Get ready to work with us

Set up ID.me and connect it to the IRS.

We can send you a Power of Attorney to sign online. That is the form that lets us speak to the IRS for you. You approve it in a few clicks. No printing. No mailing. No fax machine. To do this, you need a free ID.me account that is connected to the IRS. This guide shows you how to set it up and test it, one step at a time.

About 15 minutes 5 simple steps Free and secure

What you will need

A phone with a camera, or a computer with a webcam
A photo ID: driver's license, state ID, passport, or passport card
Your Social Security number
An email address you can check
About 15 minutes of quiet time

You must be 18 or older to make an ID.me account. If you are under 18, call us and we will find another way.

The five steps

From zero to ready in about 15 minutes.

Before we can help you with the IRS, the IRS needs your okay. You give that okay by signing a Power of Attorney. The fastest way to sign is online, inside your own IRS account. So the first job is to make sure your ID.me works and is linked to the IRS.

Check if you already have an ID.me account

Many people already have one. You may have used ID.me before for unemployment, the VA, your state, or another website. If you did, the same login works for the IRS. There is no need to make a new one.

How to check

Go to your IRS account page: irs.gov/account.
Click Sign in to your Online Account.
Choose Sign in with ID.me.
Type the email and password you think you have.

If it works

You can see your tax info? Great. You already have an account. Skip ahead to Step 4 to test it.

If it does not

No problem. Go to Step 2 and make one. It is quick.

Tip

Forgot your password? Use the "Forgot password" link right on the ID.me sign-in screen to reset it.

Create your ID.me account

This has two parts. Part 1 makes the account. Part 2 proves who you are. The good news: you only prove who you are one time. After that, you just log in.

Part 1: Make the account

On the sign-in screen, choose Create an ID.me account.
Enter your email and make a password. It needs at least 8 characters.
Turn on extra security. ID.me calls this "multi-factor authentication." Pick a text message, an app, or face or touch unlock. This sends you a code so only you can log in.

Part 2: Prove who you are (about 5 to 10 minutes)

Choose Self-Service. This is the fastest way.
Take a photo of your ID with your phone or webcam.
Take a short video selfie. ID.me checks that your face matches the photo on your ID.
Enter your phone number, Social Security number, and address.
Look over your info and confirm it is correct.
Click Allow to share your info with the IRS.

Heads up

The photo or selfie will not work? Choose the Video Call option instead. You upload your documents, then join a short video call with a live ID.me agent. It is free. It just takes a little longer. Pick a quiet, well-lit spot.

Connect ID.me to the IRS

Now link your verified ID.me to your IRS account.

Go back to irs.gov/account.
Click Sign in, then Sign in with ID.me.
Enter your email and password, then the security code.
You should now see your IRS account. You may see your balance, your past tax records, and any letters from the IRS.

You're connected

Seeing your account means you are linked. You are almost done.

Make sure it is working (the test)

This is the most important step. Please do not skip it. We want to be sure you can get in before we send your form.

Log out of your IRS account.
Wait a moment, then log back in.
Confirm you land on your IRS account home page and can see your info.

If you can log in, log out, and log back in to see your account, you are ready. This is the exact same login you will use to sign the form we send.

Tell us

Let us know when you are in. Send us a quick message that you can log in. Then we will send your Power of Attorney to your account.

The payoff

Approve the Power of Attorney we send

When you tell us you are ready, here is exactly what happens. This is the part the whole guide has been getting you ready for.

We send a request to your IRS account. This is the Power of Attorney, the form that lets us help you with the IRS.
You log in to your IRS account at irs.gov/account.
Look for Authorizations. It may say "Pending authorizations" or "Power of Attorney."
Open the request. Read what it covers, like the tax years and the type of help.
Click to approve and electronically sign it.

That is it. The IRS adds it to their system in about two business days. After that, we can speak with the IRS for you and pull the records we need to do your work.

Why only you can do this

Only you can approve this, and that is a good thing. We cannot do this part for you, and the IRS will not let anyone do it for you. That rule keeps your account safe and in your control.

Common questions

Quick answers.

Is ID.me safe?

Yes. ID.me is the IRS's trusted partner for checking who you are. Many government websites use it. Your information is encrypted, and we never see your ID.me password.

Do I have to do this every year?

No. You prove who you are only one time. After that, you just sign in with your email, password, and a security code.

My selfie keeps failing. What do I do?

Try better lighting, hold your phone steady, and take off glasses or a hat. If it still will not work, switch to the Video Call option. A live agent will help you finish.

I do not have a smartphone. Can I still do this?

You can use a computer with a webcam. Or choose the Video Call option and use any device with a camera. If you get stuck, reach out to us and we will help.

I already have an IRS login, but I used Login.gov, not ID.me.

The IRS also accepts Login.gov. If you can log in and see your account, you are fine. The steps to approve the form we send are the same. If you are not sure, contact us and we will check it with you.

What does the Power of Attorney let you do?

It lets us talk to the IRS for you and see the tax records we need to do your work. You choose the tax years it covers, and you can remove our access any time from your IRS account.

I forgot my ID.me password.

Click the "Forgot password" link on the ID.me sign-in screen. You will get an email to set a new one. You do not need to make a brand-new account.

Official links

Your IRS account: irs.gov/account
How the IRS uses ID.me: irs.gov account help
ID.me help center: help.id.me

Need a hand?

Stuck on any step? We will walk you through it.

This trips up a lot of people, and that is okay. Reach out to your Elevated Tax Strategies team and we will help you finish. We would rather help you now than have you wait.

Already working with us? Send us a message in Basecamp and we will jump in.