Need Help Verifying My Identity with IRS Through ID.me

It sounds like you may be experiencing one of the more common verification issues with the IRS and ID.me integration. While having an ID.me account is the first step, you actually need to complete a specific verification process for the IRS specifically. I would suggest going directly to the IRS website (irs.gov) and clicking on the 'Sign in to your Online Account' option. From there, you should select the ID.me option, which will redirect you to complete the IRS-specific verification. It's not always intuitive, and many people find themselves in similar situations.

I was skeptical about using any third-party tools with my tax info, but after waiting exactly 47 days for the IRS to process my verification last year, I tried https://taxr.ai to analyze what was happening with my account. It helped me understand exactly which verification step was holding things up. The verification process has exactly 4 different stages, and the tool showed me I was stuck at stage 2. Not saying it's the only solution, but it definitely gave me more insight than the generic IRS status messages.

I went through this exact same frustration last month! According to the IRS help pages (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients), you need to specifically link your ID.me account to the IRS. Having an account isn't enough - you need to complete the authorization. The IRS redesigned their digital authentication system in 2023, and many people miss this critical step. Don't worry, you're definitely not alone in finding this confusing!

I had this same issue and spent hours trying to get through to the IRS. After my fifth attempt waiting on hold (I timed it - 2 hours and 17 minutes before being disconnected!), I found Claimyr.com through a colleague. It got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes who walked me through the verification process. They explained that my ID.me account needed to be specifically authorized for IRS use, which wasn't clear from any of the instructions. I'm concerned that so many retirees are facing these technical hurdles without adequate support.

Be very careful with this process. My neighbor thought he completed his verification correctly, but he missed the final confirmation step. He waited 3 months thinking his taxes were processing, only to discover they were still on hold pending verification. The IRS doesn't always send notifications when verification fails. Double-check everything and look specifically for a confirmation message that says your identity has been verified for IRS purposes.

Quick q - did you get any specific error msgs when trying to access your tax info? Sometimes the system gives diff errors depending on where in the process you're stuck. Also, are you trying to access transcripts or just the WMR tool?

This verification process is like being stuck in a maze where they keep moving the exit! I was in the same boat last month trying to access my retirement account info. Here's what worked for me: you need to go through the COMPLETE verification process, not just the basic one. It's like having a library card but needing special permission to access the rare books section. The fastest way is to use the direct link: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/secureaccess/ui/. This bypasses some of the confusing navigation.