ID.me

[Lee B]

I had no problems getting set up and using loin.gov

However I am apparently too stupid to navigate my way through getting set up with ID.me

What an incredible frustrating experience

[Abby Normal]

I remember that it took about 10-15 minutes, but I don't recall it being that bad. You do need a camera hooked up to your computer so they can scan your face. I have to do it again for my fiancee because she needs an IRS account and an ID PIN, since her SSN is definitely part of the recent leak.

Here's where you can check to see if your SSN was leaked:

https://npd.pentester.com/

 

[Lee B]

I have privacy concerns about ID.me. They started as a direct competitor of Groupon and can be currently used to access retailer discounts.

The IRS's official position is that ID.me is a temporary solution to be replaced at some point in the future,

possibly by login.gov when login.gov is improved.

I am not going to try to use them again!

[BrewOne]

interesting.  I thought that they were migrating over to ID.me but that could be outdated information.  Anyway, I recommend to clients to set up ID.me using their computer and have their smart phone handy.  Trying to do it all on a phone is a bit tricky.

[Lee B]

"The agency described that solution as “short-term” but has still not presented a roadmap for how it plans to transition away from only using ID.me. The IRS did not respond to multiple requests for comment about its transition to Login.gov or its use of ID.me."

[TexTaxToo]

I think the IRS intended ID.me to be the long-term and only solution, but they got so much push-back from Congress and the public that they backtracked and said they would consider other options.  That was two years ago, and it seems to me they are  slow-walking any other options in hope that the critics will fade away.

Here are examples of the criticism:

https://cyberscoop.com/id-me-government-contracts-house-oversight/

https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter to FTC on ID.me deceptive statements 051822.pdf (note this is a PDF)

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/01/irs-will-soon-require-selfies-for-online-access/

[Lee B]

In 2021 The IRS signed a 2 year contract with ID.me for $86 Million, which has now expired.

I cannot find any publicly available information about  the current financial arrangement between the IRS and ID.me.

As a side note, the GSA, home of login.gov, will not consider using facial identification and for some unknown reason the required improvements to login.gov are

happening slowly.

[Abby Normal]

This how "temporary" arrangements become permanent.

[Abby Normal]

16 hours ago, Abby Normal said:

You do need a camera hooked up to your computer so they can scan your face.

Or, maybe I used my cellphone camera to scan my face. I can't really remember, but that would make more sense since many don't have a camera on their computer.

[BrewOne]

I did this for a client not too long ago.  Current iteration is much easier than it was originally--they provide all the necessary links and uploads, you just need your smart phone and driver's license handy.