• KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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    9 months ago

    It’s the same as going to a bank and letting the teller look at your face. It’s to prevent someone from stealing your identity using a picture of your ID.

    How can they verify the ID is real without physically seeing it? They look up the info but still need to verify that you are the person on the ID.

    • EssentialCoffee@midwest.social
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      9 months ago

      How have they been verifying mailed in tax forms with no pictures for decades?

      Seems like it unnecessarily disenfranchises the poor and the elderly. You have to have access to equipment that can record you and the tech savvy to be able to use it.

    • Socsa@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      Ok but how come H&R Block doesn’t need to do this? I just give them my IRS PIN and the AGI from last year’s return. The picture shit feels like a poison pill

      • Gestrid@lemmy.ca
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        9 months ago

        I’m pretty sure you’re required to provide your driver’s license info at some point during the sign-up process, actually. Though it’s been a while, so I don’t remember for sure.

        If it’s like I remember, it’s to confirm that the person on the ID matches the person who’s signing up. Banks do the same when the teller asks for your ID. And so do the people who ask for your ID when you go to vote. It’s the same basic process. It’s just digital instead of in-person.