FAQs about ID.me

The e-mail from [email protected] was a legitimate notification from TreasuryDirect. To stay safe from phishing, always double-check URL links inside any e-mail and ensure the e-mail is from U.S. Department of the Treasury. You can also copy and paste the e-mail validation page URL we include with each e-mail, or you can manually type "TreasuryDirect.gov" directly into your web browser's search bar to navigate to the official portal.

The new login process, ID.me, is a more standardized, secure way of logging in. It uses a government-trusted method to verify your identity, which protects your sensitive personal and financial information from identity theft and unauthorized access. By using ID.me, you gain a trusted, convenient, and highly secure digital credential that allows you to safely access multiple government services without needing separate accounts.

You will not be able to set up ID.me through TreasuryDirect until September 13, 2026. Starting on this date, you’ll be prompted to use ID.me to log in to access your TreasuryDirect account(s).

Your traditional TreasuryDirect login can continue to be used until October 28, 2026. After October 28, 2026, ID.me will be the only login method and you will be required to sign up to continue to access your TreasuryDirect account(s) online. If you do not sign up and/or connect to your TreasuryDirect account(s) through ID.me by October 28, 2026, you can easily restore online access at any time after October 28, 2026, by completing the ID.me set up process and linking to your TreasuryDirect account(s).

No, you do not need to take any action at this time, but on or after September 13, 2026, be prepared to use ID.me to log in and access your TreasuryDirect account(s) online.

Yes. After October 28, 2026, ID.me will be the only method to log in to your TreasuryDirect account. You will have the option to use your traditional TreasuryDirect login between September 13, 2026, and October 28, 2026.

If you do not sign up and/or connect your TreasuryDirect account(s) to ID.me by October 28, 2026, you can easily restore online access at any time by completing the ID.me setup process and linking your TreasuryDirect account(s).

Without an ID.me Wallet, you will still be able to manage your account by submitting paper forms. However, you will not be able to:

• Sign in to TreasuryDirect online.
• Make new purchases.
• Set up new reinvestments of marketable securities. (Existing reinvestments already in place will continue.)
• View or download your tax forms online.

If you need a copy of your Form 1099 for the current tax year, you can request one by mail after the forms become available in January of the following year by contacting TreasuryDirect Customer Support at 844-284-2676 (toll-free).

After October 28, 2026, you will be required to use ID.me to log in to your TreasuryDirect account online and will not be able to use your traditional TreasuryDirect login. If you do not sign up and/or connect your TreasuryDirect accounts to ID.me by October 28, 2026, you will not be able to login to TreasuryDirect. Your funds and investments will remain safe, and you can easily restore online access at any time after October 28, 2026, by completing the ID.me setup process and linking your TreasuryDirect account(s). See the answer to the question, “How do I set up ID.me for TreasuryDirect,” for information on how to set up your ID.me Wallet.

No. After October 28, 2026, only your online access to your TreasuryDirect account will be restricted until you complete the ID.me verification. If you choose not to verify your identity with ID.me by that date, you will not be able to access TreasuryDirect online, but your funds will not be permanently frozen or seized after the deadline. Your funds and investments will remain safe, and you can easily restore access at any point in the future by simply going through the ID.me setup process.

Without an ID.me Wallet, you will still be able to manage your account by submitting paper forms. However, you will not be able to:

• Sign in to TreasuryDirect online.
• Make new purchases.
• Set up new reinvestments of marketable securities. (Existing reinvestments already in place will continue.)
• View or download your tax forms online.

If you need a copy of your Form 1099 for the current tax year, you can request one by mail after the forms become available in January of the following year by contacting TreasuryDirect Customer Support at 844-284-2676 (toll-free).

Temporarily. Your traditional TreasuryDirect login can be used up until October 28, 2026, throughout the optional period for signing up for ID.me. If you do not have an ID.me Wallet after October 28, 2026, you will not be able to log in to TreasuryDirect. Your funds and investments will remain safe, and you can easily restore online access at any time after October 28, 2026, by completing the ID.me setup process and linking your TreasuryDirect account(s).

Without an ID.me Wallet, you will still be able to manage your account by submitting paper forms. However, you will not be able to:

• Sign in to TreasuryDirect online.
• Make new purchases.
• Set up new reinvestments of marketable securities. (Existing reinvestments already in place will continue.)
• View or download your tax forms online.

