventually.

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PSA for everyone in this thread: The IRS now has a new official mobile app called IRS Direct File that lets you check your refund status without going through ID.me! It just launched in March and it's been working great for me. Might be worth trying if you're locked out of your account.

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That app only works for checking refund status if you filed through their Direct File program. If you used TurboTax or another service it won't show your info.

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Oh shoot you're right. My bad! I forgot that detail.

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This is why I just request a paper transcript every year the old school way. Yes it takes 5-10 business days to arrive but at least I don't have to deal with ID.me and their constant issues. You can request it online even without ID.me verification or call 800-908-9946. Seems slow but actually faster than dealing with account suspensions and verification loops.

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I noticed something weird with ID.me lately - they seem to be suspending accounts that haven't been accessed in a while. I hadn't logged in for about 3 months, then when I tried, I got the suspension message. When I finally got through to support, they said it was an "inactivity security measure." Maybe that's what happened to you? Either way, their support via the chat on help.id.me was actually pretty responsive once I got through.

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That could be it! I haven't logged in since I filed my taxes in February.

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hey folks thought I'd share my recent experience with taxr.ai because it literally saved me hours of stress when I was locked out of my transcript access. I was in the same boat with ID.me issues and desperately needed to see my transcript info. Taxr.ai was able to show me everything happening with my return and explained all the codes in a way that actually made sense. No more guessing what cycle code 20220905 means or why there's a 570 code on my account! Plus it gives you predictions on when your refund will arrive based on your specific situation. Seriously check out https://taxr.ai if you're locked out of transcript access.

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another service that costs money to solve a problem the government should fix for free 🙄

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I get the frustration but after spending 6+ hours trying to navigate the IRS mess on my own, having something that actually works was worth it to me. My sanity has value lol

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I tried it after seeing your comment and WOW. It showed me exactly why my refund was delayed (something about a math error I never would have figured out). Now I know exactly what's happening instead of being in the dark!

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I had this exact same issue happen to me about 3 months ago! It's incredibly frustrating when you need access to your transcripts urgently. Here's what worked for me: First, try clearing your browser cache and cookies completely, then attempt to log in again. Sometimes it's just a session issue. If that doesn't work, definitely go with the chat support option that others mentioned - it's much faster than calling. When you do get through to support, ask them specifically what triggered the suspension. In my case, it was because I had updated my phone number with the IRS but hadn't updated it in my ID.me profile, which their system flagged as suspicious. Once I explained this and went through their verification process again, they reactivated my account within 24 hours. Also, for future reference, try to log into your ID.me account at least once every 60 days even if you don't need anything - I learned this prevents the inactivity suspensions. Hope this helps and you get it sorted out quickly!

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This is such a common issue with ID.me lately! I went through the same nightmare last month when my account got randomly suspended right before I needed to check my refund status. What finally worked for me was using the live chat support on help.id.me - took about 20 minutes to get connected but they were actually helpful once I got through. They told me my account was flagged because I had logged in from a different browser than usual (switched from Safari to Chrome). Had to go through the whole identity verification process again with new photos and answering security questions, but they reactivated it the same day. Also learned that using incognito/private browsing mode can sometimes trigger their security system, so avoid that when logging in. The whole system is definitely frustrating but the chat support is your best bet for getting it resolved quickly!

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Thanks for sharing this! I'm definitely going to try the chat support option. It's so annoying that something as simple as switching browsers can trigger their security system. Did they give you any other tips to avoid future suspensions?

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I've been dealing with ID.me issues for years and honestly the whole system is a mess. What I've found is that they often suspend accounts after security updates or if there's any inconsistency in your personal information across different government systems. A few things that might help: 1) Try accessing your account from the exact same device and browser you used when you first set it up, 2) Make sure all your personal info (address, phone, etc.) matches exactly what's on file with the IRS, and 3) If you've moved recently or changed any contact info, that could trigger a suspension. The chat support route is definitely your best bet - I've had better luck with them than the phone lines. Also, keep all your identity documents ready because they'll likely make you re-verify everything. It's frustrating but usually gets resolved within a few days once you get through to the right person. Hang in there!

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This is really helpful advice! I didn't realize that something like a recent address change could trigger a suspension. I actually did move about 2 months ago and updated my address with the IRS but completely forgot to update it in my ID.me profile. That's probably what caused the issue! Going to try the chat support with all my documents ready. Thanks for the detailed breakdown!

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I've been through this exact same frustrating experience! My ID.me account got suspended out of nowhere about 6 weeks ago and it was a complete nightmare trying to get it resolved. After reading through all these comments, I wish I had known about some of these workarounds earlier. What finally worked for me was a combination of the chat support (took 3 tries to get someone helpful) and making sure ALL my information matched exactly across every government system - IRS, SSA, etc. Turns out I had an old middle initial on file somewhere that was causing conflicts. The whole process took about 2 weeks but I did eventually get back in. For anyone still struggling, definitely try the chat support route first, and if you're really desperate for transcript access while waiting, some of the alternative services mentioned here might be worth exploring. The whole ID.me system really needs an overhaul - it shouldn't be this difficult to access our own tax information!

