The IRS transitioned its on-line providers for tax professionals to third-party authentication software program firm ID.me. What does that imply for accountants? You’ll must create an ID.me account to entry the IRS web site.

Right here’s every thing accountants must know concerning the transition to ID.me:

You’ll want an ID.me account 

With the mixing between ID.me and the IRS, people shall be utilizing ID.me credentials to login to the IRS web site. ID.me is solely facilitating a consumer’s login course of to the IRS. 

In keeping with an e mail despatched by the IRS in Might 2022, the next merchandise and purposes shall be impacted as a result of IRS transition to ID.me:

• • • Reasonably priced Care Act (ACA) for Transmitter Management Code (TCC)
    • Utility Program Interface (API) Shopper ID Utility
    • e-File Utility
    • Data Returns (IR) for TCC
    • Revenue Verification Categorical Service (IVES) Utility
    • State Functions (State EFIN and TDS State)
    • TIN Matching, together with Bulk and Interactive TIN Matching
    • Transcript Supply System (TDS)
    • Safe Object Repository (SOR)
    • Modernized e-File (MeF)
    • ACA Data Returns (AIR)

On June 15, 2022, the IRS required adoption of the ID.me software for e-Companies purposes. Since June fifteenth, you’re not be capable of entry e-Companies purposes utilizing your legacy safe entry credentials.

You not have to make use of facial recognition software program 

In response to backlash from privateness advocates about ID.me’s facial recognition software program, the corporate now permits customers to choose out of that step. Customers can nonetheless use the software program to confirm their identities, however it’s not necessary. For individuals who wish to skip the facial recognition step, ID.me will permit customers to video chat with a “trusted referee” as a substitute. Previous to the change, the choice to talk to a human agent to confirm your id was solely accessible after a failed try with the facial recognition software program. 

Moreover, as soon as verification is full, ID.me deletes the biometric info collected from customers who select to confirm their identities by way of facial recognition. This can be a one-time course of to confirm identities, and as soon as it’s accomplished customers will merely use their login credentials to signal into the platform. 

All customers might want to use MFA (multi-factor authentication) to login as nicely. 

Learn how to arrange your account 

First, open the IRS web site.

Navigate to the “signal into your account” web page.  

If you have already got an ID.me account, choose “Register with ID.me.” 

In case you are creating an ID.me account, choose that possibility. 

Enter your e mail and select a safe password. 

Subsequent, select the way you want to confirm your id. 

In the event you select to make use of biometric authentication, you’ll must add a photograph of a authorities ID doc. Then, ID.me will request entry to your digicam and a window will pop as much as scan your face. This may examine the picture in your authorities ID to your precise face. 

In the event you select to video chat with an agent, you’ll want two identification paperwork and have to attend for the subsequent accessible agent.

Historical past of ID.me and the IRS

Throughout 2022’s tax season, the IRS introduced it had transitioned away from using the third-party software in an try and keep away from mass disruption to taxpayers. 

“The IRS takes taxpayer privateness and safety severely, and we perceive the issues which have been raised,” stated IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig in a assertion. “Everybody ought to really feel comfy with how their private info is secured, and we’re shortly pursuing short-term choices that don’t contain facial recognition.”

The IRS is just not the one authorities company to make use of ID.me—in actual fact the Social Safety Administration and different authorities companies at the moment use the software program as nicely. 

The transition to utilizing ID.me is available in an effort to extend safety and id verification, in line with the IRS. 

“Identification verification is crucial to guard taxpayers and their info. The IRS has been working arduous to make enhancements on this space, and this new verification course of is designed to make IRS on-line purposes as safe as doable for folks,” stated Rettig in a assertion on the time of the preliminary ID.me/IRS partnership announcement.

In response to privateness issues and backlash, the IRS dedicated to discovering alternate options to ID.me and can ultimately shift to Login.gov, a government-controlled sign-in service. Nonetheless, logistics prevented a well timed rollout of an alternate system and within the meantime, ID.me continues to be being utilized by the IRS with the up to date possibility to permit customers to opt-out of the biometric verification course of.