What documents do I need for ID.me verification with the IRS?

I went through this last month and it was similar to setting up online banking, but more thorough. For ID.me verification you'll need: - The letter with your specific code from the IRS - A valid government photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) - Your Social Security Number - A smartphone or webcam for the facial recognition part - Possibly utility bills or financial statements if additional verification is required Compared to other verification systems I've used (like for unemployment during the pandemic), this one is actually more straightforward but takes longer. Set aside at least 30 minutes without interruptions. The most time-consuming part is waiting for the video chat if your automated verification doesn't go through.

When I did my ID.me verification last year, I hit some roadblocks but eventually got through. Back in 2022, I had to try THREE times because my driver's license was slightly expired. Make sure your ID is current! I've helped several friends through this process since then. The key things they don't make obvious: - You might need access to your email AND phone for dual verification - Some people get routed to a video chat verification if the automated system can't verify you - The lighting for your selfie/video matters A LOT Just be persistent. I nearly gave up but finally got through after trying at a different time of day when their systems weren't as busy.

The ID.me Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) process requires several components to validate your identity through their Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) protocol. The verification letter contains your Unique Access Code (UAC) which is essential for the process. I just completed this last week when facing a tax deadline, and can confirm you'll need: - Primary photo identification - Social Security Number verification - Address verification capability - Biometric comparison data I understand how frustrating these technical barriers can be, especially when you're just trying to access your own information. The process took me about 25 minutes from start to finish.

I attempted ID.me verification on March 15th and got stuck in their verification queue for over 3 hours. Called the IRS on March 16th and waited another 2 hours before giving up. Finally on March 18th, I tried Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an IRS agent in about 25 minutes who explained alternative verification options. The agent confirmed I could verify by mail or through their automated phone system instead of the ID.me route, which wasn't clearly explained on their website. So frustrating that they don't make all these options clear from the beginning! Saved me days of headaches trying to get the online verification to work.

Here's a complete step-by-step of what to expect with ID.me verification: 1. Start by gathering ALL your documents: - IRS letter with verification code - Valid government-issued photo ID - Social security card (or know your number) - Smartphone for taking photos/video - Recent utility bill or bank statement 2. Create an ID.me account if you don't have one 3. Enter the verification code from your IRS letter 4. Upload photos of your ID (front and back) 5. Take a selfie for facial recognition matching 6. Verify your phone number and email address 7. If automatic verification fails, prepare for video chat verification I was so relieved when I finally completed this process! The whole thing took about 20 minutes, but I was fully prepared with all documents ready.

It seems that, in most cases, the ID.me verification process might require a few specific items, though your experience could potentially vary. You'll likely need: - The IRS letter with your unique code, which is probably the most essential item - Some form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport - Possibly your Social Security card, or at minimum, knowledge of your SSN - A device with a camera for the facial recognition portion - Possibly secondary verification documents, which might include utility bills or financial statements It's generally advisable to have more documentation available than you might actually need, just in case the system requests additional verification.

Just went thru this last month! Here's what they don't tell u: - The selfie part is super picky abt lighting - try near a window during daytime - If ur DL address doesn't match ur current address, have mail ready w/ current address - Sometimes their system glitches & u gotta start over (happened 2x for me) - They might ask for credit history Qs if they can't verify u automatically - The video chat wait can be 1hr+ during peak times BTW if u have a freeze on ur credit reports, temporarily lift it before starting. Saved me tons of hassle when I figured that out!

Had to do my ID.me verification about 6 months ago and it was definitely nerve-wracking at first! Here's what worked for me as someone who's not super tech-savvy: **Essential documents:** - The IRS letter with your verification code (absolutely critical!) - Current driver's license or state ID - Social Security card (or just memorize your SSN) - A recent utility bill or bank statement for address confirmation **Pro tips that saved me:** - Do it during off-peak hours (I tried at 10am on a Tuesday and got right through) - Make sure your phone is fully charged if using mobile - Have good lighting - I sat by my kitchen window - Clear your browser cache first if using desktop The facial recognition part was actually easier than I expected. Just follow their instructions and don't overthink it. The whole process took me about 15 minutes once I had everything ready. If you get stuck, don't panic! You can always try again later or call the IRS directly. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard. Good luck! 👍

Just completed my ID.me verification two weeks ago and wanted to share what actually worked for me! The process was less scary than I anticipated, but preparation definitely made the difference. **What I had ready:** - The IRS letter (kept it right next to my computer the whole time) - Current driver's license - My Social Security card (though they only asked for the number) - Phone for the camera portions - A recent bank statement (didn't end up needing it) **What actually happened:** The automated system handled everything smoothly - no video chat needed! The facial recognition took maybe 3 attempts because I was holding my phone too close at first. Once I backed up a bit and made sure my whole face was in the frame, it worked perfectly. **My biggest tip:** Don't rush through it! I set aside a full hour even though it only took about 20 minutes. Having that time buffer meant I wasn't stressed when it asked me to retake photos or re-enter information. The whole experience reminded me why it's worth being patient with these government systems - they're trying to protect our information, even if it feels like a hassle. Hope this helps ease some anxiety for anyone else facing this process! 😊

