e-file signature when a poa is needed

[lindsey11]

 I want to e-file for my mom and I have power of attorney, what do I actually put on the signature line of her federal tax form? My name? Her name? Nothing?

I do not want to print the tax forms and mail them by post office - I want to e-file and pay what she owes on-line.

I understand that I need to fill out 2848 and 8453 and attach the POA and mail it in, but what do I actually sign the federal tax form with??

[Mike9241]

there is no signature on an e-file return POA or not.  you need to follow the 8453 filing instructions - it gets mailed with the POA.  

[lindsey11]

On my own federal form, right before I e-file it, Turbo Tax assigns me a number, makes me enter  driver's license data and fills in "self-prepared." Are you saying that this is not the same as an electronic signature? Don't I need to indicate that I filled out the forms because I have a POA?

[lindsey11]

I have not received a reply to my questions. Can someone help me?

I am preparing a federal (and state) return for my mom. I have her POA.

I understand about sending in the 2848 and 8453 forms.

I want to e-file.

What are the turbo tax steps that I need to take to properly identify who is filing out these forms?

If I e-file, I will be asked to enter my mom's driver's license information. Isn't this to prove who is preparing the return? She is not preparing it, as she is 91 years old and can't truly understand the subject. 

I understand that no one actually physically signs an e-filed return. But something is generated to complete the process and it seems like if I continue to fill out the turbo tax screens, it will appear as if she is doing her own taxes and this is not the case.

[JeffreyR77]

The correct signature when signing with a Power of attorney is: Signature of Taxpayer by Your Full Name with Power of Attorney.

Ensure you attach your power of attorney to the Form 8453 when you mail in the Form 8453.

Form 1040 Instructions (see page 25 Sign Your Return)

[jpb44]

I have the same question but no one seems to be able to answer it.  What is the actual process of e-filing a return as a POA for a person who is incapacitated etc.  The answers that I have seen say to mail in form 2848 and 8453 but do not provide an answer on how one electronically signs a return via turbotax on behalf of the actual taxpayer.

[DanielV01]

You will sign the electronic signature itself as if you were doing your own tax return.  After you e-file, you will then need to mail in the Form 8453 along with either the Form 2848 or a copy of your official POA that establishes your authority to have signed on behalf of the individual.

[lindsey11]

I got so many answers. One "expert" even sent me a link to 2018 1040 instructions.

So no, I never got an answer via turbo tax. I suspect the answer is that turbo tax doesn't support this situation and no one wanted to say. 

Here is what I ended up doing:

E-signed the federal form with my mom's name. Created a PIN for her. Entered her driver's license info. E-filed it via turbo tax.

Prepared the 2848 and 8453 on actual paper. Attached the POA and mailed it in.

For the state, I printed the filled out state taxes, signed it with a pen "my name, POA for my mom's name." Then I attached 2848 with the POA, included the check for the amount owed and mailed it via the post office.

The federal return was accepted within the hour.  I'm thinking that when the check is cleared to the state, that will be my notification that it was also accepted.

If you learn anything else, I would appreciate if you would drop me a line.

[jpb44]

Thank you.  Would this mean that I would sign the return electronically in the name of the actual taxpayer or myself?  The reason I ask is that turbotax when e-filing will ask for certain information about the actual taxpayer such as drivers license# etc. that would need to be provided.

[jpb44]

Thank you for the information.  I thought that this might be the case but it has been so difficult to get a straight answer about this from turbotax.  Very frustrating for a seemingly simple and common question.  If I find out anything else, I will let you know.

[lindsey11]

I couldn't figure out how to sign it in turbo tax using my PIN.

So I signed it as if my mom filled it out. I have no idea if that was the correct thing to do, but turbo tax didn't let me do anything else when e-filing. I could have printed it out, but then, of course, I couldn't e-file it.

[DanielV01]

@lindsey11 and @jpb44  What you ended up doing was correct.  E-filing itself is based on the taxpayer him/herself.  The signed 8453 is done by you.  Usually the IRS likes to see [your signature] POA for [taxpayer], and then the POA attached.  The POA, whether Form 2848 or a legally-produced copy, must grant you the legal power to sign tax documents (or categories of documents that include tax documents) on behalf of the taxpayer.

[finiteknowledge]

Thanks for the explicit answer. Like the other inquirers, I've been uncertain about this. The disconnect was that when e-filing, you don't specifically sign the 1040 as a power-of-attorney the way you would if you were filing by mail. But knowing what to do is all that matters.  

[lindsey11]

Last year I successfully sent in the federal taxes that I completed for my mother. I e-filed it via Turbo Tax.

Then I filled out the 2848 and 8453 forms, attached my POA and mailed those (via USPS). I got a CAF number by return mail.

My questions:

Do I need to fill out and mail  another set of 2848 and 8453 for this tax year? Or does it still stand from last year? At what point do I use the CAF number?

Thanks,

[removed]

[RobertB4444]

A CAF number is a Centralized Authorization File number.  You are to put it on any future authorizations that you have for your mother so that they can link all of the authorizations together.

You were issued the CAF number in place of you having to file the power of attorney again.  They have on file that you are authorized to file for your mother so sending them another copy of the POA is redundant.  For this year you just sign the return for your mother and submit it electronically.  There is no need to send in another 8453.

In the future - if you have any dealings with the IRS on behalf of your mother - you will include your CAF number so that the IRS knows that you are authorized to represent her.

@lindsey11