Form 8879 IRS e-file Signature Authorization
OMB No. 1545-0074
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Do not send to the IRS. This is not a tax return.
Keep this form for your records. See instructions.
2007
Declaration Control Number (DCN)
Taxpayer’s name Social security number
Spouse’s name Spouse’s social security number
Part I Tax Return Information—Tax Year Ending December 31, 2007 (Whole Dollars Only)
1 Adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38; Form 1040A, line 22; Form 1040EZ, line 4) 1
2 Total tax (Form 1040, line 63; Form 1040A, line 37; Form 1040EZ, line 10) 2
3 Federal income tax withheld (Form 1040, line 64; Form 1040A, line 38; Form 1040EZ, line 7) 3
4 Refund (Form 1040, line 74a; Form 1040A, line 44a; Form 1040EZ, line 11a; Form 1040-SS, Part I, line 12a) 4
5 Amount you owe (Form 1040, line 76; Form 1040A, line 46; Form 1040EZ, line 12) 5
Part II Taxpayer Declaration and Signature Authorization (Be sure you get and keep a copy of your return)
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined a copy of my electronic individual income tax return and accompanying schedules and statements
for the tax year ending December 31, 2007, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. I further declare that the amounts
in Part I above are the amounts from my electronic income tax return. I consent to allow my intermediate service provider, transmitter, or electronic return
originator (ERO) to send my return to the IRS and to receive from the IRS (a) an acknowledgement of receipt or reason for rejection of the transmission,
(b) an indication of any refund offset, (c) the reason for any delay in processing the return or refund, and (d) the date of any refund. If applicable, I authorize
the U.S. Treasury and its designated Financial Agent to initiate an ACH electronic funds withdrawal (direct debit) entry to the financial institution account
indicated in the tax preparation software for payment of my Federal taxes owed on this return and/or a payment of estimated tax, and the financial institution
to debit the entry to this account. I further understand that this authorization may apply to future Federal tax payments that I direct to be debited through the
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). In order for me to initiate future payments, I request that the IRS send me a personal identification number
(PIN) to access EFTPS. This authorization is to remain in full force and effect until I notify the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent to terminate the authorization. To
revoke a payment, I must contact the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent at 1-888-353-4537 no later than 2 business days prior to the payment (settlement) date.
I also authorize the financial institutions involved in the processing of the electronic payment of taxes to receive confidential information necessary to answer
inquiries and resolve issues related to the payment. I further acknowledge that the personal identification number (PIN) below is my signature for my electronic
income tax return and, if applicable, my Electronic Funds Withdrawal Consent.
Taxpayer’s PIN: check one box only
I authorize to enter or generate my PIN
ERO firm name do not enter all zeros
as my signature on my tax year 2007 electronically filed income tax return.
I will enter my PIN as my signature on my tax year 2007 electronically filed income tax return. Check this box only if you
are entering your own PIN and your return is filed using the Practitioner PIN method. The ERO must complete Part III
below.
Your signature Date
Spouse’s PIN: check one box only
I authorize to enter or generate my PIN
ERO firm name do not enter all zeros
as my signature on my tax year 2007 electronically filed income tax return.
I will enter my PIN as my signature on my tax year 2007 electronically filed income tax return. Check this box only if you
are entering your own PIN and your return is filed using the Practitioner PIN method. The ERO must complete Part III
below.
Spouse’s signature Date
Practitioner PIN Method Returns Only—continue below
Part III Certification and Authentication—Practitioner PIN Method Only
ERO’s EFIN/PIN. Enter your six-digit EFIN followed by your five-digit self-selected PIN.
do not enter all zeros
I certify that the above numeric entry is my PIN, which is my signature for the tax year 2007 electronically filed income tax return for the taxpayer(s) indicated
above. I confirm that I am submitting this return in accordance with the requirements of the Practitioner PIN method and Publication 1345, Handbook for
Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns.
ERO’s signature Date
ERO Must Retain This Form — See Instructions
Do Not Submit This Form to the IRS Unless Requested To Do So
For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see back of form. Cat. No. 32778X Form 8879 (2007)
Form 8879 (2007) Page 2
What’s New You must receive the completed ● Taxpayers must use a PIN to sign their
Beginning October 16, 2007, electronic return and signed Form 8879 from the e-filed individual income tax return
originators (EROs) can sign the form by taxpayer before the electronic transmitted by an ERO. Beginning in 2008,
rubber stamp, mechanical device, or CAUTION return is transmitted (or released Form 8453, U.S. Individual Income Tax
computer program. See Notice 2007-79 for for transmission). Transmittal for an e-file Return, is only used
more information. for transmitting documents to the IRS that
Taxpayer Responsibilities cannot be electronically filed. Form 8453
Purpose of Form cannot be used as a signature document.
Taxpayers have the following responsibilities:
Form 8879 is the declaration document and
(a) to verify the accuracy of the prepared ● Provide the taxpayer with a copy of the
signature authorization for an e-filed return
income tax return, including direct deposit signed Form 8879 for his or her records upon
filed by an electronic return originator (ERO).
information, (b) to check the appropriate box in request.
Complete Form 8879 when the Practitioner
Part II to authorize the ERO to enter or ● Provide the taxpayer with a corrected copy
PIN method is used or when the taxpayer
generate their PIN or to do it themselves, (c) to of Form 8879 if changes are made to the
authorizes the ERO to enter or generate the
indicate or verify their PIN when authorizing the return (for example, based on taxpayer
taxpayer’s personal identification number
ERO to enter or generate it (the PIN must be review).
