Tax Pro Account

You can request power of attorney (POA) or tax information authorization (TIA) online with Tax Pro Account.

How it works

Send a POA or TIA request to an individual’s IRS online account.

  • Submit request in 15 minutes or less
  • Taxpayer electronically signs
  • Real-time processing

View all your active POAs and TIAs and withdraw in real-time when you link your CAF number.

Sign in to Tax Pro Account

Need to use forms? Submit authorizations with Forms 2848 and 8821.

Who can use this tool

To use Tax Pro Account, you need to have:

For POA requests, you also must have:

  • Authority to practice before the IRS as an attorney, certified public accountant, enrolled agent, enrolled actuary or enrolled retirement plan agent
  • License, if you are an attorney or certified public accountant, to practice in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia

Before you start

Check if this tool is right for your request.

If you need other options, submit Forms 2848 or 8821

Individual taxpayers

Tax Pro Account is for authorization requests to individuals. They must have both:

  • An address in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
  • An ability to access an IRS online account

Tax years and tax matters

You can request authorizations for calendar year filers for periods from the last 20 years through the current year, plus 3 future years (except where noted) for:

  • Form 1040 Income Tax
  • Split Spousal Assessment or Form 8857 Innocent Spouse Relief
  • Shared Responsibility Payment (2014 or later)
  • Shared Responsibility Payment - Split Spousal Assessment (2014 or later)
  • Civil Penalty (limited to periods of March, June, September and December)

Prior authorizations revoked

If you submit with Tax Pro Account, prior authorizations on file for the same tax matters, tax periods and authorization types will be revoked. 

Hours of service

Tax Pro Account is available:

  • Monday 6 a.m. ET to Saturday 9 p.m. ET
  • Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight ET (occasionally down for maintenance)

Accessibility Guide

If you use a screen reader or magnifier or voice command software, refer to the Tax Pro Account Accessibility Guide.

Help Topics

Taxpayer Information

To complete an authorization with Tax Pro Account, the individual taxpayer must have access to an IRS online account.

You can submit a request before the taxpayer creates an online account. Once the taxpayer creates an account and signs in, they can find your request in their Authorizations.

The taxpayer address you enter in Tax Pro Account must match our records. Have the taxpayer check a recent notice from the IRS to confirm the name and address we have on file.

The address must be in a U.S. state or the District of Columbia. Use approved abbreviations, such as "St" for street and "Ave" for avenue. See Approved Abbreviations.

If the taxpayer’s address has changed, ask them to notify us.  

CAF number

To request authorizations with Tax Pro Account, you must have a CAF number.

You can get a CAF number the first time you submit a third-party authorization with Forms 2848 or 8821. After we process the authorization, we’ll send you a letter with your assigned CAF number. You can then use the number to submit authorization requests with Tax Pro Account.

If you’re a tax professional and can’t locate your CAF number, call the Practitioner Priority Service at 866-860-4259. An assistor can help you retrieve your CAF number once you verify your identity.  

The address you enter in Tax Pro Account must match what’s on the CAF file at the IRS.

To update your CAF address, sign and date a written notification of address change. Mail or fax it to the location where you filed the Form 2848 or Form 8821.

When you link your CAF number in Tax Pro Account, you associate it with your Tax Identification Number in the CAF database.

Benefits:

You can do more in Tax Pro Account when you link your CAF number:

  • View all your active authorizations for individuals and businesses recorded on the CAF
  • Withdraw in real-time from any active authorization

If you choose not to link your CAF number, you can still request POA and TIA with Tax Pro Account.

How it works:

The CAF number must be assigned to you as an individual and only you can link it. If you have more than one CAF number, you may link them all.

Linking your CAF number is a one-time process. Once your CAF number is linked, you can't unlink it.

To link your CAF number, go to your Profile in Tax Pro Account, select Link a CAF number and follow the 2-step identity verification process.

Using Tax Pro Account

Tax Pro Account shows the historical status of requests you submit through the tool.

Generally, your approved authorization request should display in Tax Pro Account within 2 business days after the taxpayer signs and authorizes your request.

Tax Pro Account won't display a status if:

  • ​​​​The taxpayer approved the authorization, but we haven't processed it yet
  • The taxpayer approved the authorization, but the processing failed
  • The taxpayer rejected the authorization
  • The taxpayer revokes or the tax professional withdraws the authorization

For information on your request status before processing is complete, contact the taxpayer.

Tax Pro Account lets you view all of your active authorizations on the CAF when you link your CAF number. This includes active POAs and TIAs from individuals and business entities submitted with forms and through Tax Pro Account.

If you choose not to link your CAF number, you can view only active POAs and TIAs submitted through Tax Pro Account.

You can withdraw an authorization in real-time with electronic signature in Tax Pro Account.

Once you withdraw, the authorization is immediately and permanently removed from the CAF database.

To request authorization for more than one representative for the same tax matters and periods:

  • Each representative must log in with their account to submit their own request.
  • Only 2 representatives may receive copies of a taxpayer’s IRS notices and communications.
  • The taxpayer must authorize all representatives on the same day.

If you request authorizations for overlapping tax periods and tax matters, the subsequent overlapping requests will not process if the taxpayer approves them on the same day. 

To ensure proper processing, you can review and manage your authorization requests in Tax Pro Account. 

If you need more options, submit Forms 2848 and 8821.

Tax Pro Account doesn’t require forms and processes authorizations within 2 business days after the taxpayer approves your request.

Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online lets you securely upload forms and processes authorizations on a first-in, first-out basis.

Related

Power of attorney and other authorizations
Centralized Authorization File (CAF) rules
Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney, Publication 947