Tax P.O.A.

 

Request Power of Attorney (POA) Individual Client

Before You Start

You must have:

• A Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number, which the IRS assigns the first time you file a third-party authorization
• One of the following credentials and not be suspended or disbarred from practice before the IRS per Circular 230 Tax Professionals
  • Attorney
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Enrolled Agent
  • Enrolled Actuary
  • Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent

How It Works

1. Prepare

To request POA online, have this ready:

• Client's Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number
• Tax matters and periods for which you are requesting authorization are limited to the following matters from the year 2000 forward:
  • Form 1040 Income Tax
  • Split Spousal Assessment or Form 8857 Innocent Spouse Relief
  • Shared Responsibility Payment
  • Shared Responsibility Payment - Split Spousal Assessment
  • Civil Penalty (limited to periods of March, June, September and December)

To request authorization for multiple representatives:

• Each representative must log in with their account
• Only 2 representatives may receive copies of a client’s IRS notices and communications
• The client must authorize all representatives on the same day

2. Complete the Request

It should take around 15 minutes to complete the request. You cannot save requests to continue later.

After you submit the request, you'll get confirmation that it's been sent to your client's online account.

If the information you entered for your client is not correct, they will not see the request in their online account.

3. Contact Your Client

Ask your client to log in to their account to review and electronically sign the authorization request at www.irs.gov/account.

For multiple representatives requesting authorization for the same tax matters and periods:

• Ask your client to authorize all representatives on the same day

4. Client Authorizes or Rejects and Contacts You

Your client logs in to their account at www.irs.gov/account to authorize or reject the request.

The authorization will be processed after your client approves and electronically signs. Allow up to 2 business days to process after your client signs.

Your client may print confirmation and give you a copy of the signed authorization.

The IRS won’t notify you if your client rejects the request or if the request failed to process.

Contact your client with any questions about the status of a request.

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Submitting with Tax Pro Account will revoke any prior authorization(s) on file with the IRS for the same tax matters and periods. If you don’t want a prior authorization to be revoked, use Form 2848