(PIN) on his or her e-filed individual income
five numbers other than all zeros), (d) to sign
tax return. ● For more information, see Pub. 1345 and
and date Form 8879, and (e) to return the
Do not send this form to the IRS. completed Form 8879 to the ERO by hand Pub. 1345A, Filing Season Supplement for
The ERO must retain Form 8879. delivery, U.S. mail, private delivery service, or Authorized IRS e-file Providers. Also, go to
fax. Your return will not be transmitted to the www.irs.gov/efile and select e-file For Tax
CAUTION IRS until the ERO receives your signed Form Professionals.
8879.
When and How To Complete Refund information. You can check on the
Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act
Use this chart to determine when and how to status of your 2007 refund if it has been at
Notice. We ask for this information to carry
complete Form 8879. least 3 weeks from the date your return was
out the Internal Revenue laws of the United
filed. To check the status of your 2007
IF the ERO is . . . THEN . . .
States. Section 6061(a) of the Internal
refund, do one of the following.
Revenue Code requires taxpayers to sign
Not using the Practitioner Do not complete ● Go to www.irs.gov and click on “Where’s their tax returns. Section 6061(b) permits the
PIN method and the Form 8879. My Refund.” IRS to accept electronic signatures under
taxpayer enters his or her certain circumstances. Section 6109 requires
own PIN ● Call 1-800-829-4477 for automated refund
information and follow the recorded you to provide your social security number.
Using the Practitioner PIN Complete Form 8879, This form is to permit you to use a personal
method and is authorized Parts I, II, and III. instructions.
identification number (PIN) as your signature
to enter or generate the ● Call 1-800-829-1954. which will be your electronic signature for
taxpayer’s PIN
your individual income tax return, and for you
Using the Practitioner PIN Complete Form 8879, Important Notes for EROs to authorize an electronic return originator
method and the taxpayer Parts I, II, and III. (ERO) to enter or generate the PIN on your
enters his or her own PIN ● Do not send Form 8879 to the IRS unless
requested to do so. Retain the completed Form behalf. You are not required to authorize your
Not using the Practitioner Complete Form 8879, 8879 for 3 years from the return due date or ERO to enter your PIN on your behalf; you
PIN method and is Parts I and II. IRS received date, whichever is later. Form may personally enter your PIN at the time of
authorized to enter or 8879 may be retained electronically in transmission. Routine uses of this information
generate the taxpayer’s include giving it to the Department of Justice
accordance with the recordkeeping guidelines
PIN for use in civil and criminal litigation, and to
in Rev. Proc. 97-22, which is on page 9 of
Internal Revenue Bulletin 1997-13 at cities, states, and the District of Columbia for
ERO Responsibilities www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb97-13.pdf. use in administering their tax laws. We may
also disclose this information to other
The ERO will: ● You should confirm the identity of the countries under a tax treaty, to federal and
taxpayer(s). For additional guidance, see Pub. state agencies to enforce federal nontax
1. Enter the name(s) and social security
1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement
number(s) of the taxpayer(s) at the top of the
Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns. and intelligence agencies to combat
form.
● Complete Part III only if you are filing the terrorism. Providing false or fraudulent
2. Complete Part I using the amounts return using the Practitioner PIN method. You information may subject you to penalties.
(zeros may be entered when appropriate) are not required to enter the taxpayer’s date
from the taxpayer’s 2007 tax return. Form You are not required to provide the
of birth, prior year adjusted gross income, or information requested on a form that is
1040-SS filers leave lines 1 through 3 and line PIN in the Authentication Record of the
5 blank. subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
electronically filed return. unless the form displays a valid OMB control
3. Enter or generate, if authorized by the number. Books or records relating to a form
● If you are not using the Practitioner PIN
taxpayer, the taxpayer’s PIN and enter it in or its instructions must be retained as long as
method, enter the taxpayer(s) date of birth
the boxes provided in Part II. their contents may become material in the
and either the adjusted gross income or the
4. Enter on the authorization line in Part II PIN, or both, from the taxpayer’s prior year administration of any Internal Revenue law.
the ERO firm name (not the name of the originally filed return in the Authentication Generally, tax returns and return information
individual preparing the return) if the ERO is Record of the taxpayer’s electronically filed are confidential, as required by Internal
authorized to enter the taxpayer’s PIN. return. Do not use an amount from an Revenue Code section 6103.
5. After completing (1) through (4), give the amended return or a math error correction The average time and expenses required to
taxpayer Form 8879 for completion and made by the IRS. complete and file this form will vary
review. This can be done in person or by ● Enter the taxpayer’s PIN(s) on the input depending on individual circumstances. For
using the U.S. mail, a private delivery service, screen only if the taxpayer has authorized you the estimated averages, see the instructions
email, or an Internet website. to do so. If married filing jointly, it is for your income tax return.
6. Enter the 14-digit Declaration Control acceptable for one spouse to authorize you to If you have suggestions for making this
Number (DCN) assigned to the tax return, enter his or her PIN, and for the other spouse form simpler, we would be happy to hear
after the taxpayer completes Part II. See Part to enter his or her own PIN. It is not from you. See the instructions for your
I of Pub. 1346, Electronic Return File acceptable for a taxpayer to select or enter income tax return.
Specifications and Record Layouts for the PIN of an absent spouse.
Individual Income Tax Returns. Pub. 1346 is
available on the Internet at www.irs.gov.