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I still help prepare tax returns for pay. As such I am required, among other things, to annually renew my preparer pin number.
I recently received the following from the IRS in a email –
We have updated the Tax Professional PTIN System sign-in process for tax return preparers who have a Social Security number (SSN). You will now sign in using ID.me, a technology provider that conducts identity verification and credential management for access to IRS online services.
In the near future, the existing sign-in method of using a Username and Password will no longer be supported for tax return preparers with a SSN. You cannot access the Tax Professional PTIN System without an ID.me account. Tax preparers who do not have a SSN will continue using their current sign-in process.
Anyone who prepares tax returns and charges a fee for their services is required to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) as I understand the rules. Those who volunteer to prepare returns for free may not currently be required by the IRS to have a PTIN but I do not know if the organizations who sponsor such free services have their own requirements.
Finding and uploading some of the original documents to ID.me was the most time consuming portion of the process for me. I will not be surprised if this verification of identity becomes becomes the standard.
I recently established ID.me verification. Without access to a cell phone (I’m not a luddite, I just don’t want one) the process took about two hours, to scan and upload documents, schedule a video meeting, and interact with a young ID.me staffer. The meeting was recorded and the staffer photographed me holding up both sides of documents that I had already uploaded. I too have reservations about outsourcing the verification to a third party, including that the third party now has my voice recording.
Your comment about cell phones reminds me of a famous movie line from Quigley Down Under spoken by Tom Selleck a while back – “I said I never had much use for one. Never said I didn’t know how to use it.”
Thanks for commenting.
Thanks Bill. Individual VITA tax preparers do not have to have a PTIN, but I believe each site has one. I’m not sure of the process for getting a site number.
I had to create an ID.me account for NJ’s property tax refund programs. IU recall it was a bit frustrating because I had to run around getting the information I needed. I think had I researched the application process first, it would have been easier.
Sorry you found this to be time consuming. Been using ID.me for a while and it is quite good/seamless. In a few instances, I end up using Login.gov (now why do they 2 different authentication methods, I will never know). And Medicare.gov doesn’t use either of these, opting to keep the traditional site specific username/password. Heck, they are still using text/email for 2FA.
Medicare has told me I am supposed to use one of the new systems, although userid was still working last time I tried. I ran into a catch 22 trying to set up login.gov.
I also have a login.gov account. The Login.gov is the government, the ID.me is a private company that identity verification has been outsourced to. I have mixed feelings about our government outsourcing ID verification.
The process was time consuming for me because of original documentation I was lacking.
My main objective in writing this forum piece is giving HD readers a heads up to get this task done if will apply to them.