Create Online Tax Accounts Now!

by Kassandra Cristobal

As we kick off the start of tax season for the calendar year 2021, we encourage ALL taxpayers to create or update their online accounts with the IRS and relevant state tax agencies. With online accounts, taxpayers gain access to important tax information including balances due, payments made, tax records, and more.

In many cases, you can locate or request relevant information via your online account which will minimize or eliminate the need to sit on hold with tax agencies. Plus, account creation takes just a few minutes!

The following and more can be done online via your account pages:

Both IRS and FTB:

• View account balance, including taxes due from prior year returns
• Make electronic payments and create payment plans
• View tax payment history, including past estimated tax payments
• View Notices and Letters of correspondence
• View and authorize Power of Attorney (POA) for outside parties

IRS:

• View tax records relating to advance payments of the Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments (EIPs)

FTB:

• View past copies of your California tax returns
• Send a secure message to an FTB representative with questions regarding your account
• Authorize Full Online Account Access for your tax professional representative(s)
• View tax payment history, including the new Pass-Through Entity (PTE) Elective Tax payment

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Federal IRS

Log-In Page: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

The IRS has partnered with ID.me, an IRS-trusted technology provider, to provide identity verification for IRS applications. Individual taxpayers and tax professionals are required to verify with ID.me for a secure login.

Please note, existing IRS username and passwords will no longer work as of Summer 2022. As such, we suggest creating an ID.me account and completing the identity verification process now.

How to sign-up:

Select “Sign in to your Online Account” and either create a new account or sign-in using a previous login.

If you have an existing ID.me account from a state government or federal agency, you can sign-in without verifying your identity again. If you’re a new user, you’ll have to create a new ID.me account.

To create your account, you will need:

• A valid email address.
• Your birthdate.
• Your Social Security Number (SSN).
• Your current mailing address.
• Your mobile phone number (must be a smart phone with internet and texting capabilities)
• Your ID (driver’s license, passport, or state ID)

Tips for creating your ID.me account:

• Make sure you have access to a computer, your smartphone, and your email. You’ll be asked to go between all 3 in order to verify your identity.
• You’ll need to use your smartphone to take a photo of your ID.
• You’ll need to use your smartphone or your computer’s webcam to take a computer-generated selfie photo.

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California FTB

Log-In Page: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/myftb/index.asp

Step-by-step Instructions: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/myftb/help/how-to-guides/individuals/register.pdf

How to sign-up:

You must have a recent California tax return on file in order to register for a MyFTB Individual account. If you filed a joint tax return, you must each register for a separate MyFTB Individual account.

To create your account, you will need:

• A valid email address.
• Your Social Security Number (SSN).
• Your current mailing address.
  • Important! If you moved since you filed your last tax return, call the FTB to update your mailing address before you register for a MyFTB account, (800) 852-5711.
• Information from a filed California tax return for one of the last five tax years.

After you create your account, you will receive a letter in the mail containing a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN will be mailed via the United States Postal Service within 3 to 5 business days. Please allow 10 business days to receive the PIN. You have 21 days from the date you register to enter your PIN to activate your account.

This is a one-time use PIN is used to activate your MyFTB account. You will not need it again to login. You will need to enter this PIN online in order to activate and gain access to your account.