Form 2848 authorises someone to represent you before the IRS, and it fails more often on formatting than on substance. Practitioner reporting puts missing signatures or signature dates at roughly 35% of rejections, with incorrect years or form numbers on line 3 accounting for another 28% or so.
This page gives the verified numbers to fax Form 2848, then the three details that decide whether it is accepted.
Table of Contents
- Fax numbers by state
- The three rejection triggers
- Filling in line 3 correctly
- After you send it
- Frequently asked questions
Fax numbers by state
From the current IRS instructions for Form 2848, checked August 2026. Form 8821 uses the same numbers.
| Where you live | CAF unit fax |
|---|---|
| Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, 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 | 855-214-7519 |
| 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 | 855-214-7522 |
| APO/FPO, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, foreign countries | 855-772-3156 (or 304-707-9785 from outside the US) |
If an IRS notice gave you a different number, use that one instead — it routes to the unit already handling your case.
The three rejection triggers
1. A signature that isn't handwritten. The instructions are explicit: you must handwrite your signature when mailing or faxing. A typed name or an e-signature image is a rejection. Both the taxpayer and each representative must sign, and both dates must be present.
2. A signature that didn't survive transmission. Fax is black and white at low resolution. A signature in pencil or light blue ink can arrive as a faint smudge, and an illegible signature is treated the same as a missing one. Sign in black or dark blue ink, and scan with even lighting.
3. Vague authority on line 3. Covered below, because it is worth its own section.
Filling in line 3 correctly
Line 3 defines what your representative may actually do. The IRS requires specificity, and rejects attempts to grant blanket authority.
Rejected: "All taxes", "all years", "any and all matters".
Accepted: the form number and the specific periods — for example, 1040 for 2022, 2023, 2024, or 941 for Q1 2025 – Q4 2025.
Two practical notes. You can list multiple form types on separate lines. And you can include a future year only in limited circumstances — generally the current year plus three future years — so do not write an open-ended range hoping to avoid refiling later.
Also make sure your name, address, and taxpayer identification number match your most recent filed return. A new address you have not yet filed under is a mismatch, and mismatches stall processing.
After you send it
The IRS does not acknowledge a faxed Form 2848. Your transmission confirmation — showing the receiving line accepted the pages, with a timestamp — is the only evidence the submission happened.
Processing normally takes a few business days. During the March-to-April peak it can take several weeks, which matters when a representative needs the authorisation on record before they can call the IRS on your behalf. File early rather than at the moment you need it.
If nothing seems to happen, resend the identical document rather than a freshly signed copy with a later date. A second version with a different date creates ambiguity about which authorisation is in force.
For the full picture of what the IRS accepts by fax and what it does not, see faxing documents to the IRS. If you are applying for an EIN instead, Form SS-4 has its own numbers.
You do not need a fax machine for any of this. Sending it online costs $2.99, needs no subscription, and emails you the delivery confirmation to keep with your records.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I fax Form 2848?
To the CAF unit for your state: 855-214-7519 for eastern states, 855-214-7522 for western states, and 855-772-3156 for APO/FPO addresses, US territories, and foreign countries (or 304-707-9785 from outside the US).
Can I sign Form 2848 electronically?
Not for a faxed or mailed submission. The instructions state you must handwrite your signature on Form 2848. Electronic signatures are accepted only through the IRS online submission portal.
What should I put on line 3?
The specific form numbers and tax years or periods your representative is authorised for — for example "1040" and "2023, 2024". Broad wording such as "all taxes" or "all years" causes rejection.
How long does the CAF unit take to process a faxed 2848?
Usually a few business days outside of peak season. During the March-to-April filing crunch, processing can stretch to several weeks, so file well ahead of any deadline that depends on the authorisation being on record.
Does Form 8821 use the same fax numbers?
Yes. Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, routes to the same three CAF unit numbers as Form 2848.