Taxpayers may access the Child Tax Credit Update Portal with either an ID.me Account or an IRS Online Services Account through Secure Access. An IRS Online Services Account also provides a variety of other accessibility options related to the taxpayer’s individual tax account which are not accessible with an ID.me Account. The following is a quick summary of these types of accounts.

IRS Online Services Account:

With an IRS Online Services Account, you can access several tools on IRS.gov with one username and password.

With this account, you can view the amount you owe, your balance details by year, your payment history and any scheduled or pending payments, key information from your most recent tax return, payment plan details, digital copies of select notices from the IRS, your Economic Impact Payments, and your address on file. You can also make a payment online, see payment plan options and request a plan via Online Payment Agreement, and access your tax records via Get Transcript.

To get started, you’ll use the secure access process to register. This will allow you to verify your identity so no one else can access your IRS online account.

The following is a list of what you will need to sign up for an IRS Online Services Account (the IRS does not retain this data):

1. A readily available email address;
2. Your Social Security number;
3. Your filing status and address from your last-filed tax return;
4. Your personal account number from a:
   1. credit card, or
   2. student loan, or
   3. home mortgage loan, or
   4. home equity (second mortgage) loan, or
   5. home equity line of credit (HELOC), or
   6. car loan
5. A readily available mobile device that either is text-enabled or supports the IRS2Go app. A text-enabled mobile phone associated with your name will allow you to complete registration in one session. If you want to use a business phone or the IRS2Go app, request the activation code by mail.
6. NOTE: The credit card cannot be American Express, a debit card or a corporate card issued in your name by your company or organization.
   Visit https://www.irs.gov/individuals/faqs-about-e-services-and-secure-access to learn more.

ID.me Account:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has partnered with ID.me, an IRS-Trusted Third Party, to provide identity verification for the Advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) program.

Taxpayers will be able to prove their identity with ID.me by uploading government documents, taking a video selfie, and filling out personal information. Once complete, taxpayers can access their IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal (IRS CTC UP), manage their payments, and update their bank account information.

Beyond this partnership, once taxpayers are verified with ID.me, they can use their ID.me account to log in across government websites and private sector partners wherever they see ID.me’s green button.

The following is a list of what you will need to sign up for an ID.me account:

1. Computer, Tablet, and/or Mobile Phone with Internet Access.
2. Email Address.
3. Knowledge of Financial History.
4. Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, Passport Card, or State ID)
5. Social Security Number.

Click here to learn more about an ID.me account.