Fill Out Form 8879 Online in 2026
Record your PIN as an authorized signature for e-filing, confirm you reviewed your return, and download it once you're done.
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How to fill out an 8879 Form
Follow the steps below to finish with no guesswork.
Open the form
Access the pre-loaded form in our editor and enter your name and SSN at the top.
Fill in your details
Complete every required field, including income, tax, and PIN authorization details.
Download as PDF
Save your completed form as a PDF, ready for filing or record keeping.
What is an 8879 Form?
Form 8879, IRS e-file Signature Authorization, is what you sign when a tax professional files your return electronically. It authorizes your preparer to use a PIN as your signature on the e-filed return. The IRS requires this so it knows you reviewed the numbers and agree to submit the return as your official tax paperwork. Without a signed 8879 tax form, your preparer cannot legally transmit your return to the IRS.
Key Takeaways
- Form 8879 authorizes e-filing by a preparer
- Contains a PIN acting as your signature
- Confirms you reviewed and agree to the return
What is an 8879 Form used for?
Form 8879 lets your tax preparer file your return without a paper signature. Here's what it covers:
- Authorizes your Electronic Return Originator (ERO) to enter a five-digit PIN as your signature on Forms 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, 1040-SS, or 1040-X
- Lets the ERO transmit your return to the IRS and confirm it arrived
- Authorizes the Treasury Department to withdraw tax payments from your bank account, if you owe money
- Confirms you reviewed the return and agree it's accurate before filing
What information is required on an 8879 Form?
Taxpayer's name and Social Security number
Enter the taxpayer's full name and Social Security number exactly as shown on the return.
Spouse's name and Social Security number
Enter the spouse's full name and Social Security number when filing a joint return.
Part I, Line 1 – Adjusted gross income
Enter the adjusted gross income amount reported on the corresponding Form 1040 series return.
Part I, Line 2 – Total tax
Enter the total tax liability figure shown on the electronic return.
Part I, Line 3 – Federal income tax withheld
Enter the federal income tax withholding amount reported on the filed return.
Part I, Line 4 – Refund, or Line 5 – Amount you owe
Enter the refund amount or the amount owed as shown on the return.
Part II – Taxpayer's PIN and signature authorization
Choose the PIN option, enter the self-select PIN, then sign and date this section.
Part III – ERO's declaration and signature
The ERO enters the EFIN and PIN, then signs and dates to certify the entries.
When is an 8879 Form due?
Form 8879 has no IRS filing deadline, because it isn't sent to the agency at all. You must sign and date it after reviewing your return, but before the ERO transmits it electronically. Your Electronic Return Originator then keeps the signed form for three years from the return's due date or its actual filing date, whichever comes later.
Sign off on Form 8879
Open Form 8879 here, complete each field, and download your finished signature authorization form.
When is Form 8879 not required?
No signature authorization is needed when you self-prepare and e-file your own return without going through an ERO, since you enter your own Self-Select PIN directly in the software. The form also drops out when you paper-file or when Form 8453 serves as the signature and transmittal document instead.
What does a 8879 form look like
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