IRS updates IDES users on manual email confirmations, IRS public key, and configuring the SFTP connection

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Issue Number:  2024-25

Inside This Issue

1. Manual IDES confirmations will be sent by October 15, 2024
2. Update on IRS public key
3. Update on configuring your SFTP connection

The IRS will be sending manual email notifications of IDES transmissions by October 15, 2024, as previously mentioned in our newsletters on July 30, 2024, and September 4, 2024. The IRS will email you directly from lbi.fatca.ides@irs.gov, with the subject line “Manual IDES Confirmation". If you received "Failed Decompression - Decompression Failed" or "Failed Signature Check - Invalid Digital Signature" errors on your IDES transmissions, please verify the following:

1. Your certificate is uploaded and current on the IDES enrollment website.
2. You are following IRS best practices for data preparation and uploads.

Additional guidance and information can be found in the IRS FATCA Report Notifications Frequently Asked Questions and the IDES User Guide.

Please continue to report any issues with IDES to questions@ides-support.com.

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The IRS Public Key will be updated as scheduled in late October 2024. Please be on the lookout for another message indicating when the new IRS Public Key is available. To download the IRS Public Key, visit www.ides-support.com.

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The IDES SFTP Server provides users with secure access to manage and transfer files between hosts over a network. IDES SFTP authenticates using your username and password. Please ensure the IDES DNS (Domain Name System) is used for the connection to IDES instead of hard coding the IP address.

IDES Production Environment:

• Host name: www.idesgateway.com
• Port number: 4022
• Protocol: SFTP

IDES Testing Environment (PSE):

• Hostname: https://test.fatcaidesgateway.com/
• Port: 4022
• Protocol: SFTP

See the Transmit a File Using SFTP section (Section 11.7, pg. 103) of the IDES User Guide for instructions on configuring your SFTP Connection.

Example:

DNS Background Information:
Every device connected to the internet has its own IP address, which is used by other devices to locate the device. A DNS address is used to convert alphabetic references into a server's IP address generally for hosting services. DNS servers make it possible for people to input normal words into their web browsers, such as irs.gov, without having to keep track of the IP address for every website. A benefit of using DNS vs hard coded IP addresses for connectivity is should a server be changed, DNS users do not need to make changes to their application. DNS users with a hard coded IP address will need to change their SFTP configuration or their connection will fail.

Additional FATCA guidance can be found on the FATCA Forms and Publications page.

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