Parties Named
Full legal names and contact details for taxpayer and agent, including TIN and firm affiliation where applicable, so recipients can confirm identity.
A properly completed Tax Preparation Agent Document establishes who can access tax records, sign returns, and correspond with the IRS or state agencies, reducing delays, preventing identity confusion, and clarifying liability during audits.
Typical parties include individual taxpayers, business owners, tax preparers, enrolled agents, CPAs, and payroll or finance staff who need formal authority to act on behalf of a taxpayer.
Clear role assignment expedites filings, supports third-party information requests, and creates an auditable record of delegation and consent.
Full legal names and contact details for taxpayer and agent, including TIN and firm affiliation where applicable, so recipients can confirm identity.
Clear enumeration of tasks the agent may perform—prepare returns, file electronically, respond to notices, and represent before tax authorities—plus any excluded powers.
Explicit effective date and expiration or termination conditions to limit open-ended authority and help with record retention planning.
Signed by taxpayer and agent; for e-signatures the document should capture intent, consent, signer attribution, and allow reproducible retention.
Statements on access to tax records, secure transmission methods, and any HIPAA or state confidentiality considerations if tax files include health-related payments.
How the taxpayer can revoke authority, notice method, and whether revocation is effective upon receipt or upon a specified date.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signatures | Required signer fields, date fields, and initials where needed |
| Authentication | Email link, SMS code, or stronger KBA for high-risk transactions |
| Audit Trail | Enable IP, timestamp, and action logs for each signer |
| Retention | Store signed PDFs and metadata for regulatory retention period |
A completed authorization should be supplied to payers when requested; W-9s are provided upon payer request
Deliver to preparer and agent before electronic filing to ensure signatures and TINs match
Allow processing time; notify payers and tax authorities promptly to prevent continued access
Agent should retain authorization to present during IRS or state audit
Keep documents for the applicable statutory retention period after final tax year
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Available on higher tiers | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |