How to Fax Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) in 2026
Let someone see your tax records without hiring them to speak for you. Example: Income, Form 1040, 2023 thru 2025. East 855-214-7519, West 855-214-7522. Sign with a pen.
Form 8821 lets a person or a firm see the tax records you name, or receive copies of your IRS notices. They cannot speak for you. If you need someone to represent you, use Form 2848.
A common example from the IRS instructions: Income, Form 1040, 2018, and Excise, Form 720, 2018. A range is written 2023 thru 2025. Do not write “All years”, “All periods”, or “All taxes”. The IRS sends those forms back.
Re-checked the live Instructions for Form 8821 on 2 October 2026. The Where To File digits match Form 2848.
Where it goes
Route by the taxpayer’s residence, not the designee’s address:
- CAF East: 855-214-7519
- CAF West: 855-214-7522
- International CAF team: 855-772-3156, or 304-707-9785 when the form is submitted from outside the United States
This wizard is CAF only. Line 4 specific-use matters (the office handling that matter, not the general CAF chart) belong on generic send.
What to write
Use your name and address, not the other person’s. This address does not change the address the IRS already has. A joint return still needs your spouse to file their own Form 8821.
For the person who may see the records:
- Name and mailing address. Example: Alex Counsel, 200 State Street, Albany, NY 12207.
- CAF number, or None if they have never had one.
- PTIN only if they prepare returns for pay. It looks like P01234567. Leave it blank for a family member.
- Check “send copies of notices” only if they should get the same letters you get. At most two people can receive copies for the same tax.
For each tax, use four short lines. The IRS examples are the pattern:
| Kind of tax | Form | Years | Limit (optional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 1040 | 2023 thru 2025 | not applicable |
| Excise | 720 | 2024 | balance due |
Leave the limit blank, or write not applicable, if they may see the whole return. To narrow it, write something like balance due or lien information. Years in the future, on a CAF form, generally cannot run more than three years past December 31 of the year the IRS receives the form.
A one-time request for a lender or a background check is a specific-use form. The IRS must receive it within 120 days of the date you sign. That copy does not use this CAF fax. Send it with generic send to the office handling that request.
How to file
- Enter your records and up to two people. Do not list SingleFax. Leave the software-provider box unchecked.
- List the taxes with real years. Leave the “keep my older Forms 8821” box unchecked, so this form replaces older ones on file.
- Print the PDF, sign it with a pen, and upload the scan. We fax that scan.
- Service fee $14.99. The IRS does not fax a reply to a number we buy. Start at Form 8821 by fax.
New York State tax matters use Form POA-1, not this federal form. Letting a payroll company sign employment returns is Form 8655.
Not tax advice. Confirm the chart on IRS.gov the day you send.