| Entities | |
| Topics and Issues |
On January 2, 2024, the IRS issued an IVES Policy Update. According to this notice,
The IVES program recently updated its policy to further ensure taxpayer data is safeguarded. Effective June 30, 2024, the IRS will only provide IVES transcripts to mortgage lending firms for the sole purpose of obtaining a mortgage on residential or commercial real property (land and buildings).
All IVES participants using fax requests (legacy system), Web User Interface (WebUI), or Application to Application (A2A) channels must re-apply to the IVES program by May 1, 2024, to remain in active status. Participants must complete Form 13803, Application to Participate in the Income Verification Express Service (IVES) Program, fax the new application to 844-251-8254, and declare their sole purpose for using IVES is to secure third party tax data needed for a mortgage on residential or commercial real property (real estate).
The IRS remains dedicated to safeguarding taxpayer data, maintaining the integrity of our tax systems, and modernizing our systems. If tax transcript information is required by your firm for other than securing a mortgage, we recommend requesting it directly from the taxpayer. Taxpayers can request their tax transcript information by calling the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 800-908-9946 or accessing their online account, which allow the taxpayers to request and receive real time responses.
The policy update is also available here: 2024 01 02 – Policy Update.
This policy was put on hold on March 6, 2023.
The Taxpayer First Act (P. Law 116-25), passed in 2019, contains provisions relating to access to tax transcript access. These provisions are found in Secs. 2201 and 2202 (Subtitle C—Modernization of Consent Based Income Verification System), amending 26 U.S.C. Sec. 6103.
IRS notices are archived online outside the U.S. Government here.
Additional Resources:
- IRS move narrowing access to tax data sparks lender outrage, Am. Banker, Jan. 10, 2024.
- IVES is in the Special Programs Branch, which is under Submission Processing, which is under Customer Account Services. All of this is under the Wage and Investment Division, which is under the Commissioner. Online is an org chart for the Wage and Investment Division.
- The IRS has a Taxpayer Fairness Act Office.
- IRS move narrowing access to tax data sparks lender outrage, American Banker, Jan. 10, 2024.