IRS Will Soon Require Selfies for Online Access

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

4 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Fascinating -- try it:

https://haveibeenpwned.com

 

So you want to further agitate the audience? We're on edge already.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

All we need is a propeller for some agit-prop.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

3 hours ago, yuna628 said:

I would imagine that the ACLU might potentially be interested in taking up such a case.

Breaking news: ACLU just posted on their social media about this -focusing on facial recognition-. Hopefully they are already working on a lawsuit.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

ACLU is usually worthless, but not always.

[seekingthetruth 1,246]

10 hours ago, PGA said:

OK...so out of curiosity, I uploaded my info...I'll probably regret that later.... So, it had me upload my full social security card, my US drivers license (front and back) and my birth certificate (front and back). ....The system couldn't ID me so now I have been waiting several hours to do a "video verification." Problem is ....the system told me 2 hours, 36 minutes....went to 1 hour, 52 minutes, then up to 3 hours, 54 minutes....now I am at 1 hour; 59 minutes....

That's crazy!

 

I guess anyone living overseas will be out of luck.  IRS would not give you online access if your filed with a foreign address.  So for 2020 I changed to my U.S. mailbox address and I was then able to open an account.  They send the security code via snail mail to your U.S. address.

 

Also, my U.S. phone is a Google voice number, so I guess I am screwed there.  What this stupid plan will do is cause many, like me, to opt out of e-communications.  Go back to the trusty snail mail.  I just got my IP PIN in my IRS mailbox.  Now I will have to opt out and have it sent snail mail next year.

 

So many things wrong with this.  Letter writing campaign is needed.  When IRS first started 2FA, they required everyone to have a mobile phone.  That didn't work out so they changed to have an e-mail option.  Still difficult for many seniors.  Now this?

[Dashinka 24,494]

10 hours ago, seekingthetruth said:

That's crazy!

 

I guess anyone living overseas will be out of luck.  IRS would not give you online access if your filed with a foreign address.  So for 2020 I changed to my U.S. mailbox address and I was then able to open an account.  They send the security code via snail mail to your U.S. address.

 

Also, my U.S. phone is a Google voice number, so I guess I am screwed there.  What this stupid plan will do is cause many, like me, to opt out of e-communications.  Go back to the trusty snail mail.  I just got my IP PIN in my IRS mailbox.  Now I will have to opt out and have it sent snail mail next year.

 

So many things wrong with this.  Letter writing campaign is needed.  When IRS first started 2FA, they required everyone to have a mobile phone.  That didn't work out so they changed to have an e-mail option.  Still difficult for many seniors.  Now this?

Pretty soon the IRS/Feds will require everyone to have a recording device in their homes so they can monitor us every minute.  Maybe they will call it Alexa.

Edited January 22, 2022 by Dashinka

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

Between this and the IRS having access to all our financial transactions, with the ability to potentially tax personal sending of monies... it's gonna be a game changer.

Who voted for this administration?

[yuna628 9,676]

The problem seems to be that ID.me (it used to be called something else) started winning contracts many many years ago with the VA? Then they started winning more contracts for other government entities. 27 states now use them for benefits and it has caused major problems. This isn't just something with this administration (though they should not even consider using them either), it's been coming down the pipeline all in the name of fraud reduction.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

2 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

The problem seems to be that ID.me (it used to be called something else) started winning contracts many many years ago with the VA? Then they started winning more contracts for other government entities. 27 states now use them for benefits and it has caused major problems. This isn't just something with this administration (though they should not even consider using them either), it's been coming down the pipeline all in the name of fraud reduction.

Read the same, but it started as a marketing company offering deals/discounts to veterans -the founder/CEO is a vet himself from what I've read-.

Someone must have seen the potential of this thing and decided to invest and expand, completely oblivious -obviously- of the huge risks of handling sensitive information.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Maybe they will call it Alexa.

You can't be Siri-ous.

-----

This story was tops on the radio news that I heard today (Fox?).

Edited January 23, 2022 by TBoneTX

[LIBrty4all 3,749]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ID.me

[TBoneTX 45,288]

1 minute ago, LIBrty4all said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ID.me

Those disclaimers atop the Wiki article are really reassuring.

[Dashinka 24,494]

15 hours ago, yuna628 said:

The problem seems to be that ID.me (it used to be called something else) started winning contracts many many years ago with the VA? Then they started winning more contracts for other government entities. 27 states now use them for benefits and it has caused major problems. This isn't just something with this administration (though they should not even consider using them either), it's been coming down the pipeline all in the name of fraud reduction.

I agree, it is not an administrative level decision, but rather a swamp dwelling upper level bureaucrat making these decisions.  That being said, there should always be an out, not everyone has a smart phone or access to a computer, etc., etc., etc.

 

Increases in technology can be a good thing, but it comes with issues as well.  Just recently read a story about a teenager hacking Tesla’s.  I was discussing this with my cousin who works in IT in the auto industry, his response, ‘all vehicles today are hackable’.

 

https://interestingengineering.com/teenager-finds-a-vulnerability-that-lets-him-hack-dozens-of-tesla-cars

 

 

[milimelo 4,477]

I used to have IRS regular account but when I attempted to download that child tax credit letter I had to go that ID process. Took several tries before I was verified and the creepiest was the camera “selfie” in green/blue/red tones. I get the we want to verify you so you can get your tax transcripts, IRS accounts so cheats overseas aren’t getting tax refunds but it’s a bit much. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

7 hours ago, Dashinka said:

I agree, it is not an administrative level decision, but rather a swamp dwelling upper level bureaucrat making these decisions.  That being said, there should always be an out, not everyone has a smart phone or access to a computer, etc., etc., etc.

 

Increases in technology can be a good thing, but it comes with issues as well.  Just recently read a story about a teenager hacking Tesla’s.  I was discussing this with my cousin who works in IT in the auto industry, his response, ‘all vehicles today are hackable’.

 

https://interestingengineering.com/teenager-finds-a-vulnerability-that-lets-him-hack-dozens-of-tesla-cars

 

 

Thing is "technology" has made it easier for manufacturers to make products obsolete without changing a whole production line -layout, machinery, materials, etc.- So there's high profits with little to no expense. It's a way to force everyone into buying "more advanced" things and keep the monies moving in the name of "progress".

 

In the case of IDme, they're profiting in more ways than one.