To verify identity with the IRS for online access or to respond to a notice, use the ID.me service. This requires a government ID, a selfie or video, and a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for online self-service. Documents can also be presented in person or via video call to verify a tax return.
Accessing IRS tools
To verify your identity, you typically use a government-issued photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) and provide personal details like your Social Security Number (SSN), often through an online process involving uploading documents and taking a selfie to match your face to the ID, or sometimes via an in-person video call, relying on biometrics, knowledge-based questions, or data matching for confirmation.
Below is the list of the only acceptable documents:
You can verify yourself online with GOV.UK One Login if you have one of the following types of photo ID:
Document verification, biometrics, and data-based verification are the three most effective and widely used methods for confirming a person's identity across digital platforms.
Bring the following identity verification documents to your appointment: A valid federal or state government-issued picture identification, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
The IRS asks you to verify your identity primarily to stop fraud, often because someone filed a tax return using your Social Security Number (SSN) without your permission, or due to data discrepancies, a new address, or a previous data breach involving your info. Verification ensures you are the legitimate taxpayer before they process your return, issue refunds, or grant access to your online account, protecting you from identity theft.
(updated Oct. 31, 2023) A: To verify your identity with ID.me, you'll need to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. You'll also need to take a selfie or choose to video chat with a live ID.me agent.
Then, the taxpayer should call the IRS using the toll-free Identity Verification telephone number: (800) 830-5084.
When you call the IRS, they will ask you to verify your identity. IRS phone assistors take great care to only discuss personal information with you or someone you authorize to speak on your behalf.
Who must file. Generally, any person in a trade or business who receives more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction or in related transactions must file a Form 8300. By law, a "person" is an individual, company, corporation, partnership, association, trust or estate.
The "20k rule" refers to the traditional IRS threshold for reporting income from payment apps and online marketplaces on Form 1099-K: over $20,000 in gross payments AND more than 200 transactions in a calendar year. While a law (the American Rescue Plan) temporarily lowered the threshold to $600, recent legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (OBBBA), has reinstated the $20,000/200-transaction rule for tax years starting in 2025, providing relief for casual sellers and gig workers.
Self–Service: The fastest method to verify; usually takes 5-10 minutes. For step-by-step instructions, visit Verifying your identity with ID.me Self-Service. Video call: You will upload your document, then join a quick video call.
The most common way to verify identity in person is to see the individual and a government-issued photo ID card, such as a driver's license, state ID card, or passport. This method combines the “something you have” and “something you are” factors.
You can verify your identity online through the IRS Identity Verification Service website or by phone using the number provided in the 5071C Letter. To verify your identity, you'll need both your previous and current year's tax returns, along with all supporting forms and schedules.
ID.me securely verifies an individual's identity in just minutes. Through remote verification of physical IDs, mobile network operator (MNO) data, along with fraud and compliance checks, ID. me's federally-accredited platform is transforming the way citizens access services online.
Two valid forms of ID usually require a combination of a primary photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) and a secondary document (like a Social Security card or utility bill), though sometimes one strong primary ID (like a passport) suffices, or two documents (one photo, one signature) are needed if the primary lacks both. The key is that both must generally be unexpired, original, and meet the specific requirements of the organization requesting them, often for proof of identity and sometimes address.
Identity verification is the process of confirming an individual's identity by comparing their identifying information or documents (such as an ID card, biometrics, or personal data) against reliable sources. This ensures the person is who they claim to be before granting access or services.