Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Required to Access Pay.gov starting September 17 (UPDATED)
August 22, 2023
This message serves as a correction to a previously dated correspondence from August 22, 2023. We apologize for any confusion caused by our previous correspondence.
What is happening?
Fiscal Service is requiring Multifactor Authentication (MFA) for access to Pay.gov. The new authentication process supports Executive Order 14028, requiring all federal agency applications to implement MFA. Pay.gov is partnering with third-party credential service providers ID.me or Login.gov for MFA services.
Pay.gov users must link their Pay.gov accounts with the U.S. Government-approved secure sign-in option, ID.me or Login.gov. This means that every financial institution user must have a Pay.gov account linked to an individual ID.me or Login.gov account. Note: Any financial institutions using Pay.gov company (group) accounts must set up accounts for each of their users.
When is it happening?
Secure sign-in via ID.me or Login.gov will be required beginning September 17, 2023. We recommend that you do not register with ID.me or Login.gov until September 17, 2023. In the event you opt to register before September 17, 2023, please note that you will be required to provide additional personally identifiable documentation.
We recommend that you download any documentation associated with reclamations prior to September 17, 2023. As a reminder, Pay.gov should not be relied upon as a storage mechanism for reclamation documentation. Financial institutions that have challenges obtaining this information after September 17, 2023, will be supported on an ad-hoc basis following the implementation. We will provide more guidance on this in a future update.
How do I register with ID.me?
On or after September 17, 2023, go to Pay.gov and click the Sign In button. Then click the Create an Account button. You will then have the opportunity to choose ID.me OR Login.gov and clicking one of those will direct you to the appropriate site to set up an account. If you already have an ID.me or Login.gov account, you can update your account to add your business email accordingly via directions available at the Help Centers below.
Once you complete the setup, you will be redirected back to Pay.gov. If you are logging in with a known email address, Pay.gov will prompt you to connect the new account with an existing Pay.gov account.
Note: Login.gov will not be available for Pay.gov account linkage until September 17, 2023.
Where can I go for help?
Additional information about Pay.gov‘s Secure sign-in (Off-site): Pay.gov SSO Help Additional information about ID.me set up: https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/4416509221271-Treasury-and-ID-me (Off-site) ID.me help center: ID.me Help Center (Off-site)
