US tax desks increasingly live online. An IRS account is how newcomers pull wage transcripts, check balances, and finish many post-filing tasks after they already have a tax ID.
How do you create the account?
Go to the specific IRS service you need and choose sign in or create account. The IRS uses ID.me for identity verification on IRS.gov. Login.gov, which opens many other federal sites, is not the IRS sign-in path: Set up Login.gov.
Set up ID.me with a personal email, a strong password, and multi-factor authentication. Then verify identity with an SSN or ITIN plus a current government photo ID such as a passport or state licence. You must be 18 or older to create the account. Get the tax ID first if you still lack one: Get an SSN or Get an ITIN.
What can you do after you are verified?
One verified ID.me identity unlocks IRS Individual Account tools and many related services. Use it to view transcripts, make payments, and follow secure messages. Annual filing still follows Form 1040 rules even when the portal is ready: File federal taxes. State returns remain a separate desk: File state taxes.
Keep the same legal name and address spelling you used for banking and payroll: Open a bank account. Newcomer sequence context: Paperwork after moving.
Common misconceptions
Assuming Login.gov alone opens IRS tools fails. The IRS route is ID.me.
Assuming an ITIN applicant can skip identity proofing also fails; the portal still wants a tax ID and photo ID.
Summary
Create ID.me from the IRS page you need, prove identity with SSN or ITIN plus photo ID, then use the Individual Account for transcripts and payments. Do not wait until filing week to discover you cannot sign in.
Sources
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