FAQs about the ID.me process.
Highlights
- The IRS now requires all tax professionals to access e‑Services and online tools using an ID.me account.
- Password and sign-in issues are handled through ID.me, not directly through IRS e‑Services or the IRS itself.
- Once your ID.me account is working, you can immediately return to IRS online tools, including e‑file provider services and Tax Pro Account.
Below is a step‑by‑step guide for tax professionals who:
- Need to get back into e‑Services or other IRS online tools (like the e‑file application, TDS, Tax Pro Account, etc.), and
- Can’t remember their password or can’t sign in because of ID.me issues.
Jump to ↓
1. Understand how IRS sign‑in works today
2. How to sign up for an ID.me account for the IRS
3. How to reset your ID.me password
4. How to sign in if you can’t complete multi‑factor authentication
5. Accessing IRS e‑Services and e‑file provider tools after you fix ID.me
6. When to contact ID.me versus when to contact the IRS
How does this affect my tax and accounting firm’s operations?
1. Understand how IRS sign‑in works today
To access IRS online tools for tax pros — including e‑Services, e‑file application, transcript delivery, and many others — you must:
- Have an ID.me account, and
- Sign in with ID.me credentials (email + password + multi‑factor authentication).
The IRS “e‑file provider services” page and other e‑Services applications specifically note that account‑specific questions require an IRS/ID.me account. So, if you’re trying to “reset your IRS e‑Services password,” what you are really doing is resetting your ID.me password or fixing an ID.me sign‑in problem.
What is ID.me?
ID.me is a third‑party, private company that provides digital identify verification. The IRS now uses the service as the “gateway” to its online tools. ID.me is used at 21 federal agencies, 50 state government agencies, and more than 70 healthcare organizations. The IRS has used ID.me since 2021.
2. How to sign up for an ID.me account for the IRS
If you’re trying to access e‑Services or tax pro tools for the upcoming tax season, and you don’t yet have an ID.me account, you’ll need to create and verify one as part of the process.
At a high level:
- Start at the IRS application you need (e‑Services, Tax Pro Account, online account, etc.). For a list of common IRS applications, visit ID.me Government.
- Select Sign in with ID.me.
- Choose Create an account and follow prompts to:
- Enter your email and create a strong password
- Confirm your email
- Set up MFA
- Verify your identity using either:
- Self‑Service (upload ID document + video selfie) — usually 5–10 minutes; or
- Video call with an ID.me Video Chat Agent.
- After verification, you’ll be returned to the IRS site to complete sign‑in and access the application.
If you previously verified with another organization, you may be asked to upgrade your ID.me account for IRS security requirements by providing additional information such as SSN and a U.S. government‑issued photo ID.
3. How to reset your ID.me password
If you know the email address on your ID.me account but can’t remember the password, use ID.me’s self‑service password reset.
Step‑by‑step: Reset your ID.me password
- Go to the ID.me sign‑in page. You can get there by starting from an IRS sign‑in page and choosing “Sign in with ID.me” or going to api.id.me/en/session/new.
- Enter your email address and select Continue.
- Select Forgot password?
- Re‑enter your email address and select Continue.
- Check your inbox for an email titled “ID.me — Your password reset link.”
- It can take up to 10 minutes to arrive.
- Check spam/junk if you don’t see it.
- In that email, either:
- Click Reset your password, or
- Copy the 6‑digit code into the browser screen and select Confirm.
- Enter your new password twice and select Continue.
You’ll see a confirmation message and be redirected to the ID.me sign‑in page. Sign in with your email and new password, complete multi‑factor authentication (MFA), and then continue into the IRS application you need.
4. How to sign in if you can’t complete multi‑factor authentication
Even with the right password, you may be blocked by MFA issues — for example, if you changed phones or phone numbers or can’t receive codes in your authenticator app. ID.me treats MFA recovery as a separate process.
How to begin the MFA recovery process:
- Start MFA recovery on the ID.me sign-in page. Go to the ID.me sign-in page and follow the prompts to sign in to your ID.me account. After you’ve signed in, on the “Complete Your Sign In” screen, select MFA recovery process.
- Confirm account ownership. Follow the prompts to confirm ownership of your account. For example, take a live selfie, join a video call, confirm your email or personal information, or upload your identity document.
- Set up a new MFA method. Follow the prompts to set up a new MFA method. You must complete this step within 30 minutes of confirming your account ownership.
5. Accessing IRS e‑Services and e‑file provider tools after you fix ID.me
Once your ID.me sign‑in is working, you can go back to using IRS tools as usual. For tax professionals, that commonly includes:
- E‑Services suite — online tools for tax pros and payers
- E‑file provider services — apply to become an authorized e‑file provider or maintain your e‑file application
- Transcript Delivery System (TDS) — obtain client transcripts (with proper authorizations)
- TIN Matching — validate TIN/name combinations before filing information returns
- Tax Pro Account — manage authorizations and view clients’ information in real time
All of these are accessed with the same underlying ID.me credentials.
6. When to contact ID.me versus when to contact the IRS
A common pain point for firms is figuring out which organization can actually solve their specific problem.
Contact ID.me when you:
- Can’t sign in to your ID.me account (password, MFA, locked account, multiple accounts, email access issues)
- Need help verifying your identity or upgrading your ID.me account for IRS use
- Need to update or close your ID.me account
ID.me does not provide tax advice or fix IRS account issues.
Contact the IRS when you:
- Have questions about transcripts, refund status, balances, or payments
- Need help with PTIN, CAF, e‑file application content, or e‑Services usage issues after you’ve successfully signed in
- See IRS error codes related to your tax account or returns
For e‑Services‑specific help, tax pros can call the IRS e‑help desk at 866‑255‑0654 during posted hours.
How does this affect my tax and accounting firm’s operations?
Because ID.me is now the gateway to IRS online tools, access issues can immediately disrupt:
- Transcript Delivery System (TDS) workflows
- E‑file application management and status checks
- Tax Pro Account authorizations and client service
Firms may want to:
- Maintain a current inventory of which staff use which IRS tools.
- Implement firm‑wide policies for ID.me account creation, MFA, and recovery.
- Use practice management and workflow tools to document sign‑in procedures and reduce last‑minute access crises.
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