I just went through this process last week and totally understand your concerns! As someone who's also not the biggest fan of technical hurdles, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as I'd built it up to be in my head. Here's what I gathered beforehand: - The IRS verification letter (this is absolutely crucial - don't start without it!) - My driver's license (current and not expired) - My Social Security number written down - My smartphone with a decent camera - Good lighting setup (I used my dining room table near a window) The process took about 30 minutes total, but most of that was me being extra cautious and double-checking everything. The actual verification was maybe 15 minutes. One thing I wish I'd known: if you wear glasses regularly, have them on for the facial recognition part! I took them off thinking it would be clearer, but it actually made the matching more difficult since my driver's license photo has me wearing glasses. Also, don't worry too much about the "horror stories" - I think most people who have smooth experiences (like I did) just don't post about it online. The system worked exactly as intended for me. You've got this! 👍

Just finished my ID.me verification yesterday and wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread! The preparation tips everyone shared here were spot-on. **What I learned that might help:** - Have your phone plugged in or fully charged - mine died halfway through and I had to restart - The system is actually pretty forgiving with photo quality, but lighting really does matter - If you get an error message, wait 10-15 minutes before trying again (don't immediately retry) - Keep that IRS letter handy even after entering the code - they might reference it again **My timeline:** - Gathering documents: 5 minutes - Actual verification process: 22 minutes - No video chat needed (automated worked fine) The facial recognition was easier than expected - just hold your phone at arm's length and follow the prompts. I was overthinking it at first! One surprise: they asked me to verify my phone number with a text code twice during the process, so make sure you have your phone with you the whole time, not just for the camera parts. Giovanni, you're absolutely right to want to be prepared first. Having everything ready beforehand made this so much smoother than I expected. The "horror stories" seem to be the exception, not the rule! 😊

Just went through ID.me verification three days ago and wanted to share my experience as another retiree who was initially intimidated by the whole process! **What I gathered beforehand:** - The IRS letter with verification code (absolutely essential!) - Current driver's license - Social Security card (though they only asked for the number) - My iPad with good camera - Reading glasses (since that's how I appear in my license photo) - A quiet, well-lit spot at my kitchen table **My actual experience:** The whole thing took about 35 minutes, but that included me reading every instruction twice! The automated system worked perfectly - no video chat needed. The facial recognition was actually the easiest part once I figured out the right distance. **Unexpected helpful details:** - They send confirmation emails at each step, which was reassuring - You can save your progress and come back later if needed - The system gives clear error messages if something doesn't work - Customer service chat was actually helpful when I had a question Giovanni, I completely understand the anxiety about technical hiccups - I felt the same way! But honestly, it was much more straightforward than setting up online banking or even ordering groceries online. The key is just having everything ready and not rushing. You've got this! 👍 The peace of mind of having secure access to my tax information was definitely worth the 35 minutes of effort.

I completely understand your hesitation about diving into this process! I went through ID.me verification about two months ago and was equally nervous about getting stuck halfway through. **Here's what I had ready (and actually needed):** - The IRS verification letter with my unique code - Current driver's license - My Social Security number (I wrote it down to avoid fumbling) - My smartphone with a full battery - Good lighting at my dining table **What actually happened:** The entire process took me about 28 minutes from start to finish. The automated verification worked smoothly - no dreaded video chat required! The facial recognition portion was surprisingly straightforward once I held my phone at the right distance. **My biggest piece of advice:** Don't let the horror stories psych you out. I think most successful verifications don't make it into online complaints! The system is actually designed pretty well, and the instructions are clearer than I expected. As a fellow person who prefers to avoid technical headaches, I found that being over-prepared was my best friend. I set aside a full hour on a quiet morning, had all my documents within arm's reach, and took my time reading each step. You've got this, Giovanni! The peace of mind of finally having access to your account will be worth the temporary stress. 😊

I just completed my ID.me verification last week and wanted to share my experience to help ease any concerns! As someone who also gets anxious about technical processes, I totally understand wanting to be fully prepared. **What I gathered beforehand:** - The IRS letter with verification code (absolutely critical!) - Current driver's license - Social Security number (I kept my card nearby just in case) - My phone with good camera and full battery - Set up at my kitchen table with natural lighting from the window **My actual experience:** The whole process took about 25 minutes, and I was pleasantly surprised by how user-friendly it was! The automated system handled everything smoothly - no video chat needed. The facial recognition part worked on the second try once I adjusted my distance from the camera. **Helpful tips I learned:** - Do it during off-peak hours if possible (I went around 10 AM on a weekday) - Make sure your ID isn't expired or about to expire - Wear glasses if that's how you appear in your license photo - Don't stress if you need to retake photos - the system is pretty forgiving Giovanni, I think your instinct to prepare thoroughly is spot-on! Having everything ready beforehand made the process so much smoother. The "horror stories" seem to be the exception rather than the rule based on what I've experienced and seen others share here. You've got this! 👍

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process about a month ago! Reading through all these experiences brings back memories of my own anxiety about the whole thing. **What I had ready:** - The IRS letter (kept it right next to my computer the entire time) - Current driver's license - My Social Security card for reference - Phone with full charge - Good lighting setup near my living room window **My experience:** The process took about 30 minutes total, but honestly most of that was me being extra cautious and double-checking everything! The automated verification worked perfectly - no video chat needed. The facial recognition took a couple tries because I was holding my phone too close initially, but once I found the right distance it went smoothly. **One thing that really helped:** I actually did a "practice run" first by gathering all my documents and reading through the ID.me help pages beforehand. That way when I actually started the verification, I knew exactly what to expect at each step. Giovanni, your cautious approach is exactly right! Being prepared definitely makes all the difference. The horror stories you've heard are likely the minority - most of us who had smooth experiences just don't post about it online. The whole system is actually much more user-friendly than I expected. You've absolutely got this! 😊 And honestly, the relief of finally having secure access to my IRS account was totally worth the temporary stress of getting through the verification process.