How to Fax IRS Form 8821 Online (Tax Information Authorization) | SecurelyFax
Form 8821 is Tax Information Authorization — the form that lets an appointee receive your confidential tax information from the IRS without granting them the broader authority to represent you. The IRS lists fax as an accepted submission method in the form's current instructions, with destination numbers that depend on where you live. SecurelyFax sends the signed Form 8821 from email, browser upload, or a phone scan and returns a delivery confirmation.
What Form 8821 does (and what it doesn't)
Form 8821 authorizes a named appointee — often a lender's underwriter, a bookkeeper, a CPA pulling transcripts, or another third party — to receive your tax return information directly from the IRS. It is read-only authorization: it does not allow the appointee to represent you, sign returns, or argue your case. For full representation authority, Form 2848 is the right form.
Why people fax 8821 instead of mailing it
Most 8821 submissions are blocking something else: a mortgage decision waiting on tax transcripts, a small-business loan that needs income verification, a CPA who can't pull data without the authorization on file. Fax gets the form onto the IRS record faster than mail, and you keep a delivery confirmation to show the lender or appointee that the authorization is in motion.
How to fax Form 8821 through SecurelyFax
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Fill in taxpayer + appointee infoName, address, and identifying numbers for both. Tax matters and tax periods covered are required.
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Sign and date the taxpayer lineForm 8821 is invalid without the taxpayer's signature within the dated window.
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Find the destination fax number for your stateThe Form 8821 instructions publish a routing table mapping the taxpayer's address to the correct CAF unit fax number. Use the current number from the latest instructions.
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Send through SecurelyFaxEmail the signed PDF, drag-and-drop in the browser, or photograph the pages from your phone.
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Save the delivery confirmationKeep the SecurelyFax receipt for the appointee or for your own records.
Where to find the current 8821 fax number
The IRS publishes the destination fax number in the Form 8821 instructions, not on the form itself, and it depends on the taxpayer's address. Always pull the latest instructions from IRS.gov; numbers do change over time.
SecurelyFax is not affiliated with the IRS and cannot file Form 8821 on your behalf. It transmits the completed, signed form to the destination number you provide and returns a delivery confirmation. The IRS instructions are the source of truth for which method and number to use.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Form 8821 and Form 2848?
Form 8821 grants information-only authorization — the appointee can receive your tax information. Form 2848 grants representation authority — the practitioner can act for you. Pick the one that matches what you actually want the third party to do.
Can I fax Form 8821 to the IRS?
Yes. The current Form 8821 instructions list fax as an accepted submission method.
Which fax number do I use?
The Form 8821 instructions publish a routing table mapping your address to the correct CAF unit fax number. Use the current number from the latest instructions.
Can I submit Form 8821 online instead?
The IRS has a Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online tool that may be available for your situation. Check the current instructions.
Do I need a fax machine?
No. SecurelyFax sends from email, browser upload, or phone scan.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-30