I received several emails from TreasuryDirect saying that it will replace the existing login system with a third-party service called ID.me. The ID.me login is available on TreasuryDirect’s website today. You can still use the existing login system through October 28, 2026, but ID.me will be the only way to access your account online afterward.
What Is ID.me
ID.me is a private digital identity provider. It has obtained certifications required by some government agencies. In essence, ID.me ties an email address to a real person by matching an image of the person to a photo ID. Without the image, you can create a login and say who you are, but only submitting a driver’s license doesn’t prove who’s submitting it. ID.me requires seeing you via a selfie or a video call.
ID.me has landed contracts with the IRS, Social Security, VA, and now TreasuryDirect. After you log in with ID.me, ID.me tells the agency positively who just logged in.
How It Works with TreasuryDirect
I already have an ID.me account because the IRS requires it to use its IP PIN system (see Stop Tax Return Fraud: Sign Up for the IRS IP PIN Program). I tried my login at TreasuryDirect.
After I logged in through ID.me, it asked for my permission to share these pieces of information it has on me with TreasuryDirect. I wasn’t too concerned with sharing because I had already given these separately to TreasuryDirect when I opened the TreasuryDirect account.
ID.me sent me back to TreasuryDirect. TreasuryDirect asked for permission to retain the information sent over by ID.me. You won’t be able to use the TreasuryDirect website if you don’t give permission.
TreasuryDirect uses the Social Security Number sent by ID.me to search for accounts associated with it. Normal account access continues after you choose an account. You may not see this screen if you have only one account under your Social Security Number.
Privacy Concerns
I already have an ID.me account because I was forced by the IRS to create one. It worked smoothly for me at TreasuryDirect.
However, if you don’t have an ID.me account yet, you may be concerned about giving your ID documents and selfie to a private company. It’s a serious concern, but TreasuryDirect is forcing your hand. You won’t be able to access your TreasuryDirect account after October 28, 2026 if you don’t create an ID.me account.
TreasuryDirect says this in its ID.me transition FAQs:
Will I be required to use ID.me to access my TreasuryDirect account online after October 28, 2026?
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).
You won’t be able to make new purchases. You can sell your existing holdings only by submitting paper forms. TreasuryDirect says on its home page that those requests “may take ten months or longer to process.”
Change.org Petition
Waiting ten months or longer to sell existing holdings isn’t a real choice. Some users started a petition at Change.org about this issue. You can sign the petition if you don’t like being forced to create an ID.me account. The petition has received 204 signatures as I’m writing this.
Creating an ID.me Account
I’m not optimistic that TreasuryDirect will listen to the user protests and change course. If you decide to relent, you can create an ID.me account by going to the ID.me website and clicking on the “Sign in” button on the top right.
Be prepared to submit a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport, and your Social Security card. As I remember it from when I created my account some time ago, ID.me sent me a link to take a selfie. Or you can join a video call with a verifier, who will match your face with your photo ID. The process wasn’t too difficult.
Securing ID.me Account
It’s crucial to secure your ID.me account because it’s linked to your Social Security Number. If someone logs in to ID.me as you, they will be able to access the IRS, Social Security, and TreasuryDirect as you.
ID.me offers several multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods. I would only consider the three strongest methods.
| MFA Method | Strength |
|---|---|
| (Hardware) Security Key on a computer | Very Strong |
| NFC Mobile Security Key (requires ID.me Authenticator app) | Very Strong |
| Passkey | Very Strong |
| Code Generator (requires ID.me Authenticator app) | Strong |
| Push Notification (requires ID.me Authenticator app) | Moderate |
| Text Message or Phone Call | Fair |
Using a hardware security key on a computer requires buying at least two security keys (one primary, one backup), which cost $29 each. You can use the same two security keys to secure your email accounts and Vanguard account. See PSA: Secure Your Email Account to Prevent Wire Fraud and Security Hardware for Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab Accounts.
The NFC Mobile Security Key method requires both the hardware security keys and the ID.me Authenticator app on a mobile phone. It’s not more secure than using a hardware security key on a computer. The ID.me Authenticator app is one more thing to manage, and you probably don’t want it on a phone that you take everywhere anyway.
A passkey is a software version of a hardware security key. It’s stored in a password manager application. If you’re already familiar with using passkeys and a password manager app, it’s as secure as using a hardware security key, and you don’t have to buy hardware keys. Many other websites support passkeys now. It’s good to learn how to use passkeys anyway.
I use hardware security keys with ID.me because I already bought them. Otherwise, I would use a passkey stored in my password manager app.
Abandon TreasuryDirect
If you don’t want ID.me, you have until October 28, 2026 to do anything at TreasuryDirect using your existing login. Otherwise, you will have to use paper forms and wait 10 months or longer.
If you have marketable securities (Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds, and TIPS), you can’t sell them before maturity. If they will mature soon, you can turn off automatic reinvestment and wait for the payouts every six months and at maturity. Make sure your linked bank account is correct and keep the bank account in good order until you receive every payment from TreasuryDirect. Print or save your current holdings to a PDF, and create calendar reminders for all expected interest and principal payouts.
