The Internal Revenue Service this summer will launch Tax Pro Accounts, the agency said this week. The IRS said the system will initially enable tax This summer, the IRS plans to launch the Tax Pro Account. Its initial functionality will allow tax professionals to initiate a third-party authorization on IRS.gov and send it to a client's IRS online account.Individual clients will access accounts onlin and digitally sign authorizations, sending them to be recorded on the Centralized Authorization File. The IRS says this method “will dramatically speed processing and allow for almost immediate authorization.”
That announcement came as the iRS said tax professionals can now obtain client signatures online and submit authorization forms electronically. The capability is available through "Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online" on the IRS.gov/taxpro page.
To utilize this option, professionals must have a Secure Access account, including a current username and password. They can also create an account in advance of submitting an online authorization form.
Both taxpayers and the prepares must sign Form 2848 either by hand or electronically. Only the taxpayer’s signature is needed for Form 8821. New clients’ identities must be authenticated for them to use the online signatures. The same forms can be used to withdraw authorizations.
