• laverabe@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I’m 100% for a simple IRS tax return but what the heck is with this?

    To use Direct File, you need an IRS account with ID.me.

    To get an ID.me account, you need to:

    Take a video of your face

    If you can’t or don’t want to take a video of your face, you can have a video call with an ID.me agent who will confirm that your face matches your identification.

    Is that really necessary???

    • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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      11 months ago

      It’s the same as going to a bank and letting the teller look at your face. It’s to prevent someone from stealing your identity using a picture of your ID.

      How can they verify the ID is real without physically seeing it? They look up the info but still need to verify that you are the person on the ID.

      • Socsa@sh.itjust.works
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        11 months ago

        Ok but how come H&R Block doesn’t need to do this? I just give them my IRS PIN and the AGI from last year’s return. The picture shit feels like a poison pill

    • Reddfugee42@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Stupid fraud prevention ugh!

      Listen folks, if you have a driver license, they already have your face, so settle down.

      • laverabe@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        countries with no national ID cards and no plans for one: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK. 1

        And they do taxes just fine without a Harry Potter like gif of every tax payer.

        Privacy reasons aside, TurboTax doesn’t require a video clip to file your taxes so this is only raising the technical barrier against the widespread adoption of a simple tax system.