The IRS has updated the Taxpayer Account Portal at https://www.irs.gov/accounts. Taxpayers can now access transcripts, make payments, create a payment plan, and many other automatic actions — all without having to call IRS customer assistance. Read on for more information about all the different things you can do through your IRS account and how you can gain access.
Where to find your IRS account
You can find your IRS account on the main https://www.irs.gov homepage.
The Online Account landing page describes the features available in the account portal and displays the sign in link.
How to sign in to your IRS account
Identity verification is an important part of accessing your taxpayer account. The IRS has partnered with ID.me to provide identity verification services and ensure that only you are able to access your online IRS account. You will need to create and use an ID.me account to sign in if you do not already have an IRS account username and password.
If you are verifying your identity with ID.me for the first time, you will need to use your cell phone camera to take and upload required photos or use a computer webcam to speak with a live video chat agent. More information about the IRS identity verification process is available here.
Resources available in your taxpayer account
Once you log into your IRS taxpayer account, you will have immediate access to several important pieces of information about your taxes.
Account status and balance due
Under the Account Status section, you will see whether or not your tax return has been processed for the current year. Your account will also show a current total balance for any taxes that you owe.
Note: For updates on the status of your tax refund, taxpayers should use the Where’s My Refund tool at https://www.irs.gov/refunds or the IRS2Go mobile app. This information is not directly available on the IRS taxpayer account portal.
A detailed breakdown of balances due by tax year is also available. This will show the amount of taxes owed, plus any accrued penalties and interest. For any years for which a return hasn’t been filed or a balance isn’t available, you will see a personalized message with more information.
Payments and payment plans
In the Payments section, you can use the link provided to make a same-day payment from your bank account. This could be a payment towards your current year tax owed (even if your return has not yet been processed), monthly installment payment, estimated tax payments, or several other types of tax payments. You can choose whether or not to receive an email confirmation of your payment. All online payments will receive an immediate confirmation number and be viewable in the Payment Activity section of your taxpayer account, along with five years of payment history.
If you have a tax balance due and want to explore your payment options, you can view more information about the various payment plans available, including any setup fees or penalties and interest that may apply. You can apply for a short-term payment plan directly through your online account or link to a separate IRS page to apply for a long-term plan. If you currently have a payment plan with the IRS, you can view details on your account homepage about the status of your agreement, monthly payment amount, and payment day.
Notifications and contact preferences
In the Notifications section, you can view copies of select IRS notices that have been sent to you by mail. This is especially helpful if you believe that you have misplaced letters that you may have received from the IRS in the past. You can also update your IRS communication preferences to receive certain types of notices and updates via email. For example, you could choose to receive a monthly payment reminder email if you are currently on a payment plan.
If you are having trouble understanding the information on an IRS notice, you can call the phone number listed on the notice, view the Frequently Asked Questions linked to the notice in your taxpayer account, and/or get help from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC).
Records and transcripts
In the Records section, you can view important data about your most recently filed tax return, information about Economic Impact Payments (e.g. “stimulus” payments) that were sent to you in 2020 and/or 2021, and information about any Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments you qualified for in 2021. You can also get online transcripts of any tax returns previously filed or wage and income information submitted to the IRS from your employer(s)/payer(s). This information can be used to prepare or amend your 2020 or 2021 tax returns to ensure that you receive all the credits for which you qualify.
Personal information
Your account Profile, located via the link in the top right corner of the homepage, shows your current contact information on file with the IRS and steps for how to update it.
Note: Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) requests cannot currently be processed through the taxpayer account portal. Instead visit https://www.irs.gov/get-an-ippin to request a new IP PIN or retrieve your currently assigned number.
How to get help accessing your IRS account
If you need help accessing your IRS taxpayer account, Arkansas Asset Builders can help! Call 501-503-2123 or email taxes@arkansasassetbuilders.org to request a free appointment with one of our friendly staff or volunteers. We can help you find the information in your taxpayer account needed to determine next steps in resolving your tax problems.
