8821Tax Information Authorization
- Source
- irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8821.pdf
- Size
- 72,281 bytes
- SHA-256
- Revision (page)
- Jan 2021
- Revision (footer)
- Form 8821 (Rev. 01-2021) ✓ match
- Fetched
- 2026-11-02 07:30 UTC
Form 8821 authorizes a person or organization you name (a designee) to inspect or receive your confidential tax information for the types of tax, form numbers and years you list. It does not let them represent you, argue your case or sign for you; that needs Form 2848. People use it for a bookkeeper, a lender, a family member helping with notices, or a company that monitors transcripts. It can also revoke earlier authorizations. Line 5 matters: unless you check it and attach copies, a new 8821 recorded on the IRS's Centralized Authorization File automatically revokes your earlier ones. The current revision is January 2021, with instructions revised September 2021.
The official PDF opens here.
- 1Fill
- 2Sign
- 3Flatten (optional)
- 4Download
E-signed? Then submit online.
A drawn or typed signature on the PDF is an electronic signature, which the IRS accepts only through online submission. Mailed or faxed forms need a handwritten signature.
“You must handwrite your signature on Form 8821 if you file it by mail or by fax.”
Instructions for Form 8821 (Rev. September 2021), Line 6New 8821s revoke old ones.
If line 4 is not checked, the IRS revokes all prior tax information authorizations on file unless you check line 5 and attach a copy of each one you want to keep.
“If line 4 isn’t checked, the IRS will automatically revoke all prior tax information authorizations on file unless you instruct otherwise.”
Instructions for Form 8821 (Rev. September 2021), Line 5One form per spouse.
Each spouse signs their own Form 8821 to name a designee.
“If a joint return has been filed, your spouse must execute his or her own authorization on a separate Form 8821 to designate a designee.”
Instructions for Form 8821 (Rev. September 2021), Line 6, IndividualRevision history
We check the IRS forms list every day and hash the PDF bytes every week. irs.gov’s last-modified header is not reliable, so we compare the bytes. This list starts when our crawler first saw the form.
| Edition | Status | Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Rev. January 2021 | Current | baseline |
Related forms
2848
Is there a 2026 Form 2848? No. The current revision is January 2021.
4506-C
Is there a 2026 Form 4506-C? No. The current revision is October 2022.
4506-T
Is there a 2026 Form 4506-T? No. The current revision is April 2025.
56
Is there a 2026 Form 56? Yes. The current revision is June 2026.
Sources
- About Form 8821 (irs.gov) · checked 2026-10-05
- Form 8821 (Rev. January 2021) · checked 2026-10-05
- Instructions for Form 8821 (Rev. September 2021) · checked 2026-10-05
- IRS page for Form 8821 · crawled 2026-11-02
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