How to fax Form 8821 (tax information authorization) to the IRS
Form 8821 lets a person or a company see your IRS tax information. You can mail it, submit it online, or fax it. Here is what to check before you fax it, where to send it, and how to do it from your phone.
Checked on October 19, 2026 against the Instructions for Form 8821 (Rev. September 2021, page updated April 30, 2026) on irs.gov. The IRS says fax numbers may change without notice, so open the instructions on the day you send.
Form 8821 or Form 2848?
| Form 8821 | Form 2848 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lets them see your tax information | Yes | Yes |
| Lets them speak for you or argue your position with the IRS | No | Yes |
| Who you can name | Any individual, corporation, firm, organization or partnership | A person eligible to practice before the IRS, like an attorney, CPA or enrolled agent |
If someone needs to represent you, use Form 2848. If they only need to see your information, Form 8821 is the one.
Check these before you fax
Sign by hand. For a Form 8821 sent by fax or mail, the IRS says digital, electronic or typed-font signatures are not valid. An electronically signed Form 8821 can only be submitted online.
List exact years on line 3. Write the type of tax information, the form number and the specific years or periods. A general entry like "All years" gets the form returned. The IRS won't record future years or periods more than 3 years ahead.
Watch the 120-day rule. When the authorization is for a purpose other than resolving a tax matter with the IRS, for example income verification for a lender, the IRS must receive Form 8821 within 120 days of your signature date. Sign it close to the day you send it.
Keep earlier authorizations if you need them. Unless you say otherwise, a new Form 8821 automatically revokes earlier tax information authorizations on file. To keep one, check the retention box and attach a copy of the authorization you want to keep.
Where to fax Form 8821
The fax number depends on where you, the taxpayer, live:
| If you live in | Fax |
|---|---|
| Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia | 855-214-7519 (Memphis) |
| Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming | 855-214-7522 (Ogden) |
| APO and FPO addresses, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or outside the United States | 855-772-3156, or 304-707-9785 from outside the US |
One exception: if you checked the box on line 4 (a specific use the IRS won't record on its authorization file), fax the form to the IRS office handling that matter instead.
These are the same numbers as for Form 2848. All IRS numbers on one page: IRS fax numbers by form.
How to fax it from your iPhone
- Fill in the form and sign it by hand.
- Add a short cover sheet with your name, phone number, "Form 8821" and the page count.
- In HonestFax, scan the signed pages. The app straightens the pages and fixes the contrast.
- Choose United States and enter the number from the table above.
- Check the price on screen and send. When it says Delivered, the IRS fax machine accepted every page.
Step-by-step basics with screenshots: how to send a fax from your iPhone.
Faxing vs. submitting online
The IRS also accepts Form 8821 online at IRS.gov/Submit8821, which needs a Secure Access account. Online is the only option if the form was signed electronically. Faxing makes sense when the form is already signed on paper, or when you don't have a Secure Access account.
Frequently asked questions
Can my designee talk to the IRS for me with Form 8821? No. Form 8821 lets them see your information, but not speak for you or argue your position. That needs Form 2848.
Can I name a company, not a person? Yes. Form 8821 can name an individual, corporation, firm, organization or partnership.
Can I fax Form 8821 with an electronic signature? No. For fax and mail, the IRS requires a handwritten signature. Electronically signed forms can only be submitted online.
How do I know the IRS received it? A delivered fax means the IRS fax machine accepted every page. Keep that confirmation. See how to confirm a fax was received.