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Wow, 6 weeks is such a long time to be locked out! I'm glad you finally got it resolved. The fact that a simple middle initial discrepancy can cause all these issues really shows how broken the system is. I'm dealing with this right now and it's so stressful not being able to access my own tax information. Did the chat support agents give you any specific tips on how to avoid this happening again in the future? Also curious if you ended up trying any of the alternative services people mentioned while you were waiting for ID.me to get sorted out.

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I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was incredibly frustrating! My account got suspended right when I desperately needed to check my refund status. What ended up working for me was a combination of things: First, I tried the chat support on help.id.me (much better than calling) and they told me it was triggered because I had logged in from a different location while traveling. The agent walked me through re-verifying my identity with new photos and answering additional security questions. The whole process took about 3 days but they did reactivate it. In the meantime, I also tried calling the IRS transcript line directly at 800-908-9946 early in the morning (around 7 AM) and actually got through to request a mailed copy as a backup. One thing the ID.me agent told me that was helpful - they recommend logging in at least once every 60 days from your primary device/location to avoid inactivity flags, and always use the same browser if possible. Their security system is super sensitive to any changes. Hope you get it sorted out quickly - I know how stressful it is when you can't access your own tax information!

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This is really comprehensive advice, thank you! The tip about logging in every 60 days from the same device/browser is super helpful - I had no idea their system was that sensitive. I'm definitely going to try the early morning call strategy for the IRS line as a backup while working on getting the ID.me issue resolved. It's reassuring to hear that others have gotten through this successfully, even though it's such a frustrating process. Did you notice any difference in how quickly they responded when you contacted them in the morning vs other times of day?

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I had a similar issue with my ID.me account getting suspended randomly about 2 months ago. What I discovered through trial and error is that their system is extremely sensitive to even minor changes in your login pattern. In my case, I had recently updated my browser and that alone was enough to trigger a suspension. Here's what worked for me: First, I went straight to the chat support on help.id.me rather than trying to call - the wait time was about 30 minutes but much better than the phone system. The agent explained that they have automated flags for "unusual activity" which can include things like browser updates, clearing cookies, or even using a different internet connection. They had me go through the full identity verification process again, which included taking new photos of my driver's license and a selfie. The key is making sure your photos are crystal clear and well-lit - they rejected my first attempt because of shadows on my ID. Once I got through the verification, they reactivated my account within 48 hours. Pro tip: when you do get back in, bookmark the exact login page and try to always use the same browser/device combination. Also, the agent mentioned that having your phone number verified in your profile helps prevent future suspensions. It's definitely a flawed system but persistence with the chat support is your best bet for getting it resolved quickly!

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This is incredibly helpful! The detail about browser updates triggering suspensions is something I never would have thought of. I'm dealing with this exact issue right now and your tip about making sure photos are crystal clear and well-lit is gold - I was wondering why my first verification attempt got rejected. The 48-hour reactivation timeline gives me hope that this won't drag on forever. I'm definitely going to bookmark the login page and stick to the same browser once I get back in. It's frustrating that we have to jump through all these hoops just to access our own tax information, but at least there's a path forward. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I've been dealing with ID.me suspensions for my clients (I'm a tax preparer) and here are a few additional things that might help: Sometimes clearing your browser's stored passwords for the site can resolve login issues - the system gets confused if there are conflicting stored credentials. Also, if you have any browser extensions that block trackers or ads, try disabling them temporarily when logging in. ID.me's security system doesn't play well with privacy tools. Another thing I've noticed is that accounts created during peak tax season (Jan-April) seem more prone to these random suspensions, possibly due to their servers being overloaded. If the chat support route doesn't work, try reaching out to your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office - they sometimes have direct contacts at ID.me for resolving account issues. Document everything with screenshots in case you need to escalate. The whole system is frustrating but most people do get their accounts restored eventually with enough persistence.

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I went through this exact same nightmare about 4 months ago! My ID.me account got suspended right when I needed to check my refund status and it was incredibly stressful. After trying everything - calling, emailing, waiting on hold for hours - what finally worked was being super persistent with their chat support. I had to try the chat 4 different times before I got an agent who was actually helpful and could tell me what triggered the suspension. In my case, it was because I had recently gotten a new phone and tried to log in from the mobile app, which their system flagged as suspicious activity. The agent walked me through re-verifying my identity with fresh photos and I had to answer a bunch of security questions about my credit history. The whole process took about 5 days but they did eventually reactivate my account. One thing I learned is to always log in from the same device/browser combo if possible - their security system is ridiculously sensitive to any changes. Also make sure your profile info matches EXACTLY what's on file with other government agencies. Even tiny discrepancies can trigger a suspension. Hang in there - it's frustrating but most people do get their accounts restored with enough persistence!

