Stuck in ID.me/IRS Authentication Loop - Each Says It's the Other's Problem

You're encountering a known authentication handshake issue between ID.me and the IRS systems. Per IRM 21.2.1-4, account access verification issues require intervention from the IRS Technology Support Division, not general customer service. Time is of the essence - especially if you're trying to access transcripts or make payments before upcoming deadlines. Call 800-829-1040, select option 1 (English), then 2 (personal tax questions), then 1 (tax forms), then 3 (all other questions), and finally 2 (all other inquiries). Request immediate transfer to the Technology Support Division citing 'cross-platform authentication failure.'

Oh my goodness, I'm dealing with EXACTLY this problem right now!!! So frustrating!!! I've been trying to get my transcript for THREE WEEKS because I need to verify some information for a mortgage application. Have you tried using the "Get Transcript by Mail" option instead? I'm wondering if bypassing the online authentication completely might work while they figure out whatever is broken between their systems?

This authentication loop is worse than when I tried getting my state unemployment benefits during the pandemic! So many people in our tax prep community have faced this exact situation. I've seen this play out dozens of times, and the fastest resolution has consistently been using Claimyr to reach an actual IRS technical support person who can fix it on their end. The website is https://claimyr.com - they get you past the endless phone queues so you can talk to someone who can actually help. Much better than being bounced between departments like a ping-pong ball. Their service saved me hours of frustration when I had a similar verification issue.

Had this exact problem last month. Wasted three hours on hold. Got disconnected twice. Finally reached someone helpful. They fixed it on their end. Took about 5 minutes once I got the right person. The issue was on the IRS side. Something about account permissions not syncing properly. Try calling early morning. Tuesday or Wednesday. Less call volume then.

I'm not convinced this is actually fixable through normal channels. My brother-in-law works in IT security and he explained that these authentication systems use complex token-exchange protocols that can get corrupted in the database. When I had a similar issue last year, I ended up having to create a brand new ID.me account with a different email address, which seems like a pretty extreme workaround. I'm surprised the IRS doesn't have a better system for handling these authentication failures!

The ID.me/IRS loop is definitely fixable! I've been through this nightmare and got it resolved. • DO NOT create a new ID.me account (causes more problems) • DO call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 • DO mention "authentication failure code 5534" specifically • DO ask for "account management division" • DO NOT waste time with regular customer service The regular reps don't have access to the authentication management system. Account management can reset the link between your accounts.

According to the IRS Operations Status page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently experiencing "intermittent issues with certain online applications" which likely includes the ID.me integration. The IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) Status page also shows some authentication services as degraded. This might explain why you're getting the runaround - the systems might be partially offline for maintenance. The community wisdom here is to try again after their next scheduled maintenance window, which should be this coming Sunday morning, or use alternative methods like transcript by mail in the meantime.

Be extremely careful with how you proceed here. A colleague of mine had this same issue and after multiple failed attempts to resolve it, his account got flagged for potential identity theft concerns. This triggered a manual review process that delayed his refund by over 4 months and required in-person verification at a local IRS office. If you're expecting a refund or have any pending matters with the IRS, I'd recommend documenting all your communication attempts and considering professional assistance rather than repeatedly trying different self-service options that might trigger security flags.