Issue Number: IR-2021–20

New IRS ‘Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online’ offers contact-free signature options for tax pros and clients sending authorization forms

IR-2021–20, Jan. 25, 2021   WASHINGTON – The Inter­nal Rev­enue Ser­vice today rolled out a new online option that will help tax pro­fes­sion­als remote­ly obtain sig­na­tures from indi­vid­ual and busi­ness clients and sub­mit autho­riza­tion forms elec­tron­i­cal­ly.   Tax pro­fes­sion­als can find the new “Sub­mit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online” on the IRS​.gov/​t​a​x​pro page. Tax pro­fes­sion­als must have a Secure Access account, includ­ing a cur­rent user­name and pass­word, or cre­ate an account in advance of sub­mit­ting an online autho­riza­tion form.   “This online tool will allow tax pro­fes­sion­als to safe­ly obtain sig­na­tures from indi­vid­ual and busi­ness clients and upload autho­riza­tion forms,” said Chuck Ret­tig, IRS com­mis­sion­er. “This is a first step in our ongo­ing efforts to expand dig­i­tal options for tax pro­fes­sion­als using elec­tron­ic sig­na­tures and online uploads.”   The project is a result of the Tax­pay­er First Act that requires the IRS to expand use of tax­pay­ers’ elec­tron­ic sig­na­tures on autho­riza­tion forms. This online option also will help pro­tect tax­pay­ers and tax pro­fes­sion­als by more eas­i­ly allow­ing remote trans­ac­tions.   Form 2848, Pow­er of Attor­ney and Dec­la­ra­tion of Rep­re­sen­ta­tive, and Form 8821, Tax Infor­ma­tion Autho­riza­tion, are two forms that allow tax­pay­ers to autho­rize the IRS to dis­close their tax infor­ma­tion to third par­ties, such as, tax pro­fes­sion­als.   Form 2848 is a taxpayer’s writ­ten autho­riza­tion appoint­ing an eli­gi­ble indi­vid­ual to rep­re­sent the tax­pay­er before the IRS, includ­ing per­form­ing cer­tain acts on the taxpayer’s behalf. It also autho­rizes the rep­re­sen­ta­tive to receive relat­ed con­fi­den­tial tax infor­ma­tion of the tax­pay­er from the IRS. Form 8821 is a taxpayer’s writ­ten autho­riza­tion des­ig­nat­ing a third par­ty to receive and view the taxpayer’s infor­ma­tion. .…. Read Full Arti­cle