Most tax issues don’t come from doing something wrong. They come from not having visibility.
A missed notice. An unknown balance. A refund you assumed was on the way. When information lives behind a wall, small things have a way of turning into bigger ones.
That’s why we recommend setting up an IRS Online Account. It gives you direct access to your federal tax information, straight from the source.
What is an IRS Online Account
An IRS Online Account is a secure portal provided by the Internal Revenue Service. It allows you to view and manage your federal tax information in one place.
With an active account, you can:
- View balances, payments, and refunds
- Access tax transcripts and prior-year data
- Review IRS notices and correspondence digitally
- Monitor activity on your account throughout the year
It’s accessible from any device through a web browser, and it’s managed entirely by the IRS.
Why we recommend activating it
When questions come up, speed matters.
Having an IRS Online Account gives you immediate visibility into your tax situation, without waiting on mailed notices or phone calls.
It helps:
- Confirm balances, payments, and refunds quickly
- Reduce delays when IRS details are needed for tax preparation
- Review notices as soon as they’re issued
- Keep important tax information available when decisions need to be made
It’s not about checking it constantly. It’s about having access when it counts.
What you can do inside your account
Once you’re logged in, you can:
- View current tax balances and payment history
- Make payments or review scheduled payments
- Check refund status once processed
- Access tax transcripts and historical data
- View digital IRS notices and correspondence
- Set up or manage payment plans, if eligible
- Review select tax return information, such as prior-year AGI
- Approve authorization requests from your tax preparer
This is often the fastest way to answer IRS-related questions.
How to sign up or log in
Creating an account takes a few steps, and identity verification is required.
Here’s how it works:
- Go to IRS.gov and select Sign in to your Online Account
- Choose Create an account if you’re a first-time user, or sign in if you already have one
- Complete identity verification using the IRS’s secure login services (ID.me or Login.gov)
- Follow the verification steps, which may include email confirmation, multi-factor authentication, and identity validation
- Once verified, access your IRS Online Account dashboard
Verification may require a government-issued photo ID and additional confirmation steps. This process is in place to protect your personal information.
A note on security and access
A few important things to know:
- The IRS Online Account is managed entirely by the IRS
- Login credentials and identity verification are controlled by the IRS, not Nimbl
- Only you should access your IRS Online Account
- Access is not available for individuals under 18
If you’ve previously created an ID.me or Login.gov account, you may be able to reuse it.
How this fits with our process
Your IRS Online Account does not replace Intuit Link. Each platform serves a different purpose.
- Intuit Link is how we securely collect documents and information to prepare your return
- IRS Online Account gives you direct visibility into what the IRS has on file
When both are in place, issues are easier to spot and easier to resolve.
Final thoughts
We recommend activating your IRS Online Account as early as possible, even if everything feels quiet right now.
Having access in advance means fewer surprises, faster answers, and better decisions when something does come up.
If you have questions about setting up your account or how it fits into your tax work with us, our team is here to help.
