WASHINGTON, Feb 5, 2026, 01:49 EST
- The IRS is pushing taxpayers to set up Individual Online Accounts to access their records and reduce the risk of identity theft.
- Most federal tax returns for 2025 must be filed by April 15. The IRS says using the account can accelerate refunds, payments, and notices.
- A higher SALT deduction cap could help certain itemizers, though it decreases for filers with higher incomes.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is pushing taxpayers to set up Individual Online Accounts, highlighting the portal’s role in guarding against identity theft and fraud. It also offers secure, convenient access to important tax documents online.
The push comes as the 2026 filing season hits its first busy phase. Most taxpayers face the April 15 deadline for returns and payments. The IRS is once again urging filers to avoid phone calls and use its self-service tools instead.
New twists in the tax code are appearing on returns this season, including an increased cap on the state and local tax deduction. This change could shift the line between who itemizes and who takes the standard deduction.
The IRS said taxpayers can use its online account to check key return details like adjusted gross income and monitor the status of refunds and amended returns. The agency added that users can access wage-and-income records and create or modify payment plans.
The portal allows users to request an Identity Protection PIN — a code meant to block anyone else from filing a return under your name — and access over 200 digital notices sent by the IRS. The agency added that the account also lets users make or cancel payments throughout the year.
Setting up the account isn’t quick. Users need to verify their identity via ID.me, a third-party service, and might face a video call. Tax pro Tom O’Saben described the process as “relatively cumbersome,” but added, “You have a little bit of pain for long-term gain.” https://www.newsweek.com/irs-advice-tax-deadline-april-15-11463016
ConsumerAffairs flagged that same IRS message this week, pitching the online accounts as a move to cut fraud and speed up access to refunds and payment details during tax season.
Adding to the filing-season shuffle is the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which the IRS confirms was signed into law on July 4, 2025. It overhauls various credits and deductions, affecting 2025 tax returns.
A Thomson Reuters tax bulletin reported that the state and local tax deduction cap — known as SALT, covering property taxes and state/local income or sales taxes — is set to rise to $40,000 for the 2025 tax year. This is a jump from the $10,000 limit established by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. CPA Hilari Pickett noted the SALT cap will drop back to $10,000 in 2030.
High-income filers won’t receive the full benefit. Pickett noted the $40,000 cap is trimmed for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $500,000 in 2025, dropping to as low as $10,000 when MAGI hits $600,000.
CNBC noted that raising the SALT cap might “drive higher refunds,” especially for those who itemize and face hefty property or state income taxes. But filers opting for the standard deduction—the flat amount most households claim instead of detailing expenses on Schedule A—won’t see that benefit. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/trump-salt-deduction-taxes.html
Many taxpayers continue to submit their W-2s and 1099s via private tax prep platforms and storefronts. The IRS takes a more straightforward stance: access all records and notices in one spot to reduce errors that could delay refunds.
But the digital shift hits a snag. Those who fail identity checks get stuck, while scammers regularly impersonate IRS messages during filing season. SALT rules may lure taxpayers into itemizing unnecessarily, and the higher cap is set to expire later this decade.
The IRS advised taxpayers to create their accounts well before the deadline, not at the last minute. Once established, users can check balances, handle payments, and track refunds without enduring hold times.
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