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/taxpro 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.

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