If you need a copy of your Form 1099 for the current tax year, you can request one by mail after the forms become available in January of the following year by contacting TreasuryDirect Customer Support at 844-284-2676 (toll-free).

ID.me will be the simplest way to access TreasuryDirect for online retrieval of your tax documents for the current tax year. However, you may request 1099 tax forms for the current tax year be mailed to by contacting TreasuryDirect Customer Support at 844-284-2676 (toll-free) after TreasuryDirect makes those forms available in January of the following tax year.

ID.me is a secure, government-trusted digital identity wallet that helps you safely prove who you are once, then use that verified identity to quickly and securely log in to TreasuryDirect and other participating services. It protects your personal data from fraud and scammers while giving you a fast, reusable way to sign in going forward. Visit the ID.me Help Center for additional questions.

The ID.me Wallet is your secure, reusable digital identity — created once and used to verify your identity and quickly sign in to TreasuryDirect and other participating services. For more details, visit https://www.id.me/wallet-overview or the ID.me Help Center.

No. ID.me is used strictly for online digital identity verification and single sign on (SSO) to TreasuryDirect. ID.me does not have access to your TreasuryDirect account balances, your transaction history, or your linked personal bank account information. Once ID.me verifies that you are the correct individual, they pass a secure digital security key to TreasuryDirect to log you in. Your personal assets remain completely private and isolated inside the secure Treasury system.

TreasuryDirect, like several other government agency programs, is partnering with ID.me to meet updated federal security guidelines for identity verification. ID.me is a trusted identity verification partner for 22 federal government agencies and 50 state government agencies. ID.me acts as an authorized credential service provider to prevent fraud. Although they collect personal data for verification, their privacy policies are heavily regulated by federal agreements.

TreasuryDirect respects your privacy and we know that your information and data are important to you, so your security is our highest priority. TreasuryDirect’s partnership with ID.me ensures that only you can access your financial account and that fraudulent accounts cannot be opened in your name. This partnership provides:

• Control Over Your Account: You maintain full visibility over your ID.me Wallet, including the ability to view active sign-in sessions and revoke permissions at any time.
• Strict Access Controls: Your data is accessible only by the authorized identity verification system and personnel bound by strict confidentiality obligations.
• Strict Privacy Policies: Your data is never sold. Neither TreasuryDirect nor ID.me sells, rents, or shares your personal information with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes. ID.me acts solely as an identity provider.
• Bank-Grade Encryption: All data transmitted and stored by ID.me is encrypted using advanced cryptographic protocols both while in transit and at rest.
• Federal Security Standards: ID.me is certified under federal digital identity standards (NIST SP 800-63-4) and holds FedRAMP Certification for its Identity Gateway, meeting rigorous federal cloud security requirements for handling sensitive government data.

To keep your account secure, ID.me securely shares your full name, SSN, date of birth, mailing address, e-mail, and phone number with TreasuryDirect. ID.me does not have access to your TreasuryDirect account balances, your transaction history, or your linked personal bank account information. Once ID.me verifies that you are the correct individual, they pass a secure digital security key to TreasuryDirect to log you in. Your personal assets remain completely private and isolated inside the secure Treasury system.

To access your TreasuryDirect account online, you must grant permission for ID.me to share your verified identity information with us. If you decline to share this information, you will be returned to the homepage and will not be able to log in. You will be prompted to grant consent again the next time you try to log in. If you do not sign up and/or connect your TreasuryDirect accounts to ID.me by October 28, 2026, you will not be able to log in to TreasuryDirect. Your funds and investments will remain safe, and you can easily restore online access at any time after October 28, 2026, by completing the ID.me setup process and linking your TreasuryDirect account(s).

No. Login.gov is not affiliated with ID.me and cannot be used to log in to your TreasuryDirect account.

TreasuryDirect is using ID.me because it aligns with Treasury security requirements and those used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), ensuring it meets the highest Federal identity verification and fraud-prevention standards. It is also a trusted identity verification provider and partner for more than 20 other federal government agencies and over 45 state government agencies. If you already have a Login.gov account, you will still need to verify your identity through ID.me for TreasuryDirect access.

You won’t be able to use ID.me to access TreasuryDirect until September 13, 2026. Starting on this date, you’ll be prompted to use ID.me to log in and access your TreasuryDirect account(s).

