Access Your Social Security & IRS Accounts Online
Need a replacement SSA-1099, an IRS transcript, your tax account balance, or other federal tax information? This guide walks you through accessing the government accounts where many of these records are available.
One identity account. Multiple government services.
Federal agencies now ask you to prove who you are through a secure sign-in service rather than a username you create with the agency itself. Social Security accepts two of these services — Login.gov and ID.me — and you only need one of them. The IRS uses ID.me for its Online Account. So if you already have an account with one of these services, you may be able to sign in with it instead of creating another one. Each agency decides which services it accepts, so check what the sign-in page offers before you start.
Didn't receive your SSA-1099?
If you receive Social Security benefits, you generally receive Form SSA-1099 showing the benefits paid to you during the year. If your copy is missing, you may be able to obtain a replacement through your my Social Security account.
Go to SSA.gov
Use the official Social Security website. Type the address yourself rather than following a link from an email or text message.
Sign in to your my Social Security account
If you already have an account, use your existing sign-in service and follow the current instructions shown on the page.
Find your replacement tax form
Go to the area for replacement tax documents and locate the applicable SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for the year you need.
Download or print the form
Save the document somewhere safe, or print a copy for your tax records.
Form SSA-1099 is generally issued to people who received Social Security benefits during the year. Form SSA-1042S may apply instead to certain recipients who are nonresidents. Not everyone who receives a payment from Social Security receives one of these forms, and the current year's form is only posted once Social Security has released it for that tax season.
Access your my Social Security account
A my Social Security account is useful for far more than a tax form. Depending on your situation, it can show you:
Replacement tax form
Download a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S Benefit Statement when one is available.
Benefit information
Review your current benefit details and payment information.
Earnings history
Check the earnings Social Security has on record for you.
Benefit verification letter
Request proof of the benefits you receive, often needed by lenders or agencies.
Manage your information
Update certain personal and payment details supported by Social Security.
Other SSA services
SSA.gov continues to add services; your account page shows what is available to you.
What you may need
- An email address
- A mobile phone
- Your Social Security number
- Government-issued identification, if requested
- Access to the email or phone used for security codes
- The ability to complete identity verification
Not everyone is asked for every item — Social Security decides what is needed based on the information it can already confirm.
What is ID.me?
ID.me is an identity-verification service used by the IRS and other organizations to help confirm that the person accessing sensitive information online is really you. Creating an ID.me account is not the same as creating another tax account — it simply proves who you are and gives you a secure way to sign in where it is accepted.
Signing in to the IRS
Your identity
ID.me
IRS Online Account
Signing in to Social Security
Your identity
Login.gov or ID.me
my Social Security
Social Security accepts either service. You only need one.
Creating an ID.me account
Start at the government website
Begin on the agency site you are trying to use, such as IRS.gov, rather than searching for a sign-in page.
Choose the ID.me sign-in option
Select ID.me when the agency offers it, then sign in with your existing ID.me account or create one.
Verify your email
Confirm the email address you used so ID.me can reach you.
Set up multi-factor authentication
Choose how you want to receive your security codes. This is an extra step every time you sign in, and it is what keeps other people out.
Complete identity verification if required
Depending on your situation this may involve a government-issued ID, phone verification, a selfie or a short video call with a person. The options shown to you may differ from those offered to someone else.
Return to the government service
Once verification is complete, you are sent back to the agency site and can see your information.
Protect your ID.me account
Your ID.me credentials protect access to sensitive personal and tax information.
- Never send your password by email.
- Never give anyone your security or verification code.
- Do not send your ID.me password to Evening Star.
- We do not need your ID.me password to prepare your tax return.
- Be cautious of unexpected calls, emails or texts asking for these details.
Evening Star Bookkeeping Services will never ask you to provide your ID.me password or multi-factor authentication code.
Your IRS Online Account
Once the IRS has confirmed your identity, your IRS Online Account gives you a direct view of your own federal tax information — no phone hold time required.
Account balance
See the total you owe the IRS, including amounts by tax year.
Payment history
Review payments the IRS has recorded, plus scheduled or pending payments.
Tax records
View and download the tax records and transcripts available to you.
Notices and letters
View eligible IRS notices and correspondence where the IRS makes them available online.
Payment options
Make a payment or look at payment plan options offered by the IRS.
Other tax information
Key information from your most recent return and other details the IRS shows in the account.
Need an IRS transcript?
A transcript is a summary the IRS keeps of your tax information. It is not a copy of the return you filed. We may ask for one when a prior-year return is missing, when we need to confirm what the IRS has on record, or when income documents are incomplete.
Tax Return Transcript
Most line items from the original return as it was filed.
Tax Account Transcript
Basic account data plus any changes made after the return was filed.
Wage and Income Transcript
Information reported to the IRS on forms such as W-2s and 1099s.
Record of Account Transcript
The return transcript and the account transcript combined in one document.
These are different documents. If Evening Star has asked you for a transcript, check our request carefully before downloading — the wrong one will not have the information we need.
IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps stop someone else from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number or ITIN. If the IRS has given you one, your return cannot be filed electronically without it.
Important: an IP PIN changes every calendar year. Last year's number will not work, so please send us the current year's IP PIN before we file.
You can normally retrieve the current year's IP PIN by signing in to the IRS Get an IP PIN tool with your IRS account. If you cannot sign in, the IRS page explains the alternatives available to you.
Having trouble signing in?
Evening Star can explain what a document means and how to use it, but we are not able to provide technical support for SSA.gov, IRS.gov, Login.gov or ID.me.
Once you find the document
If Evening Star Bookkeeping Services asked you to retrieve a tax document, download the document itself and send it to us through the secure method provided by our office.
Safe to send when requested
- SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S
- Tax transcript
- IRS notice or letter
- Tax documents such as W-2s and 1099s
- Other tax records we asked for
Do not send
- Your ID.me password
- Your Login.gov password
- Your IRS account password
- Your Social Security account password
- Any security or verification code
Official government resources
Every link below opens an official government or identity-provider website in a new tab.
- Social Security AdministrationSSA.gov(opens in a new tab)
- my Social SecuritySign in or create an account(opens in a new tab)
- IRS Online AccountIRS.gov(opens in a new tab)
- IRS tax records & transcriptsGet Transcript(opens in a new tab)
- IRS Identity Protection PINGet an IP PIN(opens in a new tab)
- ID.meHelp centre and account support(opens in a new tab)
- Login.govHelp and account support(opens in a new tab)
Questions clients ask us
Government websites and sign-in procedures can change. Evening Star Bookkeeping Services periodically reviews this guide, but always follow the current instructions displayed on SSA.gov, IRS.gov, Login.gov or ID.me.