If the Treasury Notes, Bonds, and TIPS in your TreasuryDirect account won’t mature for some years, you can start the transfer process to move them to a brokerage account such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard. The transfer may take a year to complete, but at least it will happen before your holdings mature.
You can buy new Treasuries in a brokerage account with no fee. See How To Buy Treasury Bills & Notes Without Fee at Online Brokers.
If you have savings bonds, you can redeem them as long as they’re more than 12 months old since the issue date. Redeeming savings bonds triggers taxes on the accrued interest. You can save the page that displays the interest to a PDF, or you can ask TreasuryDirect to mail you the 1099 forms by calling customer service next year. Be prepared for long hold times if many users choose to call.
If you have savings bonds not yet 12 months old, you can start the paper Form 5512 now. The bonds will be over 12 months old by the time they get to it.
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You have two bad choices. Either give sensitive information to a private company picked by the government agency or sell everything and pay taxes. I really don’t like this, but I don’t think they will change.
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ReaderInCA says
I have rolling treasuries at Treasury Direct, with my kids as beneficiaries. A major concern for me is that if I die and the funds are still at TD, my kids may (will?) have to create an ID.me account and create a TD account just to provide a death certificate and get the funds (and wait months for that to happen). What a nightmare. My total amount is only 37k.
I use these rolling funds as insurance that if I am incapacitated and can’t re-roll the funds, they will automatically mature into my checking account and cover two years of expenses. Therefore, my son (POA) won’t have to worry about my bills being paid, which are on autopay.
My alternative to leaving TD is to open an overdraft account at my bank (BofA, which pays .1% interest) and fund it with one or two years of expenses. So I will be giving up several hundred dollars in interest if I provide enough for one year.
Is that loss worth it to leave TD and avoid ID.me for myself and my kids? I think so, mainly because I don’t trust a private company with such precious information. On Bogleheads there are many links to all the past problems with ID.me. For only 37k, I don’t want the hassles or the risk. What a pain.
Do you have any thoughts on this situation? You seem to have accepted the risk. What am I missing?
Thank you for this article and info!
Harry Sit says
I edited the post to add some information about regular Treasuries at the end. You can let them run to maturity and wait for the payouts. You can buy Treasuries with no fee in a brokerage account to recreate your rolling Treasuries. See How To Buy Treasury Bills & Notes Without Fee at Online Brokers.
ReaderInCA says
Thank you, Harry. Yes, I also have treasuries at Vanguard and in Merrill, but nothing will automatically mature into my checking account at the bank like TD does or like the BofA savings account will (at .1% interest). That’s my issue re: incapacity protection.
RobI says
Are there any alternatives to buy and sell iBonds other than TD?
Harry Sit says
No. TreasuryDirect is the only place to buy I Bonds. You can buy TIPS in a brokerage account. TIPS work differently. They’re better as long-term holdings because they have a higher yield.
Bill Greggs says
Thanks for this, Harry.
Social Security online accounts also requires ID.me…
Any bets on how long it will take AI to break through this “wall”?
Harry Sit says
Social Security online accounts offer a choice between ID.me and Login.gov. Login.gov is run by the GSA, which is a government agency, not a private company. People who don’t like ID.me can at least choose to use Login.gov at Social Security.
S Jay says
Nothing is easy when the federal government is involved. I already have a Login.gov account for online access to Social Security, Global Entry, OPM Services, etc. Now I have to give up more personally identifiable information to establish an ID.me account. The government should have come up with an option to also use Login.gov for Treasury Direct.
“… government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
Ronald Reagan
Dunmovin says
Harry, as always…excellent!
We have two personal accounts (different email), sole proprietorship, and a trust…4 accounts. We have never used e-filing for taxes or Soc Sec. Looking at taxes for 2026 and given TD unnoticed changes to the public, in the last couple of weeks ALL ibond holdings over 1 year have been redeemed! 2026 potential tax info downloaded from TD so year end 1099s not needed.
I want to reiterate two aspects/Qs on submitting paper 5512 now even though there are months until 1 year holding period expires…any particular concerns (e.g. never used “signature guarantees” but have used the “stamp” that banks used to use on/at paper bond redemptions and it worked TD and I have a copy!) about filling out 4 forms for (no “as of” dating?) all four accounts NOW and paper mailing? Is there any way to get TD to waive the one year holding requirement (arguably “misrepresentations” by the Gov’t in failing to disclose terms and condition changes and then on an retroactive basis, no known Fed Register notice/comment, etc. ) to merely getting the principal back asap (assuming it wouldn’t take “forever” to get action on it by TD)?
Again, thanks!!!
Deb T says
For anyone wondering if there will be issues with their current id.me login. I logged into the updated system yesterday after the upgrade. It walked me through getting a passkey which took about 30 seconds and a couple of clicks. Account was then immediately functional again.