Free 2008 Form 8879 - Federal

Form

8879

IRS e-file Signature Authorization
Do not send to the IRS. This is not a tax return. Keep this form for your records. See instructions.

OMB No. 1545-0074

Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

2008
Social security number

Declaration Control Number (DCN)
Taxpayer's name

Spouse's name

Spouse's social security number

Part I
1 2 3 4 5

Tax Return Information--Tax Year Ending December 31, 2008 (Whole Dollars Only)
1 2 3 4 5

Adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38; Form 1040A, line 22; Form 1040EZ, line 4) Total tax (Form 1040, line 61; Form 1040A, line 37; Form 1040EZ, line 11) Federal income tax withheld (Form 1040, line 62; Form 1040A, line 38; Form 1040EZ, line 7) Refund (Form 1040, line 73a; Form 1040A, line 45a; Form 1040EZ, line 12a; Form 1040-SS, Part I, line 12a) Amount you owe (Form 1040, line 75; Form 1040A, line 47; Form 1040EZ, line 13)

Part II

Taxpayer Declaration and Signature Authorization (Be sure you get and keep a copy of your return)

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined a copy of my electronic individual income tax return and accompanying schedules and statements for the tax year ending December 31, 2008, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. I further declare that the amounts in Part I above are the amounts from my electronic income tax return. I consent to allow my intermediate service provider, transmitter, or electronic return originator (ERO) to send my return to the IRS and to receive from the IRS (a) an acknowledgement of receipt or reason for rejection of the transmission, (b) an indication of any refund offset, (c) the reason for any delay in processing the return or refund, and (d) the date of any refund. If applicable, I authorize the U.S. Treasury and its designated Financial Agent to initiate an ACH electronic funds withdrawal (direct debit) entry to the financial institution account indicated in the tax preparation software for payment of my Federal taxes owed on this return and/or a payment of estimated tax, and the financial institution to debit the entry to this account. I further understand that this authorization may apply to future Federal tax payments that I direct to be debited through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). In order for me to initiate future payments, I request that the IRS send me a personal identification number (PIN) to access EFTPS. This authorization is to remain in full force and effect until I notify the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent to terminate the authorization. To revoke a payment, I must contact the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent at 1-888-353-4537 no later than 2 business days prior to the payment (settlement) date. I also authorize the financial institutions involved in the processing of the electronic payment of taxes to receive confidential information necessary to answer inquiries and resolve issues related to the payment. I further acknowledge that the personal identification number (PIN) below is my signature for my electronic income tax return and, if applicable, my Electronic Funds Withdrawal Consent.

Taxpayer's PIN: check one box only I authorize
ERO firm name

to enter or generate my PIN
Enter five numbers, but do not enter all zeros

as my signature on my tax year 2008 electronically filed income tax return.

I will enter my PIN as my signature on my tax year 2008 electronically filed income tax return. Check this box only if you are entering your own PIN and your return is filed using the Practitioner PIN method. The ERO must complete Part III below. Your signature Spouse's PIN: check one box only I authorize
ERO firm name

Date

to enter or generate my PIN
Enter five numbers, but do not enter all zeros

as my signature on my tax year 2008 electronically filed income tax return.

I will enter my PIN as my signature on my tax year 2008 electronically filed income tax return. Check this box only if you are entering your own PIN and your return is filed using the Practitioner PIN method. The ERO must complete Part III below. Spouse's signature Date

Practitioner PIN Method Returns Only--continue below
Part III Certification and Authentication--Practitioner PIN Method Only
ERO's EFIN/PIN. Enter your six-digit EFIN followed by your five-digit self-selected PIN.
do not enter all zeros

I certify that the above numeric entry is my PIN, which is my signature for the tax year 2008 electronically filed income tax return for the taxpayer(s) indicated above. I confirm that I am submitting this return in accordance with the requirements of the Practitioner PIN method and Publication 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns. ERO's signature Date

ERO Must Retain This Form -- See Instructions Do Not Submit This Form to the IRS Unless Requested To Do So
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see back of form.
Cat. No. 32778X Form

8879

(2008)

Form 8879 (2008)

Page

2

Purpose of Form
Form 8879 is the declaration document and signature authorization for an e-filed return filed by an electronic return originator (ERO). Complete Form 8879 when the Practitioner PIN method is used or when the taxpayer authorizes the ERO to enter or generate the taxpayer's personal identification number (PIN) on his or her e-filed individual income tax return. Do not send this form to the IRS. The ERO must retain Form 8879.
CAUTION

6. Enter the 14-digit Declaration Control Number (DCN) assigned to the tax return, after the taxpayer completes Part II. See Part I of Pub. 1346, Electronic Return File Specifications and Record Layouts for Individual Income Tax Returns. Pub. 1346 is available on the Internet at www.irs.gov. You must receive the completed and signed Form 8879 from the taxpayer before the electronic return is transmitted (or released for transmission).

