IRS Announces New Option for Signing Up For Online Accounts, IRS Statement — New features put in place for IRS Online Account registration; process strengthened to ensure privacy and security

The IRS has made a new option available in the agency’s authentication system for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. Taxpayers will now have the option of verifying their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents and 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.