IRS improves online identity verification for Puerto Ricans in response to Rep. Jenniffer González inquiry

San Juan, Puerto Rico- Representative Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) recently led a bipartisan letter to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seeking information regarding steps the agency is taking to improve service and accessibility as well as implement safe access to federal tax system applications and websites for residents of Puerto Rico. In response to that inquiry, the IRS reported that it has taken steps to dramatically improve service. 



“In recent years, the people of Puerto Rico have faced hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, and the COVID-19 pandemic – which separately and combined — infringed upon our ability to access services online. These events, compounded by existing equity and access challenges, led to many Puerto Ricans struggling to verify their identities online,” said González-Colón. “I’m glad the IRS responded to our concerns and that they brought ID.me in to address unique challenges faced by the people of Puerto Rico — who now have a higher verification success rate than overall seekers of government assistance.”



The IRS's data showed that from 2016 to 2022, only 23.9% of Puerto Rican taxpayers were able to verify their identities using the IRS' Secure Access system, which relied on information from credit bureaus and data brokers. But after the IRS modernized its secure access platform in partnership with a company called ID.me to offer several pathways to verification, access rates in Puerto Rico jumped to 78.6% – a three-fold increase. 



With Congress continuing its bipartisan investigation into the role of data brokers and credit bureaus and how they purchase, collect, use, license, and sell data, the Congresswoman applauds the IRS's move towards a more inclusive service solution. Data brokers have historically struggled to verify residents who may have moved recently, changed their names, lack banking records, or who have thin credit files.



In the letter, the IRS credited these technological improvements with mitigating long-standing barriers to access. It is crucial that all Puerto Rico residents can be successfully authenticated so that they can access eligible federal benefits and programs.  



The Washington Post has previously highlighted that fewer than half of the Americans who tried to establish an online account with the IRS in 2020 succeeded. 



ID.me is a U.S.-based, veteran-founded business that adheres to standards set forth by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and offers video chat verification in multiple languages, including Spanish and provides 24/7 multilingual customer support. 

 

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