Should I create both ID.me and Login.gov accounts for IRS website access?

8 The IRS currently uses ID.me as their identity verification service, but you're right that there have been discussions about potentially transitioning to Login.gov in the future. There's no harm in setting up both accounts. ID.me is currently necessary if you want to access your IRS online account to view tax records, make payments, etc. Login.gov is the federal government's single sign-on solution used by many other government agencies like USPS, Social Security, and others. Creating a Login.gov account now could be a smart preemptive move. While it doesn't guarantee absolute protection against identity theft, establishing your identity with Login.gov first would make it harder for someone to impersonate you later if the IRS does switch platforms. Just make sure you're using strong, unique passwords for both services and enable two-factor authentication where available. Keep your recovery methods (phone numbers, backup emails) current so you don't lose access.

12 I went through a similar situation trying to figure out which account to create! After struggling with tax transcript access issues last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for navigating IRS account access. They helped me understand the ID.me vs Login.gov situation and walked me through securely setting up both accounts. Their step-by-step guide saved me a ton of frustration, especially with the ID.me verification which can be finicky. They also have this cool tool that monitors if your accounts have any suspicious activity - gave me peace of mind after hearing about all the tax identity theft happening lately.

5 Just wanted to share my experience! After reading about this here, I used taxr.ai to help set up both my ID.me and Login.gov accounts last month. Their step-by-step guide was super clear, especially for the ID.me verification which needs a photo ID and facial recognition. The best part was their security monitoring that alerted me when the IRS announced some new verification steps for 2025 filing season. I'm definitely feeling more prepared now! Would have taken me hours to figure out all the steps on my own since the government sites aren't exactly user-friendly lol.

17 I had the absolute worst time trying to get through to the IRS last year to fix some account access issues. After being on hold for HOURS multiple times, I finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and omg it was a game changer. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent who helped me sort out my ID.me verification issues. If you're having any trouble with the verification process or need specific questions answered about these accounts, check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. It saved me from pulling my hair out dealing with the endless IRS hold music.

19 I need to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr. After my snarky comment, I was still struggling with ID.me verification for my IRS account and getting nowhere after multiple calls and hours on hold. I finally broke down and tried Claimyr last week out of desperation. Within 35 minutes, I was talking to an actual IRS representative who helped resolve my verification issues and explained the difference between ID.me and Login.gov accounts. Turns out I needed both for different services. Consider me converted. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

9 One thing to remember is that ID.me and Login.gov use different verification methods. ID.me requires facial recognition for some verification levels, which some people aren't comfortable with. Login.gov offers alternative verification options.

22 Does anyone know if the IRS has officially announced when they're switching from ID.me to Login.gov? I've been hearing about this for months but haven't seen any concrete timeline.

Great question! I'd definitely recommend setting up both accounts now. The IRS transition timeline is still unclear, but having both gives you flexibility and peace of mind. A few practical tips from my experience: - ID.me verification can take 24-48 hours, so don't wait until you urgently need IRS access - Login.gov's verification process is generally faster and less invasive - Both services offer good security features, but make sure to enable 2FA on both accounts - Keep your contact info updated on both platforms since they use different recovery methods You're smart to think about the "digital flag planting" aspect - establishing your Login.gov account early does create a paper trail that could help if identity issues arise later. Plus, you'll already be familiar with the platform if/when the IRS makes the switch. The main thing is don't put it off - tax season always comes faster than expected!

I just went through this exact situation last month! Setting up both accounts is definitely the smart move. Here's what I learned: The ID.me verification process can be a bit of a pain - you'll need to upload photos of your ID and do the facial recognition thing, which took about 2 days to get approved. Login.gov was much smoother and faster. One thing I didn't realize is that even though they're separate systems, having both accounts ready means you won't be scrambling during tax season if the IRS does switch platforms. Plus, Login.gov works for other government services too (like checking your Social Security account), so it's useful beyond just tax stuff. Pro tip: When you set up ID.me, make sure your phone number is current because they send verification codes frequently. I had to update mine halfway through and it reset part of the process. Your identity theft concern is totally valid - my neighbor had someone file a fake return using her SSN last year. Having these accounts established with strong security (definitely use 2FA!) does create an extra layer of protection.

This is such a timely question! I actually just went through this process myself after putting it off for way too long. You're absolutely right to set up both accounts now. Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: **ID.me (currently required for IRS):** - The verification process is more intensive - photo ID, selfie, sometimes even a video call - Can take 1-3 business days for approval - Required right now if you want to access your IRS online account **Login.gov (likely future platform):** - Much simpler setup process - Usually approved within minutes - Already used by 200+ government agencies - Better privacy controls (no facial recognition required) The "digital flag planting" strategy you mentioned is actually pretty smart. Creating your Login.gov account now does establish your identity in their system, which could help prevent someone else from creating an account using your information later. I'd also recommend downloading the authentication apps for both services (they support Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.) for the strongest security. After all the tax fraud stories we've been hearing, it's worth the extra step. One last tip: Keep screenshots of your successful verifications and account setup confirmations. If you run into issues later, having that documentation can speed up customer service interactions significantly. Better to spend 30 minutes setting both up now than scrambling during tax season!

