Alternative for the ID dot me debacle

[Catherine]

Link to IRS: IRS News Release

And, what it says:

February 21, 2022

The IRS announced today that a new option in the agency’s authentication system is now available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. This is consistent with the IRS’s commitment earlier this month to transition away from the requirement for taxpayers creating an IRS online account to provide a selfie to a third-party service to help authenticate their identity. Taxpayers will have the option of verifying their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents; no biometric data – including facial recognition – will be required if taxpayers choose to authenticate their identity through a virtual interview.

Taxpayers will still have the option to verify their identity automatically through the use of biometric verification through ID.me’s self-assistance tool if they choose. For taxpayers who select this option, new requirements are in place to ensure images provided by taxpayers are deleted for the account being created. Any existing biometric data from taxpayers who previously created an IRS Online Account that has already been collected will also be permanently deleted over the course of the next few weeks.

While this short-term solution is in place for this year’s filing season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to roll out Login.Gov as an authentication tool. The General Services Administration is currently working with the IRS to achieve the security standards and scale required of Login.Gov, with the goal of moving toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline.

[Lee B]

This sounds like a confused intermediate step while they try figure out what to do in the long run.

[Catherine]

4 hours ago, cbslee said:

This sounds like a confused intermediate step while they try figure out what to do in the long run.

Bingo!

[Abby Normal]

To me it sounds like they realized they made a bad choice trying to create a new authentication scheme, when the login.gov site was working for other government agencies.

This is why I always sign up early for any new site. I like to be 'grandfathered' in on these things. I've had an irs.gov personal account for so long, I don't even need a login.gov account.

[Lee B]

Hmm, supposedly my Secure Access account will be closed by the the end of June.

[Abby Normal]

13 hours ago, cbslee said:

Hmm, supposedly my Secure Access account will be closed by the the end of June.

I haven't heard anything, but I remember when eservices went more secure about 5-10 years ago. The nice thing is I haven't had to change my eservices password in years. Used to have to change it once a year, I think.

[Gail in Virginia]

I am just trying to figure out how, when the IRS can't currently answer the phone or finish their paperwork, they are going to have time to do virtual interviews with people to set up their accounts. 

[Lee B]

Fantastic News!

"While this short-term solution is in place for this year’s filing season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to roll out Login.Gov as an authentication tool. The General Services Administration is currently working with the IRS to achieve the security standards and scale required of Login.Gov, with the goal of moving toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline."

Astounding, common sense has prevailed!

[TexTaxToo]

ID.me was already doing virtual interviews for people who couldn't get the selfie upload to work.  It sounds like they are for now just allowing anyone to bypass that step and go straight to the interview (they can still try the selfie if they want).  One report indicated a 3-hour+ hold time for the interview.