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So how would that work if the IRS requires ID verification for my taxes and I live on the other side of the world, usually visiting the US every 2-3 years?

toomuchtodo 3y ago
Remote identity proofing, either automated to confirm liveness or with a video call. Takes about 3-5 minutes in my experience. https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/8214940302999-Internal-Revenue-Service-and-ID-me https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/8214940302999-Internal-... You bring up an interesting edge case though. I will reach out to my State Dept folks to ask about supporting Login.gov identity proofing IRL at embassies and consulates for expats.
kylehotchkiss 3y ago
Embassies are supposed to be helpful for this matter. I spent a few years abroad and needed to file ITIN paperwork for spouse and we went in together to get a certified photocopy of their passport for about $50. The IRS accepted this as binding as an American document. That said, the IRS doesn't really want you on their sites if you don't have a US address. I struggled to get transcripts on the site (but they allow you to submit written requests for them). This is a reasonable thing for the IRS to implement given the significant interest in fraud from their systems from people overseas.
- taway_6PplYu5 3y ago
  >the IRS doesn't really want you on their sites if you don't have a US address. ... This is a reasonable thing for the IRS to implement given the significant interest in fraud from their systems from people overseas. Except that US tax law also requires that all US persons, worldwide, to file US tax returns (note: this is a superset of US citizens). So if the law applies to expats and to anyone who has ever applied for a green card even if denied or not used or not revoked, then the system needs to support worldwide access.
  - kylehotchkiss 3y ago
    For returns, you can send in a paper copy. That happens to serve as nice proof that you aren’t a resident of specific state for tax purposes
- jkaplowitz 3y ago
  The current IRS online account system with ID.me does allow signing up with foreign addresses, and then you can download transcripts there. Your struggles were probably with the previous system, which only allowed creating an account with a US address. It did however allow placing an online request without an account for a transcript to be mailed to a foreign address. I did this successfully myself and received the mail in Canada.

toomuchtodo 3y ago

Remote identity proofing, either automated to confirm liveness or with a video call. Takes about 3-5 minutes in my experience. https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/8214940302999-Internal-Revenue-Service-and-ID-me https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/8214940302999-Internal-... You bring up an interesting edge case though. I will reach out to my State Dept folks to ask about supporting Login.gov identity proofing IRL at embassies and consulates for expats.

kylehotchkiss 3y ago

Embassies are supposed to be helpful for this matter. I spent a few years abroad and needed to file ITIN paperwork for spouse and we went in together to get a certified photocopy of their passport for about $50. The IRS accepted this as binding as an American document. That said, the IRS doesn't really want you on their sites if you don't have a US address. I struggled to get transcripts on the site (but they allow you to submit written requests for them). This is a reasonable thing for the IRS to implement given the significant interest in fraud from their systems from people overseas.

taway_6PplYu5 3y ago
>the IRS doesn't really want you on their sites if you don't have a US address. ... This is a reasonable thing for the IRS to implement given the significant interest in fraud from their systems from people overseas. Except that US tax law also requires that all US persons, worldwide, to file US tax returns (note: this is a superset of US citizens). So if the law applies to expats and to anyone who has ever applied for a green card even if denied or not used or not revoked, then the system needs to support worldwide access.
- kylehotchkiss 3y ago
  For returns, you can send in a paper copy. That happens to serve as nice proof that you aren’t a resident of specific state for tax purposes
jkaplowitz 3y ago
The current IRS online account system with ID.me does allow signing up with foreign addresses, and then you can download transcripts there. Your struggles were probably with the previous system, which only allowed creating an account with a US address. It did however allow placing an online request without an account for a transcript to be mailed to a foreign address. I did this successfully myself and received the mail in Canada.