The IRS offers an online account application for individual taxpayers. With online account access, you can view:

• The total amount you owe, including balance details by year;
• Your payment history and any scheduled or pending payments
• Key information from your most recent tax return;
• Payment plan details, if you have one;
• Digital copies of select notices from the IRS;
• Your Economic Impact Payments, if any;
• Your address on file; and
• Authorization requests from tax professionals.

You can also:

• Make a payment online;
• See payment plan options and request a plan via Online Payment Agreement;
• Access your tax records via Get Transcript; and
• Approve or reject authorization requests from tax professionals.

However, some taxpayers have difficulty satisfying the Identification (ID) authentication requirements of the application. These requirements are necessary to screen out unauthorized access and to prevent potential hacks of taxpayer information. Read on to learn how to pass these ID requirements and enroll.

To register for an online services account, you will need the following:

• Email address;
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN);
• Tax filing status and mailing address;
• One financial account number linked to your name:
  • Last 8 digits of a credit card number (other than American Express, debit or corporate cards);
  • Student loan account number, unless issued by Nelnet;
  • Mortgage or home equity loan number;
  • Home equity line of credit (HELOC) account number; or
  • Auto loan number; and
• Mobile phone linked to your name (for faster registration) or ability to receive an activation code by mail.

Please note that your account balance will update only once every 24 hours, usually overnight, and check/money order payments may take up to three weeks to appear on your account.

More resources:

• NTA Blog: Lessons Learned From COVID-19: The Critical Need to Improve IRS Digital Services
• Secure Access: How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools
• Log in to your Online Account
• Taxpayer First Act – IRS Modernization
• Tax Pros: New Online Tool Allows Upload of Forms 2848 and 8821 with e-Signatures

The post TAS Tax Tip: Create an Online Account to View your Balances, Make Payments, Get Transcripts, and More. appeared first on Taxpayer Advocate Service.

Source: taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov