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Preparer signature on e-filed returns

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
June 23, 2021
11 replies
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Is a tax return preparer required to give their clients a signed copy of an efiled tax return? Or does just their signature on Form 8879 suffice for IRS rules? Seems like some preparers do not give clients a signed copy of the return, but just emails them an unsigned copy (password protected). If you can give your source for the answer, that would help too. Thanks.

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Best answer by abctax55

Printed name (on hard copies and on PDF's).

Hard copies (unfortunately a few clients insist ... ) are physically stamped with a red "CLIENT COPY" on page one & over the signature area. I wet initial over my printed name.....old habit....used to mean something.

PDF copies are water marked with "C L I E N T C O P Y" and just have my printed name. I could make Adobe let me initial but .... why?

I've occasionally had a client/or a lender *complain* that the watermark obscured some number...sigh.

IRonMaN

Level 15

I let the software print my name in the signature box. These days that counts as a signature on the return.

Slava Ukraini!

Just-Lisa-Now-

Intuit Community Champion

I have the software print my name in the signature box as well. If it's good enough for IRS, its good enough for them.

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥Lisa♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Accountant-Man

Level 13

I never wet sign a copy, only an original.

My name prints, too.

** I am "Elevating with Intention!"

dascpa

Level 11

Contrary to what others have posted, I sign every return before mailing, as well as have the software print my name in the signature box. I do this (a) as sometimes a return is printed, corrected, and reprinted; my signature tells me that is the final version, and (b) it shows the clients (who actually look at a return) that I went through each page of the return. Maybe not required, just my preference.

abctax55Answer

Level 15

Printed name (on hard copies and on PDF's).

Hard copies (unfortunately a few clients insist ... ) are physically stamped with a red "CLIENT COPY" on page one & over the signature area. I wet initial over my printed name.....old habit....used to mean something.

PDF copies are water marked with "C L I E N T C O P Y" and just have my printed name. I could make Adobe let me initial but .... why?

I've occasionally had a client/or a lender *complain* that the watermark obscured some number...sigh.

HumanKind... Be Both

J

Johnl777Author

Level 3

Thanks for your answer. Agrees with Rev Ruling 78-317, even though IRS website says otherwise it appears as stated in 2/5/21 post of "Beware of "ghost" preparers who don't sign tax returns." I think, but could be wrong, the key is for the preparer to sign and date the Form 8879 e-file authorization, as well as get his taxpayers to sign and date the same, before efiling the return. Then the taxpayer copy can be given to the client unsigned, if I am reading the RR correctly. Take care and thanks.

sjrcpa

Level 15

That ghost reference refers, for example, to "preparers" using Turddoh Tax who hand the client a tax return that says Prepared by a Nonpaid Preparer

The more I know the more I don’t know.

PATAX

Level 12

@Johnl777 @abctax55 @dascpa @Accountant-Man @Just-Lisa-Now- @IRonMaN great points from all...like dascpa said, imo it is a good idea to sign both the return and the e-file signature document....

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