How to Set up an IRS Account

This step-by-step guide will help you create an IRS account.

Benefits of Creating an IRS Account

Creating an IRS account online offers several advantages:

Securely make payments directly to the IRS.
Access your payment history for up to five years, including pending or scheduled payments.
Benefit of enhanced security when making payments.
Viewing your current tax balance and a detailed breakdown by tax year.
Authorize your accountant to view your payment records and other relevant tax information.

Important Things to Know Before You Start

You will need a valid photo identification available during the account setup process.
The process will be easiest to complete on a computer, but you will need your phone for certain verification steps.
If you are married and filed a joint return last year, the account should be created by the person listed first on your Form 1040 (the “taxpayer” line). If the account is created by the by the person listed second on the Form 1040 (the “spouse” line), the IRS may have difficulty applying payments made under that account to your return.

STEP 1

Click the link below to get started

https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals

Read through the page the link takes you to so that you can fully understand what you can do with an account when you make one, then click the “Sign in or create an account” button.

STEP 2

On this screen you will select the “ID.me Create an account” button.

STEP 3

After completing all required fields, accept the term and conditions and click “Create Account” at the bottom.

STEP 4

Your screen should now look like this. Click continue.

STEP 5

You will be asked to confirm your email address. Click on the link that was sent to your email or enter the 6-digit confirmation code.

STEP 6

You will have to set up a multi-factor authentication (MFA) next, which will add additional security to your account. Choose whichever option best suits your needs.

The steps below are based on using text message as the MFA.

STEP 7

Now verify the MFA option that you chose. How you do this depends on which option you select.

STEP 8

Choose how to verify your identity.

STEP 9

Review the terms, click that you have acknowledged them, and click continue.

STEP 10

Now you will start to verify your identity. You will need to have your ID near you for this step. Enter your phone number and click continue.

STEP 11

This step will be completed on your cellular device. Click on the link that was texted to you and then follow the prompted instructions. You will need to upload pictures of the front and back of your ID, and then it will take a short video of your face to match your ID to you. One this is completed, go back to the browser tab that you were on before this step.

STEP 12

Enter your social security number and click continue.

STEP 13

Look at the information displayed carefully and click yes if everything is correct. If anything is incorrect, click no, correct the misinformation, review your information again, and click yes.