Once ID.me is live, simply go to TreasuryDirect.gov and select, “Secure Sign In.” TreasuryDirect will automatically redirect you to ID.me, where you can either create an account or sign in to an existing one. If you already have an ID.me Wallet, you may be asked to complete a few additional steps to meet TreasuryDirect’s security requirements. Watch this video on logging into TreasuryDirect using ID.me to learn more.

If you need to create a new ID.me Wallet, ensure that you have two government-issued forms of identity ready. This can be:

• Your Social Security Number (SSN)
• A valid government-issued photo ID, such as driver’s license, state ID, passport or passport card.

You may also be asked for photo verification using your cell phone’s camera. If you do not have access to a smart phone with a camera, visit the ID.me Help Center for more information on verifying your identity. While taking a selfie with a smartphone is the fastest way to verify your identity, you can choose to verify your identity through a live, secure video call with an ID.me “Trusted Referee” (video chat agent) on any computer with an internet connection.

After signing in or completing your ID.me setup, you’ll be returned to TreasuryDirect and can continue using your account as usual. You won’t need your TreasuryDirect account number for this process, although it’s helpful to keep it handy for future support needs.

Do not try to use your old login: Attempting to type in your traditional TreasuryDirect login information after linking to ID.me will result in an error. Always use the "Secure Sign In" button.

Important things to watch out for when setting up ID.me:

• Do not try to use your old login: Attempting to type in your traditional TreasuryDirect login information after linking to ID.me will result in an error. Always use the "Secure Sign In" button.
• Check your ID.me details first: Make sure the name on your ID.me Wallet matches the name on your TreasuryDirect account exactly to avoid delays.

ID.me is a separate company, so TreasuryDirect cannot fix ID.me login or verification issues. Once ID.me is live after September 13, 2026, if you have trouble setting up your ID.me Wallet, verifying your identity, uploading your ID, getting text codes, or logging in, you must visit the ID.me Help Center or contact ID.me at https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/p/contact_support for support.

The initial setup and verification typically take about 5 to 10 minutes. Once your TreasuryDirect account is successfully linked to ID.me, logging in will take only a few seconds using your ID.me e-mail, password, and security code.

Once you link your TreasuryDirect account to ID.me, your traditional TreasuryDirect login and personalized security image are retired. You will not need your TreasuryDirect account number to complete the ID.me verification process, but you may need your account number and/or answers to your security questions for support services in the future. Once redirected to TreasuryDirect from ID.me after completing verification, TreasuryDirect will list all accounts associated with your identity.

If you try to use your traditional TreasuryDirect login after setting up your ID.me Wallet following September 13, 2026, you will receive an error message. From then on, always use the "Secure Sign In" button to log into your account.

If you do not have an ID.me Wallet after October 28, 2026, you will not be able to log in to TreasuryDirect. Your funds and investments will be safe, and you can easily restore online access at any time after October 28, 2026, by completing the ID.me setup process and linking your TreasuryDirect account(s).

No. You only need to complete the identity verification process with ID.me once. Once your TreasuryDirect account is successfully linked to ID.me, logging in will take only a few seconds using your ID.me e-mail, password, and security code.

No, if you already have an ID.me Wallet, you can use it to log in to TreasuryDirect after September 13, 2026. However, customers should sign in through TreasuryDirect.gov to link their ID.me Wallet to TreasuryDirect. Navigate to TreasuryDirect.gov and click the button that says “Secure Sign In” to log in, which will take you through the ID.me verification process.

ID.me has different levels of security for different purposes. Your existing ID.me Wallet may not meet the security level requirements for TreasuryDirect, so you may be required to complete additional identity verification to meet these requirements before you can use ID.me to log in to TreasuryDirect. These requirements will depend on your security level. ID.me will prompt you if this is the case and walk you through the process.

Visit the ID.me Help Center. TreasuryDirect agents cannot bypass or help with this identity verification process. If ID.me cannot verify your identity automatically, you will be given the option to complete your verification by a live video call with an ID.me “Trusted Referee” (video chat agent).

If the name on your TreasuryDirect account doesn’t match the name in your ID.me Wallet, the name on your TreasuryDirect account will automatically update to match the name in your ID.me Wallet once you complete setting up your ID.me login for TreasuryDirect.

