How to Fax IRS Form 2848 — Power of Attorney for Tax Representation
Form 2848 authorizes a named person — usually a CPA, enrolled agent, or attorney — to represent a taxpayer before the IRS and to receive confidential tax information on their behalf. The IRS accepts this form by fax so that a representative can be put on record quickly, often while a time-sensitive notice or audit is already in progress. Because the form pairs a taxpayer's identifying details with a signature that grants real authority, it travels as a fixed document whose arrival the receiving unit can timestamp against the matter it belongs to.
Why this form is faxed
A representative frequently needs authority on file before a deadline on an IRS notice runs out, and faxing puts the signed authorization in front of the assigned unit far faster than mail. The IRS instructions for the form list fax as an accepted submission method for exactly this reason. A faxed copy also arrives as a single non-editable document, which matches how the agency records who is authorized to act on an account.
Where it goes
The correct destination depends on the taxpayer's state and the reason for the authorization — the IRS publishes the current submission fax number in the Instructions for Form 2848 and on its website, and a specific notice may direct the form to the office handling that matter. Always confirm the number on the latest IRS instructions or the notice you received rather than reusing an old one, because the agency updates these by service center.
How to fax IRS Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative)
- 1Complete every line of Form 2848, including the representative's name, CAF number if they have one, and the specific tax matters and years being authorized
- 2Have the taxpayer sign and date Part I — an authorization missing a signature or date is rejected
- 3Confirm the current submission fax number in the latest IRS Instructions for Form 2848 or on the IRS notice that prompted the filing
- 4Scan or export the signed form as a clear, high-contrast PDF
- 5Log in to Send FAX Mail, upload the PDF, enter the confirmed IRS fax number, and send
- 6Save the transmission confirmation as your record of when the authorization reached the IRS
Handling sensitive information
Form 2848 contains the taxpayer's Social Security or employer identification number and grants access to confidential tax records, so it is sensitive financial data. Send it only to a number you have confirmed against current IRS instructions; a mistyped or outdated fax number can route identifying details to the wrong office.
What’s current · as of July 2026
Recent updates
Federal agencies still write fax into new rules and notices
The Federal Register — the daily journal of U.S. federal rulemaking — regularly publishes rules and notices that reference fax as an accepted or required submission channel for filings with agencies like the IRS, SSA, and CMS. That is why fax remains a live requirement for many official forms even as electronic portals expand.
Federal Register →
Faxing IRS Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) — FAQ
Yes. The Instructions for Form 2848 list fax as an accepted way to submit the authorization, and representatives often use it because it reaches the assigned unit faster than mail when a notice deadline is approaching. Keep the send confirmation so you can show when it arrived.
Check the current Instructions for Form 2848 on the IRS website, which list the submission number by taxpayer location, and read any IRS notice tied to the matter — a notice may direct the form to the specific office handling it. Verify the number each time rather than reusing a saved one, since the IRS updates them by service center.
The IRS returns an authorization that is missing the taxpayer's signature or the date, and no representative is put on record until a complete form is received. Confirm that Part I is fully signed and dated before you fax it so you don't lose days re-sending during a live matter.
Every send through Send FAX Mail returns a confirmation showing the date and time the pages reached the destination fax line. Save that record alongside the signed form so you can document exactly when the authorization was submitted if a deadline is ever questioned.
Ready to fax IRS Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative)?
Upload your completed form and send it in seconds — no fax machine required.
7-day free trial · No credit card required