[NFB-DB] Fwd: IRS ID.me Verification

Wed Feb 9 20:22:07 UTC 2022

Hi Frank, Stuart here.

They claim to be "reconsidering" the use but stated it will not change for
this tax season and it is not gone yet as I just checked today.
Furthermore, the IRS stated they are still going to be implementing new
verification for next tax season, so we need to strongly advocate for
inclusive methods of verification to be used that don't involve photo/video
so they don't implement it unfavorably for next tax season. This is based
on the IRS latest release on this as of Monday.

EOM

On Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 2:21 PM Frank Skogsberg via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> If you guys are inquiring about video identity from IRS I have received
> messages from other sources that IRS took the video verification site part
> down due to complaint so you may check later
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 8, 2022, at 2:39 PM, maurice mines via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> 
> Hi I am  posting this  with permission.
>
> Maurice Mines, Board Member
> National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division
> Email: board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org> <
> mailto:board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org>>
> Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org <http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org>
> Live the life you want.
> The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division
> of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and
> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every
> day
> we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *"Yingling, Valerie" <Vyingling at nfb.org>
> *Subject: **RE: [NFB-DB] IRS ID.me <http://ID.me> Verification*
> *Date: *February 8, 2022 at 1:28:26 PM PST
> *To: *maurice mines <maurice at maurice-amines.com>
>
> Can you post this to the listserv instead?
>
> In December, the National Federation of the Blind’s legal program alerted
> IRS counsel to our concerns about the accessibility of IRS ID.me
> <http://id.me/>, and we have requested to speak with someone within IRS
> about the accessibility of various features. We hope to speak with someone
> soon.
>
>
>
> Valerie Yingling
> Legal Program Coordinator
> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
> 410-659-9314, extension 2440| vyingling at nfb.org
>
> [image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>
>
>                          [image: Facebook]
> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
> <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
> <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
> This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the
> intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information. Any
> unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of this information is
> prohibited. If this was sent to you in error, please notify the sender by
> reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
>
> This message is not intended or offered as legal advice. Transmission of
> the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute,
> a lawyer-client relationship between the author(s) and you or any other
> recipient.
>
>
>
> *From:* maurice mines <maurice at maurice-amines.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 8, 2022 4:10 PM
> *To:* Yingling, Valerie <Vyingling at nfb.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-DB] IRS ID.me <http://id.me/> Verification
>
> Is this  reply ok to post  on the  Deafblind list?
>
>
> On Feb 8, 2022, at 12:50 PM, Yingling, Valerie <Vyingling at nfb.org> wrote:
>
> Maurice,
>
> Thank you for your email. In December, the National Federation of the
> Blind alerted IRS counsel to our concerns about the accessibility of IRS
> ID.me <http://id.me/>, and we have requested to speak with someone within
> IRS about the accessibility of various features. I hope to have more
> information to share in the near future.
>
> Sincerely,
> Valerie
>
> Valerie Yingling
> Legal Program Coordinator
> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
> 410-659-9314, extension 2440| vyingling at nfb.org
>
> [image: Image removed by sender. National Federation of the Blind]
> <https://nfb.org/>
>
>                          [image: Image removed by sender. Facebook]
> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Image
> removed by sender. Twitter] <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image:
> Image removed by sender. Youtube] <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
> This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the
> intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential information. Any
> unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of this information is
> prohibited. If this was sent to you in error, please notify the sender by
> reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
>
> This message is not intended or offered as legal advice. Transmission of
> the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute,
> a lawyer-client relationship between the author(s) and you or any other
> recipient.
>
>
>
> *From:* maurice mines <maurice at maurice-amines.com>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 8, 2022 3:31 PM
> *To:* Yingling, Valerie <Vyingling at nfb.org>
> *Subject:* Fwd: [NFB-DB] IRS ID.me <http://id.me/> Verification
>
> Hi can  you look into  this  for  this person?
>
>
> Maurice Mines, Board Member
> National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division
> Email: board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org> <
> mailto:board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org>>
> Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org <http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org>
> Live the life you want.
> The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division
> of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and
> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every
> day
> we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> *Subject: Re: [NFB-DB] IRS ID.me <http://id.me/> Verification*
> *Date: *February 8, 2022 at 11:03:31 AM PST
> *To: *NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc: *Stuart Salvador <stuartsalvador at gmail.com>
> *Reply-To: *NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>
> Hi Maurice, Stuart here.
>
> This verification requirement is a complete block to anyone Blind
> without sighted assistance to access the following information from
> the IRS:
>
>
> https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-online-identity-verification-process-for-accessing-irs-self-help-tools
>
> However, I learned that yesterday the IRS said so many people
> complained that they are "reconsidering" how this will be implemented
> now. While for now it has still not been taken down and I still can't
> access this, that means we have an additional window to advocate for
> this to
> be changed for the next tax season if advocacy gets on-board to stop
> it in the future. Since this affects all U.S. taxpayers and everyone
> needs to file taxes, I can't imagine there is a higher level of impact
> from any single private company issue by comparison.
>
> EOM
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 8, 2022 at 12:17 PM maurice mines via NFB-DB
