Where to Fax Form 8821 (IRS Tax Information Authorization)
Form 8821 is recorded by the same CAF units as Form 2848 — Memphis, Ogden, or the international team — based on the taxpayer’s state. Confirm your fax number below and send.
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Fax numbers and addresses were last verified July 17, 2026. The IRS can change them at any time — always confirm against the official source: IRS.gov — Instructions for Form 8821.
Find your Form 8821 fax number
Use the CAF unit for the state shown in the taxpayer’s address on the form.
All Form 8821 fax numbers and mailing addresses
Every destination is listed below so you can confirm yours directly.
Memphis CAF Unit
Fax number
(855) 214-7519
Mailing address (alternative)
Internal Revenue Service5333 Getwell Road, Stop 8423Memphis, TN 38118States served: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.
Ogden CAF Unit
Fax number
(855) 214-7522
Mailing address (alternative)
Internal Revenue Service1973 Rulon White Blvd., MS 6737Ogden, UT 84201States served: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
International CAF Unit (APO/FPO, US territories, foreign address)
Fax number (from within the US)
(855) 772-3156
From outside the US: (304) 707-9785
Mailing address (alternative)
Internal Revenue ServiceInternational CAF Team2970 Market Street, MS 4-H14.123Philadelphia, PA 19104For taxpayers with an APO/FPO address, a US territory address, or a foreign address. Fax 855-772-3156 from within the US, or 304-707-9785 from abroad.
What Form 8821 does and who files it
Form 8821, "Tax Information Authorization," lets you name a person, firm, or organization that is allowed to receive and inspect your confidential tax information for the tax matters and periods you specify. Unlike a power of attorney, an 8821 appointee cannot advocate for you, argue your case, or sign anything on your behalf — they can only see the information. Lenders verifying tax transcripts, accountants monitoring a client’s account, and payroll or tax-software firms commonly use Form 8821 for exactly this reason.
Because it grants visibility rather than authority, Form 8821 has a lighter signature requirement than Form 2848: it needs the taxpayer’s signature, but the appointee does not have to be someone eligible to practice before the IRS and does not sign a Declaration of Representative. That makes 8821 the right choice whenever you need someone to receive information but not to act.
Same CAF units as Form 2848
Form 8821 is recorded on the Centralized Authorization File (CAF) — the same national database used for Form 2848 powers of attorney — so the two forms are routed to the identical fax units. Which unit is correct depends on the state in the taxpayer’s address: Memphis and Ogden split the states between them, and an international CAF team in Philadelphia handles APO/FPO, US territory, and foreign addresses.
Note that the state split for the CAF units is not the same as the state split for Form 2553’s S-election centers. Wisconsin, for instance, is served by the Ogden CAF unit for Form 8821 and Form 2848, but by the Kansas City service center for Form 2553. Always use the mapping on the page for the specific form you are filing.
Fax, online, or mail
Faxing is the quickest traditional way to get an 8821 on file and gives you a transmission confirmation for your records. The IRS also accepts Form 8821 through its "Submit Forms 2848 and 8821 Online" tool, which requires a Secure Access account, and by mail to the same CAF unit. As with any CAF authorization, the appointee can only receive information once the unit records the form, so file early.
What to include when you fax Form 8821
- A cover sheet with the taxpayer’s name, the appointee’s name, a callback number, and the page count.
- A complete Form 8821 identifying the taxpayer and the appointee, with the specific tax matters, forms, and years/periods listed.
- The taxpayer’s signature and date — an 8821 without the taxpayer’s signature cannot be recorded.
- The appointee’s CAF number if they already have one, so the authorization attaches to their existing file.
- A clear indication if you want to retain existing authorizations; a new 8821 can otherwise revoke earlier ones for the same matters.
Common mistakes that get Form 8821 rejected
- Using Form 8821 when you actually need a representative to act for you — that requires Form 2848 instead.
- Missing the taxpayer’s signature or date.
- Faxing to the CAF unit for the wrong state.
- Listing overly broad tax matters or periods instead of specific forms and years.
- Assuming the 8821 state split matches Form 2553 — it does not; use this form’s own table.
After you fax Form 8821
- Keep the fax transmission confirmation as proof of the submission date.
- The CAF unit records the authorization, typically within a few days to a few weeks depending on volume.
- Once recorded, the appointee can receive transcripts and account information for the listed matters and periods — but cannot act on your behalf.
- To end the authorization early, send a copy of the 8821 marked "REVOKE" with your signature to the same CAF unit.
Form 8821 fax FAQ
Related IRS forms
Last verified July 17, 2026. Official source: IRS.gov — Instructions for Form 8821