IRS Extends Electronic Signatures on Tax Forms Through Oct. 31, 2023
The IRS recently released Memos NHQ-10-1121-0005 and NHQ-01-1121-0004, which extend the ability to electronically sign a number of different tax forms and compliance documents through Oct. 31, 2023. The memos revise and supersede the extension that the IRS provided on April 15 that had been set to expire at the end of 2021.
The memos state that the IRS will accept a range of e-signatures, including:
- A typed name typed on a signature block
- A scanned or digitized image of a handwritten signature attached to an electronic record
- A handwritten signature entered onto an electronic signature pad
- A handwritten signature, mark or command entered on a display screen with a stylus
- A signature created by third-party software
The IRS does not specify what kind of technology a taxpayer needs to use to capture an e-signature but stated that it will accept scanned or photographed images of signatures, including common file types such as TIFF, JPEG, PDF, zip and other file types supported by Microsoft 365.
For more information, including the list of forms, see Memos NHQ-10-1121-0005 and NHQ-01-1121-0004.