The Internal Revenue Service has announced that new bells and whistles have been added to its online accounts for individual taxpayers.

The online tool, launched in December of 2016, allows taxpayers to access up-to-date information about their federal tax account. The feature uses the latest, most secure online processes available through the IRS. At first, the tool provided basic information about any tax balance due, while also giving access to various IRS payment options.

But since then some useful features have been added, allowing taxpayers to:

• View up to 18 months of tax payment history
• View payoff amounts and tax balance due for each tax year
• Obtain online transcripts of various Form 1040-series returns using the IRS Get Transcript tool
• And to give feedback on their experience with their online account and make suggestions for improvements.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen was understandably proud of the advancement in the online accounts.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve taxpayers’ interactions with the IRS and adding these new features to the taxpayer’s online account is an important step in that direction,” Koskinen said. “The IRS is committed to serving taxpayers in multiple ways and now taxpayers who want to interact digitally with us in a secure environment have access to even more helpful features.”

Logging in requires use of the new IRS Secure Access two-step authentication process. This uses the usual login and password, but also generates a security code that is sent to the taxpayer’s cell phone.

Taxpayers already logged into the Get Transcript or IP PIN tools with Secure Access can use their same user name and password for the tax account tool.

First-time users must have their personal and financial information including: Social Security number, specific financial information (such as a credit card number or loan numbers), email address and a text-enabled mobile phone in the taxpayer's name. Taxpayers may review the Secure Access  process prior to starting registration.

As part of the authentication process, the IRS will send verification, activation or security codes by email or text. But the IRS warns that it 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.