By David Enna, Tipswatch.com

The Treasury sent an updated email over the weekend again alerting investors that TreasuryDirect will soon require using ID.me for login verification.

This change has become quite contentious, accelerating since my August 17 post on this topic. That article now has 205 reader comments (and rising).

ID.me will go live with a soft launch on September 13 and then become the sole login allowed on October 28. The email says:

You can still use your traditional TreasuryDirect login until October 28, 2026. At that time, ID.me will replace your traditional TreasuryDirect login. If you don’t set up ID.me, your account, 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).

Treasury also updated its FAQ page on this transition with some new information that raises new questions. Here is the link to the FAQ. Let’s talk about some of the new details.

Logging in

Will I be required to use ID.me to access my TreasuryDirect account 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).

Thoughts. It is interesting that Treasury uses the (s) after the word account, which implies it might be possible to access multiple personal accounts with one login. That is not likely. The reference likely applies to people who manage trust and entity accounts.

Will I be permanently locked out of my account on October 28, 2026, if I haven’t set up ID.me yet?

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.

Thoughts. You have only one option: Set up ID.me for access to your account.

What if I don’t want to sign up for ID.me? Can I still use my traditional TreasuryDirect login to access TreasuryDirect?

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.

How will I access my tax documents if I am locked out of my account due to ID.me verification issues or do not sign up for ID.me?

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.

Thoughts. This is new information, and should be reassuring for people worried about next year’s tax documents. Even if you unload all TreasuryDirect investments this year, you will need those 1099s next year.

Privacy and security

Will ID.me have access to my financial data or know the balance of my TreasuryDirect investments?

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. …

Your data is accessible only by the authorized identity verification system and personnel bound by strict confidentiality obligations.

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.

Thoughts. Again, this is new information. It will require some “trust” from investors. I’ll point out that once you set up your ID.me Wallet, you will probably be exposed to some shopping opportunities on the company’s site.

What information is shared between ID.me and TreasuryDirect?

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.

Thoughts. That is a lot of personal information stored with a private company, and the reason a lot of investors are objecting.

Why is TreasuryDirect not using Login.gov instead of ID.me?

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. … If you already have a Login.gov account, you will still need to verify your identity through ID.me for TreasuryDirect access.

Thoughts. This squashes speculation that Login.gov will be another alternative, as it is on the Social Security site and others.

Account setup questions

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

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.

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. …

Once you link your TreasuryDirect account to ID.me, your traditional TreasuryDirect login and personalized security image are retired.

RED FLAG. A couple things are alarming here: 1) Once you use ID.me to log in, even during the ramp-up period, you will be locked out of using the legacy system. ID.me will be your only way in. 2) What about the many users who use one email to log in to two accounts, for example for a married couple? The ID.me Wallet is not likely to match the name on both accounts.

What this means. Do not rush to use ID.me on September 13. Let’s let other brave souls try it and report back. I really don’t want to use two ID.me accounts (and two 2-step verification systems) to log into our two accounts. Many of you also have trust and entity accounts. Who wants to volunteer?

Additional security steps?

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.

Thoughts. No real information here, so the brave souls who go first can report back on the “additional” verification needs.

Can I use the same ID.me Wallet for multiple TreasuryDirect accounts?

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

Thoughts. If true, this is very good news for investors with trust or entity accounts. But then we get the bad news …

Can my spouse and I use the same ID.me Wallet or the same email address?

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.

Thoughts. In my case, my usual log in is to the account with my wife as the primary owner (and me as secondary). Both of our accounts are connected to my email. I have no idea if I will still be able to access the main account. If I have to use her ID.me login, then she will need to be standing by every time to provide two-step verification. Also, is there a high chance that her ID.me login will glitch because of the mismatched emails?

I manage an entity account, such as a corporation, trust, or estate. How will ID.me verification work for entity account managers?

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.

Thoughts. Seems like this is a solution for those asking about trust and entity accounts.

Final thoughts

Read through the entire FAQ page, which does provide additional information. I have submitted a series of additional questions to ID.me, but have not yet gotten answers. If I do, I will publish those before September 13, if I can.

My key takeaway: If you intend to continue using TreasuryDirect, go ahead and complete the ID.me verification process. But do not rush to log in during the September 13 to October 28 “trial period.” Use that time to log in conventionally and get your account(s) in order, canceling reinvestments if need be, redeeming savings bonds, etc. Plus, verify your holdings at TreasuryDirect.

Maybe the ID.me transition process will be smooth. I suspect not.

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David Enna is a financial journalist, not a financial adviser. He is not selling or profiting from any investment discussed. I Bonds and TIPS are not “get rich” investments; they are best used for capital preservation and inflation protection. They can be purchased through the Treasury or other providers without fees, commissions or carrying charges. Please do your own research before investing.