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How to Fax IRS Form 8655 Online (Reporting Agent Authorization) | SecurelyFax

Form 8655 is Reporting Agent Authorization — the form that lets a payroll service or accounting firm sign and file employment tax returns on the employer's behalf. The IRS lists fax as an accepted submission channel in the form's current instructions, with a destination at the Ogden, Utah Reporting Agents File processing site. SecurelyFax sends the signed 8655 from email, browser upload, or a phone scan and returns a delivery confirmation.

What Form 8655 does

Form 8655 authorizes a named Reporting Agent — typically a payroll service or a CPA firm — to act for the employer on a specific list of tax forms (Form 941, Form 940, Form 944, and others). The employer signs it; the Reporting Agent attaches it to their RA Authorization File submission. Without 8655 on file, the agent can't file payroll returns under the employer's EIN.

Why employers fax 8655 instead of mailing

Payroll deadlines don't wait. When a new client onboards with a payroll service mid-quarter, the agent needs the 8655 on file before the next 941 is due, and mail can take weeks. Fax to the Ogden RAF unit is the standard quick path: get the signed form to the IRS, keep the delivery confirmation, and let the payroll service file on the new schedule.

How to fax Form 8655 through SecurelyFax

  1. 1
    Complete every required line
    Employer name, EIN, address, contact info, the Reporting Agent's information, and the specific tax forms and periods covered. Don't authorize more than the agent needs.
  2. 2
    Sign and date
    The employer's signature line is required. Many filings also include an officer's title; check the instructions for your entity type.
  3. 3
    Look up the current destination fax number
    Pull the current Ogden Reporting Agents File fax number from the latest Form 8655 instructions on IRS.gov.
  4. 4
    Send through SecurelyFax
    Email the signed PDF, drag-and-drop in your browser, or photograph the signed pages with your phone.
  5. 5
    Save the delivery confirmation
    Forward the SecurelyFax receipt to the payroll service so they have it for the audit file.

Scope of the authorization

Form 8655 is form-specific and period-specific. The employer lists exactly which payroll forms the agent is authorized to file and for which tax periods. Limiting scope is a feature, not a limitation — it gives the employer clear control over what the agent can submit under their EIN.
SecurelyFax is not affiliated with the IRS and cannot file Form 8655 on your behalf. It transmits the completed, signed form to the destination number you provide and returns a delivery confirmation. The payroll service or the IRS instructions are the source of truth for which boxes to check and which destination to send to.

Frequently asked questions

Who fills out Form 8655 — the employer or the payroll service?
The payroll service usually prepares the form because they know which forms and periods they need authorized. The employer reviews and signs.
Can I fax Form 8655 to the IRS?
Yes. The current Form 8655 instructions list fax as an accepted submission method, with a destination at the Ogden Reporting Agents File unit.
Which fax number do I use?
Use the destination number printed on the latest Form 8655 instructions. The Ogden RAF unit number can change; pull it from the current instructions on IRS.gov.
Does the authorization expire?
Form 8655 stays in effect until revoked or replaced. If the agent's coverage changes, file an updated 8655 specifying the new scope.
Do I need a fax machine?
No. SecurelyFax sends from email, browser upload, or phone scan.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-30

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