Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization
Form 8879 is the declaration and signature authorization you give a tax professional before they e-file your individual income tax return. Fill in the official IRS PDF below and download it.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is 8879?
Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization, is the document a taxpayer signs so an electronic return originator (ERO) can e-file their individual income tax return using the Practitioner PIN method, or enter or generate the taxpayer’s personal identification number on the return. It shows key amounts from the return, such as adjusted gross income, total tax, and the refund or balance due, so the taxpayer confirms what is being transmitted.
By signing, the taxpayer declares the return is true, correct, and complete, and authorizes the PIN to serve as their signature on the e-filed return. The signed form is retained by the ERO rather than sent to the IRS, and it is not used when taxpayers self-select their own PIN and enter it themselves.
Who files 8879?
- Taxpayers whose returns are e-filed by a tax professional using the Practitioner PIN method
- Taxpayers authorizing an ERO to enter or generate their PIN on the e-filed return
- Both spouses on a jointly filed return, each of whom must sign the authorization
- EROs who must obtain the signed form before transmitting the return
How to fill out 8879
- Confirm the taxpayer name and social security number fields match the return being filed.
- Review the Part I amounts carried from the return, such as AGI, total tax, and refund or amount owed.
- In Part II, choose a five-digit PIN, check whether you entered it or authorized the ERO to do so, and sign and date. On a joint return, both spouses complete this part.
- The ERO completes Part III with the practitioner PIN, signature, and date.
- Download the finished PDF for signing and records. The ERO retains the signed form, it is not mailed to the IRS.
Quick fill 8879 on this page
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Frequently asked questions
Do I send Form 8879 to the IRS?
No. The ERO keeps the signed form for the retention period in the instructions and provides it to the IRS only on request. Ask for a copy along with your copy of the filed return.
Should I sign Form 8879 before reviewing my return?
No. Review the completed return first, since signing declares the return is true, correct, and complete. A preparer should give you the return, or at least the summary figures on the form, before asking for a signature.
Can Form 8879 be signed electronically?
Yes, the IRS allows electronic signatures on Form 8879 when the ERO follows the identity verification requirements in the e-file rules. Handwritten signatures on paper or scanned copies also remain acceptable.