Note from APA OKC: This information can be provided to employees who may be having difficulty with IRS matters or experiencing major life changes -- marriage, divorce, family death, new children, etc. You can be their payroll superhero since you now have this information at your fingertips.

The IRS continues to improve and expand taxpayer services by adding new features to your tax account online. You can now view 18 months of your payment history along with your federal tax account balance. It’s safe, secure and you can access your account through the IRS.gov/payments page.

While viewing your account, you can also pay with IRS Direct Pay, a debit or credit card, or apply for an installment agreement.

Before accessing your tax account online, you must authenticate your identity through the Secure Access process. This is a two-step authentication process, which means that if you are a returning user, you must use your credentials (username and password) and request a new security code (sent via text) each time you log in. If you already have a user name and password from Secure Access for Get Transcript Online or Identity Protection PIN, you may use the same username and password.

To register for the first time, you must have:

• an email address

• a text-enabled mobile phone in your name

• specific financial information such as a credit card number or specific loan number

As part of the security process, the IRS will send verification, activation or security codes via email and text. The IRS will not initiate contact via text or email asking for log-in information or personal data. The IRS texts and emails will only contain one-time codes.

Your balance will update no more than once every 24 hours, usually overnight. After making an electronic payment, allow at least two business days for it to appear in your payment history. Allow two weeks if you are paying by mail.

In the future, you will be able to view your tax records online, download full account transcripts and use other IRS online tools within your tax account.

Having access to your tax account online expands IRS self‐service options by providing you with a secure, interactive online capability. It allows convenient service, assistance and improves compliance.