> <nfb-db at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> good morning, if you're talking about the verification that Apple Inc.,
> nothing to do with the national Federation of the blind. Sends out when
> you request technical support from Apple. That verification comes up as
> a box on all of your Apple devices that are signed into your Apple ID.
> However you should know you do have first right of refusal meaning you
> don't have to use it. However if you don't use it then you will need to
> provide your product serial number and/or registration number to get
> technical support. If this is some other verification those
> verifications generally come from say for instance your financial
> institution. In that case I would suggest getting in contact with your
> financial institution and mentioning the fact that you are deaf blind.
> I've done both of these things. And for the most part they seem to work
> people seem to get it. This is why this year one of the national
> Federation of the blind legislative priorities if the 21st-century web
> accessibility proposal. Those of you that are involved in Washington
> seminar activities might wish to talk with whoever is doing legislative
> appointments in your state about this. However you should know that for
> the most part I personally have not had a big issue with the
> verifications except for with my financial institution. In that case I
> constantly remind the financial institution ideal with, about the
> accessibility barrier that exists.
>
>
> When contacting any of these entities about these verification messages,
> always be polite. I think outfits get turned off quickest if you're mad
> and upset. Another suggestion is to find out who within a certain
> company handles accessibility issues regarding their products and/or
> their customer service offerings.
>
>
> If this is extreme, then yes you might wish to contact the legal team at
> the national office. But I would only do this if this is an extreme
> access barrier. I hope that my comments, and advice on this issue are
> helpful. I am just building on what Robert Stargell said over the weekend.
>
>
> Please note that I am dictating this to the computer via dictation
> software. There may in fact be some minor errors in the written text
> above. If there's something that is written above that you truly don't
> understand, please reach out to me and asked me what my original intent
> was? I look forward to clearing up any misunderstandings that may have
> arisen based on the above written text. Thank you very much for reading
> this.
>
>
>
> Maurice Mines, Board Member
> National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division
> Email: board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <mailto:board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org
> <board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org>>
> Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org <http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org>
> Live the life you want.
> The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division
> of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and
> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every
> day
> we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
> On 2/8/2022 7:37 AM, Leisa Gary via NFB-DB wrote:
>
>
> . Obviously this is a new access barrier for the IRS. Does anyone know the
> email address and or phone number in order to present access issues to the
> NFB at the national level? Is it something like access at nfb.org?
>
> Thank you,Hello,
>
> If this is the case, it is new since I left the service. Obviously this is
> a new access barrier for the IRS. Does anyone know the email address and or
> phone number in order to present access issues to the NFB at the national
> level? Is it something like access at nfb.org?
>
> Thank you
>
>
>
> Leisa Sekhon
>
>
>
> On Feb 6, 2022, at 6:05 PM, Robert stigile via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hi
> They are using id meet to verify your identity and the only way to get
> through it is to have someone sighted to assist
>
> Robert Stigile, Second Vice-President
> National Federation of the Blind of California
> President San Fernando Valley Chapter
> 818-381-9568
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 6, 2022, at 4:42 PM, Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Leisa, Stuart here. Thanks very much for your reply. I am not able
> to get through the online IRS system because of ID.me <http://id.me/> blocking
> me. My
> credit is excellent, but I don't have anything about credit checks on
> there. They want photos and videos of me. I cannot get through to IRS
> by phone at all: either hung up on or relay disconnects from too long
> of hold time.
>
> EOM
>
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 5, 2022 at 6:03 PM Leisa Gary via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I was an IRS customer representative. Are you not able to get through the
> online IRS system to get transcripts? I know that some people cannot do
> this based on not passing a credit check, but are you not able to get into
> the online system? Also, are you not able to get your transcripts after
> calling them?
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
> Leisa Sekhon
>
>
>
> On Feb 5, 2022, at 11:27 AM, Stuart Salvador via NFB-DB <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hello fellow NFB-DB members, Stuart here.
>
> Have any of you been able to get through ID.me <http://id.me/> verification
> to access
> any services with the IRS? ID.me <http://id.me/> requires photos with
> very specific
> parameters or video of your face again with specific instructions as
> to what your face needs to do. The instructions are not accessible to
> JAWS in Windows 10 or VoiceOver on iOS 15, and it's not realistic my
> residual vision to do this right so it's a barrier to access. I don't
> know what anyone else's experiences may have been with ID.me
> <http://id.me/>. If
> you've encountered any problems, please let me know as I plan to write
> my representatives and senators this upcoming week. When I do, I want
> to include as many stakeholders and issues as possible so they know
> this is not OK to restrict IRS services needed to do taxes. My
> particular issue was in getting an online transcript which I use every
> year to file taxes because many of my tax forms like 1099 come in tiny
> print and no option that is accessible to me so this helps me get all
> my numbers and accounts right. I can't certify under penalty of
> perjury my tax return filing is 100% correct and accurate based on
> what others tell me my tax reports say due to limits on my
> understanding and
> possibility of human error. That is a burden to place on my loved ones
> in the event something was entered incorrectly, so the online
> transcript allows me to know how to file correctly and is critical for
> me to maintain that independence as you cannot defer legal liability
> if there were to be a mistake when you file no matter how much you pay
> tax professionals it's always back to you unless a simply calculation
> error is covered by their contract and things like that (yet that only
> reimburses you for any financial losses, it doesn't remove the federal
> liability you have the taxes are correct). Thanks very much for any
> feedback or assistance, and for anyone else that does (or knows how
> best to) advocate on this topic, too.
>
> EOM
>
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