- How to Sign Form 8453-OL with DCN
Signing Your Tax Return After E-filing
The IRS requires a taxpayer's signature even if you e-file your tax return. You can sign your tax return using one of two methods: electronic or on paper.
Here you'll learn about signing your income tax return using the paper method.
When you choose to provide your signature to the IRS using the paper method, you must print, complete, and mail Form 8453-OL, U.S. Individual Income Tax Declaration for an IRS e-file Online Return after e-filing your tax return.
Important: If you choose to sign your return using an electronic signature when you e-file, you do NOT need to file Form 8453-OL.
Select a link below to learn more about how to sign your tax return using the paper method:
Form 8453-OL is the IRS form you use to sign your e-filed tax return using the paper method. It's also used to accompany any additional paper IRS forms (if required) with your e-filed tax return.
Form 8453-OL allows you to authenticate the electronic portion of your tax return. In addition, Form 8453-OL gives your consent to the IRS to direct deposit any refund into your bank account. It also authorizes the withdrawal of electronic funds from your bank account for payment of taxes owed or estimated taxes.
Important: When signing your return using the paper method, make sure that you sign and then mail Form 8453-OL to the IRS on the next working day following the date that your tax return was accepted by the IRS.-
If you are due a refund, it could be delayed if you don't send the accompanying Form 8453-OL soon after your tax return is accepted.
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Your e-filed tax return will not be considered legally filed until the IRS receives your signed Form 8453-OL.
You must file Form 8453-OL only if you choose to sign your tax return using the paper method after you've e-filed.
If you choose to sign your tax return using the electronic method with a self-select PIN, YOU DO NOT need to mail Form 8453-OL to the IRS.
Most people choose the paperless electronic method when signing their tax returns after e-filing.
After e-filing your tax return, make sure that you follow the on-screen instructions in the TurboTax Interview to complete the tax filing process including printing and mailing your e-filing paperwork, such as the filing instructions, Form 8453-OL, and the equivalent state signature form.
If you're using TurboTax Online, you can print the Form 8453-OL after you've successfully transmitted your tax return. If your tax return is rejected, make sure that you fix the errors, then re-transmit your return.
If you owe money, the TurboTax program also prints the Form 1040-V payment voucher and equivalent state tax payment vouchers.
Tip: You can also download and print Form 8453-OL including the form instructions directly from the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8453ol.pdf. Make sure that you write your return's DCN on the form before mailing it to the IRS.
You should mail Form 8453-OL within one business day after the IRS accepts your return. Generally, you should mail your state's 8453-OL form within three to five business days after the state accepts your income tax return (state deadlines vary).
After TurboTax prints your Electronic Filing Instructions, you'll notice that all mailing addresses you need are listed in these instructions.
Make sure to send your signed Form 8453-OL to the address listed on the instructions that TurboTax printed for you. IRS mailing addresses are unique to your geographic region. See Where to Mail Your Return and Where to Mail Form 8453-OL for more details.
Important: Form 8453-OL and Form 1040-V (the payment voucher) must be mailed to two different addresses and your payment must be included with Form 1040-V (if applicable).You're NOT done with filing your income tax return.
If you are required to mail signature forms, your income tax return(s) are NOT considered legally filed until the IRS or state taxing agency has received them. If you do not mail Form 8453-OL (or your equivalent state form), you'll receive a warning letter from the IRS or state taxing agency.
If you do not complete the paperwork after receiving this warning letter, you may not be able to e-file a tax return in the future.
A Declaration Control Number (DCN) is 14-digit confirmation number that is assigned when your e-filed tax return is accepted. You tax return's DCN must be on Form 8453-OL. Do NOT mail your 8453-OL without a DCN. The IRS uses the DCN to match up the documents you send by mail to the documents that you have e-filed.
When you print your e-filing paperwork from TurboTax, the DCN number is already printed on Form 8453-OL for you. You'll need to verify that your DCN printed on Form 8453-OL.
