The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is encouraging all taxpayers to create an agency Individual Online Account to securely access tax information and reduce the risk of identity theft ahead of the 2026 filing deadline, which is April 15, 2026, for most taxpayers.
The IRS Individual Online Account
The IRS said, in its official press release, that its Individual Online Account offers taxpayers bank-style convenience and security, which should provide secure access and protection against identity theft.
It said that an “IRS Online Account for individuals is a tool that makes it easier for you to manage your personal federal taxes. Save time by going online instead of calling and waiting on the phone.”
Taxpayers with an online account can use it to view adjusted gross income, request and access an Identity Protection PIN, check refund and amended‑return status, retrieve wage and income records, approve power of attorney and tax information authorizations, manage language preferences, receive and view digital notices, make and cancel payments, set up or modify payment plans, and check their balances.
The IRS expensed the Individual Online Account in early 2025 to allow taxpayers to view and download key information return documents, including:
- Form W‑2
- Form 1095‑A
- Form 1099‑NEC
- Form 1099‑DIV
- Form 1099‑INT
- Form 1099‑MISC
These documents are available for tax years 2023, 2024, and 2025 and appear under the “Records and Status” tab in the online account. This should help taxpayers assemble accurate filings.
The 2026 tax season opened January 26, and the deadline to file federal returns and pay taxes due is April 15 for most taxpayers. People are encouraged to open an Individual Online Account as soon as possible to make the process of filing their returns quicker and smoother.
How To Set Up an IRS Individual Online Account
The IRS says that taxpayers can open an account through the IRS.gov/account link by clicking “Sign in to your online account.”
Users will then be required to submit an approved source of identity to access ID.me, which is a third-party identity verification platform, so that the IRS can verify and protect the users’ identity and data. This might require completing a call with an ID.me video chat agent, CNBC says.
According to reporting from CNBC, Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, said that opening an Individual Online account can be “relatively cumbersome. But once that thing is set up, it’s done. You have a little bit of pain for long-term gain.”
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