- quote -

Use the 8879 and whatever your software desires. Make sure
your clients sign something (your butt is the one on the
line) and they can fax or scan or send the form back.

Only use the 8453 when you absolutely need to do so. It
must be mailed to IRS within 3 days and that in itself is a
pain.

Keep the 8879 on file in your office for 3 years.

Helen, EA in PA

Director, NAEA; Immediate Past President, PSEA; Tax Expert, AOL
Enrolled Agents - THE Tax Professionals

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IraS1 wrote:

- quote -

Practitioner PIN has the advantage of not requiring you to
know the client's date of birth and prior year AGI. DOB
isn't usually a problem, but every now and then you'll have
a new client who can't find last year's tax return.

- quote -

My tax software discontinued supporting the DOB/AGI method,
so my circumstances strongly favor the Practitioner PIN
method. It doesn't take any additional work (whereas the
DOB/AGI method did), and works for every client (whereas the
DOB/AGI method didn't).

Phoebe

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I just received my approval to be an ERO. I'm now trying to
decide whether it's better for me to use the Practitioner
PIN method for signing e-filed returns or the taxpayer's DOB
and previous AGI method (or a combination of the two).

Can someone describe what circumstances favor one method
over the other? For instance, I meet with some of my
clients, but others just send their documents and data and
receive their returns by mail.

Thanks.

Ira Smilovitz

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