What ID.me does for your Idaho tax refund

ID.me is an identity verification service that Idaho uses to confirm you are who you say you are before releasing your tax refund. You do not file your tax return through ID.me — you file it with the Idaho State Tax Commission the way you normally would. ID.me enters the picture only if the Tax Commission asks you to verify your identity before they send your refund to you.

The Tax Commission may ask for ID.me verification if your return looks unusual to them, if you are filing from a new address, if your refund is larger than expected, or if they are working through a backlog of returns that need identity checks. When they do, they will send you a notice telling you to complete verification through ID.me before your refund can be processed.

The verification itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes and happens entirely online. You will need a government-issued photo ID, a Social Security number, and a way to prove your current address. Once you complete it, the Tax Commission receives confirmation that you are legitimate, and your refund moves forward.

Key Takeaways

  • The Idaho State Tax Commission will send you a notice if they need you to verify your identity through ID.me before releasing your refund.
  • You will need a valid government photo ID, your Social Security number, and proof of your current address to complete verification.
  • The verification process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and happens on the ID.me website, not through the Tax Commission directly.
  • After you complete ID.me verification, the Tax Commission receives confirmation and processes your refund, though the refund itself may take several more business days to reach your bank account.

What you need before you start

Gather these items before you open the ID.me verification page. Having them ready means you will not have to stop partway through and come back later.

You will need a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. The ID must be current or expired no more than five years ago. You will take a photo of the front and back of the ID with your phone or computer camera, so make sure the text and photo are clear and readable.

You will also need your Social Security number and proof of your current address. Proof of address can be a utility bill, a lease or mortgage statement, a bank statement, an insurance policy, or a government letter addressed to you at your current home. The document must show your name and address and be dated within the last 60 days. A photo of the document taken with your phone works fine.

How to start the ID.me verification process

The Idaho State Tax Commission will send you a notice by mail or email telling you that you need to verify your identity. The notice will include a link to ID.me or instructions on how to find it. You can also go directly to the ID.me website and search for "Idaho tax refund" to find the Tax Commission's verification page.

Click the link or button that says something like "Verify your identity" or "Complete your verification." You will be taken to the ID.me website. If you do not already have an ID.me account, you will create one using an email address and password. If you already have an account from verifying your identity with another government agency, you can log in with those credentials.

After you log in, ID.me will ask you to confirm your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Make sure the information matches exactly what is on your tax return and your government ID. If there are any differences — for example, a middle initial you did not include on your return — correct them now or the verification may fail.

Taking photos of your ID and address proof

ID.me will ask you to take a photo of the front of your government ID, then the back. Use your phone camera or computer camera. Make sure the entire ID is visible in the frame, the text is sharp and readable, and the lighting is good enough that you can see the security features on the card.

If your first photo is blurry or cut off, ID.me will ask you to take another one. You can retake photos as many times as you need. Once ID.me accepts your ID photos, it will ask for proof of your current address. Take a clear photo of the document showing your name and address. The document must be dated within the last 60 days, so make sure the date is visible in your photo.

After you upload your address proof, ID.me may ask you a few security questions based on information in public records — things like "Which of these addresses have you lived at?" or "Which of these is your phone number?" Answer these questions accurately. They are designed to confirm that you are the person named on your ID and tax return.

What happens after you submit your verification

Once you finish the ID.me process, you will see a confirmation message on the screen. ID.me sends the verification result to the Idaho State Tax Commission within a few minutes. You should also receive a confirmation email from ID.me.

The Tax Commission will then review the verification result. If everything matches and your identity is confirmed, your refund will move to the next stage of processing. The refund itself — the actual money — typically takes 3 to 5 business days to reach your bank account after the Tax Commission approves it, though this can vary depending on your bank.

If ID.me cannot verify your identity — for example, if your ID is expired by more than five years or if the information does not match — you will receive a notice from the Tax Commission explaining what went wrong. The notice will tell you how to fix the problem and resubmit your verification.

If your verification is rejected

If ID.me rejects your verification, the most common reasons are that your ID is too old, the photos were too blurry to read, or the information on your ID does not match what you entered. Read the rejection notice carefully — it will tell you which step failed.

You can try the verification again. Make sure your ID is current or expired no more than five years ago. If your ID is older than that, you will need to renew it with the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles or the appropriate agency for your ID type before you can complete verification.

If your address proof was rejected, make sure the document is dated within the last 60 days and shows both your name and your current address clearly. If you do not have a document that meets these requirements, you can use a different type of proof — for example, if your utility bill is too old, try a recent bank statement or lease agreement instead.

If you have tried multiple times and verification keeps failing, contact the Idaho State Tax Commission directly. Their phone number is on the rejection notice and on the Tax Commission website. They can tell you whether there is a mismatch between your return and your ID that needs to be corrected, or whether you need to mail in physical copies of your documents instead of using ID.me.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ID.me verification take?

The verification itself takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. ID.me sends the result to the Tax Commission within a few minutes after you finish. The Tax Commission then reviews it, which can take a few business days. Your refund does not start moving until after the Tax Commission approves the verification.

Can I verify my identity without using ID.me?

If you cannot or do not want to use ID.me, you can mail physical copies of your ID and address proof to the Idaho State Tax Commission. The address is on the notice they sent you. Mailing takes longer — typically two to three weeks — but it is an option if you do not have a camera or internet access to complete online verification.

What if my name on my ID does not match my tax return?

If your name is different — for example, you got married or divorced after filing — contact the Tax Commission before you try ID.me verification. They may need you to file an amended return or provide a legal document showing the name change. Trying to verify with mismatched names will cause the verification to fail.

Is ID.me safe? Will my information be shared?

ID.me is a third-party service that the Idaho State Tax Commission uses specifically for identity verification. Your information is encrypted and used only to confirm your identity. ID.me does not share your data with other agencies or companies without your consent, and the Tax Commission receives only a yes-or-no confirmation that you are who you say you are.

What if I do not receive the notice to verify my identity?

Check your email spam folder — the notice may have been filtered there. You can also log into your account on the Idaho State Tax Commission website and check your messages there. If you still do not see a notice after a week, contact the Tax Commission directly. They can tell you whether your return requires verification and send you the notice again.