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This is such a frustrating situation! I went through something similar about 8 months ago when my ID.me account got suspended right before I needed to file an amended return. What worked for me was a combination of the chat support (definitely better than calling) and making sure I had all my documents ready for re-verification. One thing I discovered is that if you've recently moved, changed banks, or updated any personal info anywhere in the government system, it can trigger these automatic suspensions. The chat agents at help.id.me were actually pretty helpful once I got through - took about 45 minutes of waiting but they explained exactly why my account was flagged and walked me through the verification process step by step. They had me take new photos of my driver's license and do a quick video selfie verification. The whole thing was resolved within 72 hours. Pro tip: when you do get back in, try to log in from the same device and browser every time, and avoid using VPNs or incognito mode. Their security system treats any variation as suspicious activity. Also make sure your phone number is verified in your profile - that seems to help prevent future issues. I know it's a pain but hang in there, most people do get their accounts restored with persistence!

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This is really encouraging to hear! I'm going through this exact same issue right now and your detailed breakdown of the process is super helpful. The tip about recent moves potentially triggering suspensions makes total sense - I actually did move about a month ago and updated my address with the post office but didn't think to check if that might affect my ID.me account. I'm definitely going to try the chat support route and make sure I have all my documents ready before I start. The 72-hour resolution timeline gives me hope that this won't drag on forever. Thanks for sharing your experience and the pro tips about staying consistent with device/browser - I had no idea their system was so sensitive to those kinds of changes!

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I've been dealing with ID.me issues for the past few months and found a workaround that might help while you're waiting for your account to get sorted out. If you need your transcript data urgently, you can try requesting it through Form 4506-T by mail or fax - it takes about 10 business days but at least you'll get the information without having to deal with ID.me's broken system. Also, if you have access to your Social Security account online, sometimes you can cross-reference some tax information there since they pull data from the same sources. The whole ID.me situation is incredibly frustrating and honestly the IRS should have backup systems in place for when their third-party verification fails like this. In the meantime, definitely try the chat support route others have mentioned - I've had better luck there than with phone support. Make sure you have good lighting for any photo verification they require, as their system is really picky about image quality. Hope you get this resolved soon!

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This is really helpful advice! I didn't know about Form 4506-T as an alternative - 10 business days sounds way better than being stuck indefinitely with a suspended ID.me account. The Social Security cross-reference tip is clever too. It's ridiculous that we need all these workarounds just to access our own tax information. I'm definitely going to try the chat support first, but it's good to know there are backup options. Thanks for mentioning the lighting issue for photos - seems like so many people get tripped up on the verification step!

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This exact same thing happened to me last month! What worked for me was going through the chat support on help.id.me rather than calling - much faster response time. In my case, they said the suspension was triggered because I had logged in from a different location than usual (I was traveling for work). The agent had me go through the identity verification process again with new photos of my ID and a selfie, plus some security questions. The whole thing took about 2 days to get resolved once I got through to someone who could actually help. One tip: make sure your photos are really well-lit and clear - they rejected my first attempt because of shadows on my driver's license. Also, try to always log in from the same device/browser combo going forward since their system is super sensitive to changes. It's definitely frustrating but hang in there - most people do get their accounts restored with persistence!

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Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm going through this same issue right now and it's so frustrating. The tip about making sure photos are well-lit is really helpful - I was wondering why my first verification attempt failed. It's crazy that just traveling for work can trigger their security system to suspend your account. I'm definitely going to try the chat support route since everyone seems to have better luck there than with phone support. Did they give you any other specific advice on preventing future suspensions?

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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this! ID.me suspensions seem to be happening more frequently lately and it's incredibly frustrating when you need access to your transcripts urgently. Based on what others have shared, I'd definitely recommend trying the chat support on help.id.me first - it seems to be much more effective than calling. Make sure you have your driver's license ready and ensure you have good lighting when taking photos for re-verification, as their system is really picky about image quality. If you need your transcript information while waiting for ID.me to get sorted out, you might also want to consider calling the IRS transcript line at 800-908-9946 early in the morning (around 7 AM seems to work best) to request a mailed copy as a backup. I know it's not instant, but at least you'll have another option while dealing with the ID.me mess. Hang in there - from what I've read, most people do eventually get their accounts restored with enough persistence!

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This is such great advice! I'm new to dealing with ID.me issues but have been reading through everyone's experiences here and it's really helpful to see all the different approaches that have worked. The early morning call strategy for the IRS transcript line is something I hadn't thought of - definitely going to try that as a backup plan. It's frustrating that we have to jump through so many hoops just to access our own tax information, but at least there seem to be multiple paths to getting this resolved. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive response!

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I've been helping people with ID.me issues for a while now, and your situation is unfortunately becoming more common. Here's what I'd recommend: First, try the chat support at help.id.me - it's definitely your best bet and usually faster than calling. Have your driver's license ready and make sure you're in a well-lit area for photo verification. Based on what you described, this sounds like it could be triggered by a routine security sweep they do, especially if you haven't logged in recently or if there were any changes to your device/browser. While you're working on getting ID.me sorted out, you can also call 800-908-9946 (the IRS transcript line) early in the morning around 7-8 AM to request a mailed copy as backup - it takes about 10 days but at least you'll have access to your information. I know it's incredibly frustrating when you need your transcript urgently, but hang in there! Most people do get their accounts restored within 3-5 days once they connect with the right support agent.

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