Fill Out IRS Form 8821 Online
Tax Information Authorization
Internal Revenue Service
Authorizes a person or organization to receive and inspect a taxpayer's confidential tax information.
Reviewed July 2026
How it works
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IRS Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, lets you name any individual, firm, or organization to inspect and receive your confidential tax information for the matters and years you choose. Unlike a power of attorney, it grants access to information only; the appointee cannot represent you, argue your case, or sign anything on your behalf.
Form 8821 is short, and you can complete it in the Universal PDF editor in a few minutes. Enter the taxpayer and appointee details, define the tax matters covered, then download the finished PDF to sign and submit to the IRS.
What is Form 8821 used for
Form 8821 is a disclosure authorization. It tells the IRS that the appointee you name may receive your return information, transcripts, and notices for the specific forms and periods listed. Appointees can be people or entities, which makes the form useful for lenders and background check services, not just tax professionals.
It is also commonly used by tax practitioners who need account access and copies of IRS notices for a client without taking on full representation authority.
Who needs to file Form 8821
The taxpayer whose information will be shared signs and files the form. Typical situations include the following.
- Loan applicants whose lender needs to verify tax account details directly with the IRS
- Taxpayers who want their accountant or bookkeeper to receive copies of IRS notices
- Businesses authorizing a payroll provider or advisory firm to view employment tax accounts
- Family members helping manage a relative's tax matters where full power of attorney is not needed
How to fill out Form 8821
Precision on the tax matters line determines what the appointee can actually see, so match the form numbers and periods to what you intend to share.
- Line 1: your name, address, and taxpayer identification number
- Line 2: the appointee's name, address, and CAF number if they have one
- Line 3: the type of tax, the form number, and the years or periods covered; writing all years is not accepted
- Line 4: check the box if the authorization is for a specific use, such as a loan application, which keeps it out of the CAF system
- Line 5: whether the appointee should receive copies of IRS notices and communications
- Line 6: whether prior authorizations remain in effect
- Line 7: your signature, date, and title if signing for a business
Where to send it and deadlines
There is no deadline; file the form whenever you need to grant access, and the authorization remains active until it expires by its terms or you revoke it. The IRS accepts Form 8821 through its online submission portal, by fax, or by mail, with routing details in the instructions on IRS.gov.
Signature freshness matters for some uses, so submit the form promptly after signing and check the current instructions for the applicable window.
Frequently asked questions
The appointee can request and receive your tax information, but cannot represent you, negotiate, or make decisions on your behalf. Representation requires Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.
Yes. Any individual, corporation, firm, organization, or partnership can be an appointee, which is one of the key differences from Form 2848, where representatives must be eligible individuals.
It stays in effect for the periods listed until it is revoked or, for specific-use authorizations, until the purpose is fulfilled. You can revoke it by sending the IRS a copy marked REVOKE with a current signature and date.
Only if you check the box on the form asking the IRS to send the appointee copies of notices and communications for the matters listed.
Yes. Each spouse who wants to authorize disclosure must sign and submit a separate form, even for the same joint return years.
Related forms
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