IRS won’t require facial recognition tool to access parts of website, agency says
Update: On Feb. 7, the IRS said it is moving away from using a facial recognition tool for online users. The change reportedly will happen over the next few weeks so it won’t cause major impacts for people filing taxes.
“The IRS takes taxpayer privacy and security seriously, and we understand the concerns that have been raised,” IRS commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a news release. “Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition.”
Original story: If you want to access parts of the IRS website, you will soon have to take a selfie.
Beginning this summer, the tax agency is requiring people who want to log into their accounts to submit selfies and photos of their identification documents. It’s part of a program designed for identity protection, the IRS said in a news release.
Though the change was announced late 2021, the topic has recently gained attention as tax season starts in the United States.
The new logins will be used to access parts of the IRS website that show information on topics including child tax credit updates, tax return transcripts and online payment agreements.
The program is offered through a partnership with ID.me, a technology company. It uses facial recognition software to compare the selfies with photos in government documents, news outlets reported.
“The IRS emphasizes taxpayers can pay or file their taxes without submitting a selfie or other information to a third-party identity verification company,” the agency told CNBC in a statement. “Tax payments can be made from a bank account, by credit card or by other means without the use of facial recognition technology or registering for an account.”
Legal experts told CNN Business and other news outlets the involvement of a private entity could raise concerns.
“You go from a government agency, that at least has some obligation under the Privacy Act and other laws, to a third party, where [there’s a] lack of transparency and understanding, and the potential risks go up,” Jeramie D. Scott, senior counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told The Washington Post.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have been considering alternatives “amid scrutiny” of the program, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 28.
The tax agency, which had called ID.me “a trusted technology provider,” said the new process aims to ensure sensitive tax information is “as secure as possible.”
“To help taxpayers and the tax community, we are improving the accessibility of online tools that help families manage their Child Tax Credit, check on their IRS accounts and securely perform other routine tasks online,” Chuck Rettig, IRS commissioner, said in the news release.
To use the program, the government said users will have to submit a picture of a driver’s license, passport or another form of identification. They will also have to take “video selfies” from a smartphone or computer webcam.
Officials have encouraged people to start the verification process as soon as possible.
If you’re ready, visit the login page of the IRS website and choose “create an account with ID.me,” officials said. The company lists additional steps here.
When reached for comment, an ID.me spokesperson directed McClatchy News to a blog post about identity fraud. The Treasury Department didn’t immediately share additional information with McClatchy News on Jan. 28.
This story was originally published January 28, 2022 at 2:47 PM with the headline "IRS won’t require facial recognition tool to access parts of website, agency says."