If the DCN did not print on your paperwork, you'll need to enter it yourself.
Important: If you choose to sign your return electronically when you e-file, you DO NOT need to file Form 8453-OL.
When signing your return on paper, make sure that you sign and then mail Form 8453-OL on the next working day following the date that the IRS accepts your return. The IRS does not consider your tax return officially filed until they receive this form.
If your federal return is accepted but your state return is not, complete the steps below for your federal return. Do NOT wait for your state return to be ACCEPTED by your state tax agency.
How to sign your FEDERAL income tax return
Make sure you follow these instructions:
- After you e-file your return, follow the on-screen instructions to print your e-filing paperwork including your Form 8453-OL.
- If you owe money, your e-filing paperwork includes a Form 1040-V payment voucher.
- Verify that your Declaration Control Number (DCN) printed on Form 8453-OL (and on the state form if you electronically filed a state return).
- The DCN is the confirmation number that is assigned when your return is accepted and must be included on Form 8453-OL.
- Review the Electronic Filing Instructions that you printed in Step 1 to complete and mail the necessary paperwork.
- Form 8453-OL and Form 1040-V must be mailed to two different addresses and your payment must be included with Form 1040-V (if applicable).
- All mailing addresses are included in the instructions.
How to manually enter the DCN on Form 8453-OL
If the DCN did not print on your paperwork, you'll need to enter it yourself.
- Check the status of your return in the TurboTax program OR check the e-mail you received from the Intuit Electronic Filing Center and then copy the DCN from the acceptance message:
- Ignore the first two digits ("00") in the first box of the DCN and then write the next six digits of your DCN in the second box in the upper-left corner of Form 8453-OL.
- Write the next five digits in the third box.
- Ignore the last digit in the fourth box of the DCN.
- Mail your Form 8453-OL to the appropriate IRS address.
TurboTax Desktop
- Go to the Forms menu at the top, then select Open a Form.
- In the Open Form dialog box, scroll down to the bottom and then double-click Filing Instructions.
- When the Filing Instructions open, select the Print button on the toolbar at the top.
TurboTax Online
- Select the Print & File tab, then select File a Return..
- In the Get Ready to E-File Your Returns screen, select the File by Mail button.
- In the Select the Returns You're Ready to File by Mail screen, choose the federal or state returns that you want to print.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
- If it applies, you'll need to select a refund method
- Make sure that you enter your payment information
- In the Print Tax Returns for Mailing screen, select the Print Returns to Mail button.
- Wait for TurboTax Online to start the Adobe Reader program.
- When your tax return opens, select the filing instructions in Adobe Reader window.
- You'll see that the first page contains the filing instructions for your tax return.
- To print the instructions, select the Print button at the top of the Adobe window.
Electronic signature and mailing instructions vary from state-to-state. Some states do not require a signature form. Other states have an equivalent form to the federal Form 8453-OL, e.g. Form FTB 8453-OL for California. Make sure that you check your state's e-filing requirements for information about e-file signature forms.
If you e-filed a state return and your state requires you to sign the state signature form and mail to the state tax agency, see E-file Your State Tax Return for more details about this step. You may need to attach Copy C of Forms W-2, W2G, and/or 1099-R (whichever applies) to the signature form. Make sure that you read the filing instructions for your state.
Maybe. You'll use Form 8453-OL to accompany any paper IRS forms that are required to be mailed to the IRS after you e-file your tax return. For example:
- Form 1098-C, Contributions of Motor Vehicles, Boats, and Airplanes
- Form 8332, Release of claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents
Form 8453-OL associates these required attached IRS tax forms with your e-filed tax return.
The goal of e-filing is to be a paperless way to file your income tax returns. You only need to send the tax forms that you cannot e-file, such as Form 1098-C or Form 8332.
Important: You DO NOT need to send a copy of your Form 1040, Form W-2s, or Form 1099s to the IRS if you electronically filed your tax return.
