IRS Has Rolled Out Identity Proofing for FOIA Requests
By Lauren Loricchio, Tax Notes, Oct. 2, 2023
The IRS has quietly rolled out identity proofing for Freedom of Information Act requests submitted through its online portal, a development that some transparency advocates find concerning.
The agency’s FOIA public access portal now says it is using a “sign on system that requires identity verification.” According to the site, users with accounts set up before June 26, 2023, will have to register or sign in through ID.me, a third-party contractor that provides verification services for the IRS and other government agencies.
Requesters can choose a self-serve ID-proofing option that requires a government-issued ID and selfie or may opt for a video call with an ID.me representative, which doesn’t require the submission of biometric data.
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