I'm in a similar boat and really appreciate everyone's detailed responses here! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my tax preparer - if you're planning to use any tax software next year (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.), some of them are starting to integrate with these identity verification systems too. My preparer mentioned that having both ID.me and Login.gov accounts established ahead of time can actually make the e-filing process smoother, since some software now uses these for additional security checks when submitting returns electronically. Has anyone else heard about this integration? I'm curious if it's worth reaching out to whatever tax software you plan to use to see if they have any specific recommendations about which verification service to prioritize. Also, totally agree with the Authy recommendation from @Zainab - the cloud backup feature is clutch. I switched from Google Authenticator after losing access to several accounts when I broke my phone last year. Never making that mistake again!

This thread has been super informative! I'm actually a tax professional and wanted to add some official perspective to help clear up the confusion. The IRS hasn't announced a definitive timeline for switching from ID.me to Login.gov, but internal communications suggest they're still in the evaluation phase through at least mid-2025. So you'll likely need ID.me for the 2025 filing season regardless. That said, absolutely create both accounts now. Here's why from a professional standpoint: **Verification timing matters:** ID.me can take 2-5 business days during peak periods (Jan-April), and Login.gov, while usually faster, can also slow down when government systems are under heavy load. **Security layers:** Having both accounts with proper 2FA does create additional identity protection. We've seen cases where clients with established government accounts had faster resolution when identity theft issues arose. **Future-proofing:** Even if the IRS doesn't switch to Login.gov, you'll use it for other federal services. It's become the standard across most agencies. One thing I tell all my clients: screenshot your account setup confirmations and store them in a secure location (encrypted cloud storage or physical file). When there are issues during tax season, having that documentation can turn a 2-hour phone call into a 10-minute resolution. The peace of mind alone is worth the 30 minutes to set both up properly!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been putting off dealing with the IRS online account situation, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. I'm definitely convinced now that setting up both accounts is the way to go. The professional insight from @Lucas about the 2-5 day verification times during peak season is exactly the kind of detail I needed to hear - I would have absolutely been one of those people trying to set everything up in February and getting frustrated with the delays. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have both accounts set up, do you find yourself actually using the Login.gov account for other government services regularly? I know it works with Social Security, USPS, etc., but I'm wondering if it's actually convenient in practice or if most people just set it up and forget about it until they need it. Also really appreciate the Authy recommendations throughout this thread. I've been meaning to switch from Google Authenticator for ages and this seems like the perfect time to make that change while I'm setting up all these new accounts. Going to tackle both setups this weekend - thanks everyone for all the detailed advice!

This is such great advice from everyone! I'm definitely going to set up both accounts this weekend after reading all these responses. One additional thing I wanted to mention - if you're setting up both accounts, make sure you use the same email address for both services if possible. I learned this from a friend who works in IT - having consistent contact information across government platforms can really help if you ever need to prove your identity or recover access to accounts. Also, while you're in "account setup mode," this might be a good time to check that your information is current with the Social Security Administration too. I discovered last year that my address was outdated with SSA even though I'd moved two years ago, and it caused some delays when I was trying to verify my identity with ID.me. The identity theft protection aspect you mentioned is real - my neighbor had someone try to file a fraudulent return using her info, and having her government accounts already established with strong security definitely helped prove she was the legitimate taxpayer when she had to sort it all out with the IRS. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's exactly the kind of proactive thinking that saves headaches later!

This thread is incredibly thorough and helpful! As someone who works in cybersecurity, I wanted to add one more layer to the security discussion that hasn't been mentioned yet. When you're setting up both accounts, consider using a password manager (like Bitwarden, 1Password, or Dashlane) to generate and store unique, complex passwords for each service. Even though you'll primarily be using 2FA codes to log in, having strong unique passwords as your first line of defense is crucial for government accounts. Also, a quick heads up about the ID.me facial recognition process - if you wear glasses, have facial hair, or have changed your appearance significantly since your driver's license photo, be prepared for potential verification delays. I've seen people get stuck in manual review for several days because of appearance mismatches. One more security tip: after you set up both accounts, log out completely and then test logging back in to make sure everything works smoothly. There's nothing worse than discovering authentication issues when you're under deadline pressure during tax season! The "digital flag planting" strategy you mentioned is spot on - establishing your identity early creates a stronger paper trail and makes it much harder for bad actors to impersonate you later.