If you are not using the Practitioner PIN method, enter the taxpayer(s) date of birth and either the adjusted gross income or the PIN, or both, from the taxpayer's prior year originally filed return in the Authentication Record of the taxpayer's electronically filed return. Do not use an amount from an amended return or a math error correction made by the IRS. Enter the taxpayer's PIN(s) on the input screen only if the taxpayer has authorized you to do so. If married filing jointly, it is acceptable for one spouse to authorize you to enter his or her PIN, and for the other spouse to enter his or her own PIN. It is not acceptable for a taxpayer to select or enter the PIN of an absent spouse. Taxpayers must use a PIN to sign their e-filed individual income tax return transmitted by an ERO. Provide the taxpayer with a copy of the signed Form 8879 for his or her records upon request. Provide the taxpayer with a corrected copy of Form 8879 if changes are made to the return (for example, based on taxpayer review). For more information, see Pub. 1345 and Pub. 1345A, Filing Season Supplement for Authorized IRS e-file Providers. Also, go to www.irs.gov/efile and select e-file For Tax Professionals. EROs can sign the form using a rubber stamp, mechanical device, or computer software program. See Notice 2007-79 for more information.

CAUTION

Taxpayer Responsibilities

When and How To Complete
Use this chart to determine when and how to complete Form 8879.
IF the ERO is . . . Not using the Practitioner PIN method and the taxpayer enters his or her own PIN Using the Practitioner PIN method and is authorized to enter or generate the taxpayer's PIN Using the Practitioner PIN method and the taxpayer enters his or her own PIN Not using the Practitioner PIN method and is authorized to enter or generate the taxpayer's PIN THEN . . . Do not complete Form 8879.

Complete Form 8879, Parts I, II, and III.

Taxpayers have the following responsibilities: (a) to verify the accuracy of the prepared income tax return, including direct deposit information, (b) to check the appropriate box in Part II to authorize the ERO to enter or generate their PIN or to do it themselves, (c) to indicate or verify their PIN when authorizing the ERO to enter or generate it (the PIN must be five numbers other than all zeros), (d) to sign and date Form 8879, and (e) to return the completed Form 8879 to the ERO by hand delivery, U.S. mail, private delivery service, or fax. Your return will not be transmitted to the IRS until the ERO receives your signed Form 8879. Refund information. You can check on the status of your 2008 refund if it has been at least 3 weeks from the date your return was filed. To check the status of your 2008 refund, do one of the following. Go to www.irs.gov and click on "Where's My Refund." Call 1-800-829-4477 for automated refund information and follow the recorded instructions. Call 1-800-829-1954.

Complete Form 8879, Parts I, II, and III. Complete Form 8879, Parts I and II.

ERO Responsibilities
The ERO will: 1. Enter the name(s) and social security number(s) of the taxpayer(s) at the top of the form. 2. Complete Part I using the amounts (zeros may be entered when appropriate) from the taxpayer's 2008 tax return. Form 1040-SS filers leave lines 1 through 3 and line 5 blank. 3. Enter or generate, if authorized by the taxpayer, the taxpayer's PIN and enter it in the boxes provided in Part II. 4. Enter on the authorization line in Part II the ERO firm name (not the name of the individual preparing the return) if the ERO is authorized to enter the taxpayer's PIN. 5. After completing (1) through (4), give the taxpayer Form 8879 for completion and review. This can be done in person or by using the U.S. mail, a private delivery service, email, or an Internet website.

Important Notes for EROs
Do not send Form 8879 to the IRS unless requested to do so. Retain the completed Form 8879 for 3 years from the return due date or IRS received date, whichever is later. Form 8879 may be retained electronically in accordance with the recordkeeping guidelines in Rev. Proc. 97-22, which is on page 9 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 1997-13 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb97-13.pdf. You should confirm the identity of the taxpayer(s). For additional guidance, see Pub. 1345, Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual Income Tax Returns. Complete Part III only if you are filing the return using the Practitioner PIN method. You are not required to enter the taxpayer's date of birth, prior year adjusted gross income, or PIN in the Authentication Record of the electronically filed return.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for this information to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax. You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by Internal Revenue Code section 6103. The average time and expenses required to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. For the estimated averages, see the instructions for your income tax return. If you have suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for your income tax return.