Accessibility and compatibility features for signing in and creating an account

Contents

• About this Guide
• Application Overview
  • Create a Login.gov Account
  • Create an ID.me Account
  • ID.me Self-Service Identity Verification
  • ID.me Trusted Referee
• Information about Specific Technologies, Issues, and Guidance
  • Desktop Screen Readers
    • JAWS
  • Screen Magnifiers
    • ZoomText
  • Speech Recognition Software
    • Dragon NaturallySpeaking

About this guide

This guide is intended to assist individuals with disabilities in their use of signing in or creating an account. The guide will provide direction in accessing the features available in online account using specific technologies, including screen readers, screen magnifiers and voice command systems.

Application overview

When you access online services, we provide this registration and login system so that no one else can access your IRS online account. This also lets you access many tax tools with the same login information.

Create a Login.gov account

If you are creating a new Login.gov account, you’ll be asked to verify your email address, create a password, and secure your account with a secondary authentication method.

Create an ID.me account

If you are creating a new ID.me account, you’ll be asked to verify your email address, create a password, and secure your account. If the IRS service you are accessing requires identity verification, you will then be presented with an option to choose how you want to verify your identity, by either a self-service process or a “video chat agent” process.

ID.me self-service identity verification

To verify your identity with ID.me’s self-service process, you'll need to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. You'll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a computer with a webcam. If you need help verifying your identity or to submit a support ticket, you can visit the ID.me IRS Help Site. If you need further registration assistance, a support request can be submitted on the help site by selecting “Contact Us” link. Fill out the form as instructed on the page to submit a support request.

ID.me Trusted Referee (video chat agent)

If you have multiple identity verification failures via self-service identity verification, ID.me may send you to a “Trusted Referee” process where you can upload alternative identity documentation and then talk to an ID.me Trusted Referee via a video call.  This is also referred to as a “Video Chat Agent” process. You are also able to select the “Video Chat Agent” process before you begin verifying your identity, bypassing the self-service identity verification process. Video calls are offered in American Sign Language if requested.

Information about Specific Technologies, Issues and Guidance

Desktop screen readers

JAWS

Sign in with an existing IRS username:

• Currently, people with an existing IRS username can continue to sign in with their username and password. You may review the accessibility and compatibility features for Secure Access page for accessibility assistance with that sign-in option.

Login.gov Create Account & Sign In:

• JAWS users who use SHIFT+TAB to navigate backwards into radio button controls will lose visual focus on their selection while inside the control.

Screen Magnifiers

ZoomText (ZT)

• There are no known issues at this time with ZoomText

Speech recognition software

Dragon Naturally Speaking (DNS)

• There are no known issues at this time with Dragon NaturallySpeaking