IRS eservices wants me to periodically recertify my account

[Abby Normal]

 

 

You need to recertify your account

For your security, you will need to periodically recertify your account.

The recertification process is:

Fast: Takes about 15 minutes

Secure: Only you will have access to your tax information

Free: There is no charge (Message and data rates may apply to send a security code to your mobile phone)

[Abby Normal]

You will need some information about yourself to register

Please have the following information and materials to complete registration:

• Full Name
  
• Email
  
• Birthdate
  
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)
  
• Tax filing status
  
• Current address

Do you have this information available?

Yeah, I think I know all of these.

[Abby Normal]

Grrrr. They can't verify my cell phone number, probably because I'm with Google Fi. Gotta call 'em!

Wait time 30-60 minutes or I can wait 5 days for a mailed PIN.

[Abby Normal]

Looks like I'm waiting 5 days. Glad this isn't during tax season or some other deadline.

[Lee B]

So is this real or is it a scam ?

How would you know ?

 

[Pacun]

Did you initiate the communication? If you did, make sure you are dealing with the IRS and not scammers.

[Abby Normal]

It was not an email. I went to the irs eservices website which I have bookmarked. This came up after I logged in.

https://la2.www4.irs.gov/eauth/pub/login.jsp

 

[KINGCHUCK1971]

It's real,

I had to do the same thing right before the tax season started. Because I don't have a traditional cell phone provider (contract) I had to wait the for the pin in the mail to.  I use prepaid for my cell phone service. But they can't verify that it's really you through prepaid.

[Abby Normal]

The odd thing is, when I initially registered I had no problems doing it all online. Why, all of the sudden, my cellphone can't be verified is curious.

Just glad my annual (?) recertification is in July and not during tax season.

[NECPA in NEBRASKA]

I am so disgusted with the whole E-services mess. I was verified, then they could not verify me through my cell phone, which is ONLY in my name. I spent hours on the phone with a very nice man on the help desk . He finally gave up and said that he would mail me a new PIN. I never received it and then they sent me a letter saying that I had not verified my license from New York and were going to make my PTIn inactive. I am not in freaking New York! I called and wrote to them and at least my PTIN is OK.  I will try to straighten out E-Services sometime in the next few years.

[Max W]

I have used eservices ever since it started and the password always had to be renewed every six months.    However, if you didn't renew before the deadline, you had to recertify.  Has this changed?

[Abby Normal]

50 minutes ago, Max W said:

I have used eservices ever since it started and the password always had to be renewed every six months.    However, if you didn't renew before the deadline, you had to recertify.  Has this changed?

Yes. My password had not yet expired. Also, in past years, it has expired and I just needed to create a new one. All this certification and recertification just started last year.

[Roberts]

eServices is a complete mess. They should shift to a Citrix system or something similar. The system they have with all the hoops you have to jump through really isn't all that safe.

At least my password doesn't keep expiring.

[Abby Normal]

I requested my code on July 10. Notice the date of the IRS letter and the expiration date at the bottom.

 

[Catherine]

Your government at play!

*What* a pack of idiots.  Sigh.

[Lion EA]

That's OUR tax dollars!

[Joel]

Years ago, while in the Coast Guard, in November, the ship I was Communications Officer of received a 6 month supply of a brand new form for a monthly report to headquarters. In April the following year I ordered a replacement supply of the forms.  The reply from headquarters was "In November we sent you a six months supply of this new form.  Why are you ordering more in April?"

(In essence: 6 months ago we sent you a 6 month supply. Why do you want more?) 

I realize that someone never read what they sent as a reply.

Joel

 

[Abby Normal]

I guess the programmers never allowed for the possibility that the codes could expire before the letter was mailed, and to just generate a new code to be mailed.

The lady told me they had a glitch that delayed the letters and that they're normally mailed in about 5 days.

[Lion EA]

 

QuickAlerts for Tax Professionals August 17, 2018

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Subject:  CP-301B notices for Secure Access Registration Some CP-301B notices for Secure Access Registration, issued between August 8 – 15, 2018, were issued with an expired Activation Code. The IRS will update the Activation Code expiration date to September 30, 2018, on Tuesday, August 21, 2018.   If you received one of these notices please complete your online Secure Access registration between August 21, 2018 – September 30, 2018. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.       Back to Top Thank you for subscribing to QuickAlerts for Tax Professionals, an IRS e-mail service. If you know someone who might want to subscribe to this mailing list, please forward this message to them so they can subscribe. This message was distributed automatically. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

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This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

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This email was sent to [email protected] by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington DC 20535

[Abby Normal]

Oh well. I already requested a new code. I'll try the old code on the 21st but my guess is I have to wait now.

[Catherine]

On 8/17/2018 at 1:07 PM, Lion EA said:

That's OUR tax dollars!

"The IRS" - remove the space and extra capital letters:  "Theirs" - they think it's all theirs!  

(Note:  JOKE not political, in case that wasn't clear.)

[Abby Normal]

Finally back in! Got my new letter yesterday.

For security purposes, every time you log in the IRS sends a text to your cellphone with a code you have to enter, to make sure it's you. Works for me! I have similar two-factor security set up with financial institutions and Google.