PTIN will require ID.me

[jklcpa]

Posting in case anyone here hasn't read the email saying that ID.me will be required to log in to the PTIN and other IRS services. 

[Lee B]

I haven't received an email. However the PTIN site is down until July 7th due to updates?

[BulldogTom]

I just got it.   Sent an email to my Congressman telling him if the rule goes into effect on July 1, I will not vote for him again.

Tom
Longview, TX

[Lee B]

Although I have never done it, last year you could renew by mail by filing Form W-12.

[jklcpa]

Maybe the emails are being sent in batches. Here it is for anyone that hasn't seen it yet.

[mcb39]

12 hours ago, jklcpa said:

Maybe the emails are being sent in batches. Here it is fir anyone that hasn't seen it yet.

I got mine on Saturday.

[M7047]

I received it just now. I came here hoping to see it was spam...
I guess not...

[Catherine]

I have not seen it, but then again I've been away for a bit and have not opened my work email except on my phone just to dump spam. Anything that looked real has been ignored. I really oughtta go look at the real stuff, I guess.  Got all the mail opened & dealt with, so I'm running out of good excuses. 

[Randall]

What is the ID.me thing anyway?  Is it much trouble to do it?  If required for the PTIN, I guess I'll have to do it.

 

[mcb39]

IMO, it is a pain.  You have to upload pictures of proof of your identity.  I understand that the easiest way to do it is on your phone, but I really haven't gotten beyond pay.gov myself.  I tried to do it in order to log into VA Health so that I could continue to order my husband's prescriptions.  However, it didn't work because I am not HIM and HE does not compute.  Alas.

[Abby Normal]

3 hours ago, Randall said:

What is the ID.me thing anyway?  Is it much trouble to do it?  If required for the PTIN, I guess I'll have to do it.

 

You need ID.me or login.gov to access SSA and IRS. I did both a few years ago. I don't recall it being too hard to do, but then I am fairly computer savvy.

[Lee B]

8 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

You need ID.me or login.gov to access SSA and IRS. I did both a few years ago. I don't recall it being too hard to do, but then I am fairly computer savvy.

You can access the SSA and EFTPS with login.gov. I am not aware of any other IRS functions that uses login.gov

[JohnH]

3 hours ago, mcb39 said:

IMO, it is a pain.  You have to upload pictures of proof of your identity.  I understand that the easiest way to do it is on your phone, but I really haven't gotten beyond pay.gov myself.  I tried to do it in order to log into VA Health so that I could continue to order my husband's prescriptions.  However, it didn't work because I am not HIM and HE does not compute.  Alas.

Just a thought = would a Durable Power of Attorney enable you to use the VA Health system on his behalf? Or does VA have a way for him to name you as his designated agent?

Insofar as ID.me and login.gov are concerned, they can be a little difficult to get set up, but I think its worth going to the trouble.  I think I got each set up on a second or third try at most.  The requirements are only going to get more and more strict when accessing government sites. 

[mcb39]

3 hours ago, JohnH said:

Just a thought = would a Durable Power of Attorney enable you to use the VA Health system on his behalf? Or does VA have a way for him to name you as his designated agent?

Insofar as ID.me and login.gov are concerned, they can be a little difficult to get set up, but I think its worth going to the trouble.  I think I got each set up on a second or third try at most.  The requirements are only going to get more and more strict when accessing government sites. 

No, John, apparently not.  I contacted them and he has to have his own IDMe.  There is nothing wrong with his mind; he just never uses a computer; EVER.  I can still order his meds over the phone, but the VA.gov was so convenient.  Thanks for the thought.  Nothing is getting easier; that's for sure.

[JohnH]

OK.  Was just brainstorming.  My wife and I have found that having one another's Durable Power of Attorney simplifies so many tasks for us in so many (but not all) situations. 

[BulldogTom]

I am just philosophically opposed to giving my face to a for profit company to add to their data base so I can continue to work in my chosen profession.   I don't know what has gotten into the IRS that they think we are the problem.   They know us.   And the ones who are running Turdo out of the garage are not going to do this anyways?   What in the world?

Conspiracy theory Warning ******   The government promised to put as many people into ID.me when they signed the contract so ID.me would have a larger data base.   End of theory*****

How about requiring everyone to takes a tax credit to have an ID.me account and give their face to that company in order to get a tax break? 

I am so pissed I am not thinking straight.   The IRS keeps shooting at the wrong targets.

Tom
Longview, TX  

[Lee B]

I have been giving this issue a lot of thought.

I am definitely opposed to giving all of my personal information to a company that sells their services to police departments.

On the other hand ever since the Equifax Data Breach followed several years later by my state Dept of Motor Vehicles Data Breach,

more than likely most of my personal data is already floating around the dark web.

If they have done away with paper filing Form W 12, then I will have to give in and sign up with ID.me

a company that started out selling coupons in competition with Groupon

[Catherine]

54 minutes ago, BulldogTom said:

The IRS keeps shooting at the wrong targets.

Yes; us - the good tax preparers. Not the fraudsters (taxpayers, cheats, or 'preparers' in it to cheat). They make it harder & harder for us to help taxpayers (which helps t/p's and the IRS - with the IRS probably coming out ahead in that one), then wonder why we get testy.