Yes, if you manage other accounts, you will have a single login to access them.

No. ID.me is a personal identity verification service so each person must have their own unique ID.me Wallet tied to their own unique e-mail address. You cannot share an ID.me Wallet or use the same e-mail address for multiple verified identities, even if you share a household or bank account.

Your auto-reinvestments will continue uninterrupted. TreasuryDirect login changes do not impact the automatic processing of reinvestments, maturities, interest payments, etc. However, you will not be able to log in to view, edit, or cancel these pending transactions until you successfully verify your identity through ID.me.

If you are not receiving your security code (one-time passcode) from ID.me, you will need to contact ID.me directly for help. Please visit the ID.me Help Center for support. TreasuryDirect customer service cannot resolve issues with ID.me security codes.

If you were locked out of your TreasuryDirect account in the past due to too many failed login attempts, logging in successfully through ID.me will automatically unlock your account and let you back in.

If you move, change your phone number, or change your name, ID.me provides different paths to make those updates. Protecting its members and their data is of utmost priority for ID.me. To protect your most sensitive personal details, ID.me requires different levels of security, and different steps, depending on what you're updating.

Name Change

You can update your name in your ID.me Wallet yourself. After approval, the next time you authenticate/log into TreasuryDirect, your information will update automatically.

Address Change

ID.me understands that changing your address is common and many people do it. It is still important to ensure the new address that you’re changing to is verified. ID.me provides a path for users to change their address once you have your proof of address document.

1. Navigate to the ID.me Help Center > Contact Support
2. Sign in with your verified ID.me credentials
3. Under What can we help you with?, select Managing my wallet
4. Under How can we help with your ID.me Wallet?, select Changing or updating my information
5. Under What information do you need help changing or updating?, select Changing my mailing address
6. Submit
7. Please reply to the initial email response to be assigned to a live support agent.
8. Provide proof of address document via secure portal if prompted by the support agent.
9. The next time you authenticate/log into TreasuryDirect, your information will update automatically.

Phone Number

A member’s phone number is a very important part of the identity proofing process. Combined with other evidence (SSN, address, date of birth), the phone number helps corroborate that the person applying is the person they claim to be. That's why NIST and ID.me treat it as its own piece of evidence in the identity proofing process. Due to this, and to protect your account from being compromised, ID.me doesn't offer a self-service way to update your phone number. Instead, to update your phone number, you will need to delete your ID.me Wallet and go through the identity proofing process again.

1. Navigate toID.me My Wallet
2. Sign in with your verified ID.me credentials
3. Select Sign In & Security > Privacy
4. Select Remove my data > Close my Wallet > Continue
5. Select a reason > Yes, close my Wallet
6. ID.me requires a waiting period of at least 7 days before you can create a new wallet
7. Return to TreasuryDirect and repeat the steps to create your wallet with ID.me

Parents or guardians who manage a child's account must verify their own identity through ID.me first. Your child does not need an ID.me Wallet. You will manage their account directly through your own verified login.

When your child turns 18, their account is temporarily put on hold. The parent account holder will need to deliver the minor account to the new adult. The new adult must create their own TreasuryDirect account and verify their identity through ID.me to take control of their savings.

For entity accounts like businesses or trusts, ID.me verifies the individual account manager (using their government-issued information) rather than the entity itself. The person in charge of the entity (such as the POA, manager or trustee) must verify their personal identity through ID.me first. While your personal details will be kept safe, private, locked, and managed by ID.me, the business or trust details can still be updated with help from TreasuryDirect Customer Support.

ID.me supports international verification for U.S. citizens living abroad. For more information, visit this page on the ID.me website.

If you do not have access to a smart phone with a camera, visit the ID.me Help Center for more information on verifying your identity. While taking a selfie with a smartphone is the fastest way to verify your identity,  you can choose to verify your identity through a live, secure video call with an ID.me “Trusted Referee” (video chat agent) on any computer with an internet connection.

Yes. If you prefer not to use your phone for verification codes, ID.me supports physical security keys (like YubiKeys) as a multi-factor authentication option. You can set this up directly in your ID.me Wallet settings to quickly and securely log into TreasuryDirect with a simple tap of your physical key.

Visit the ID.me Help Center or contact ID.me at https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/p/contact_support for support.