Form 8655 - Reporting Agent Authorization for Magnetic Tape/Electronic Filers

Sep 19, 2026

Form 8655 provides instructions for completing the Reporting Agent Authorization used by magnetic tape and electronic filers. The form sets marking rules for ink color, capital letters, spacing, and keeping entries within boxes. It explains how to enter taxpayer information including EIN, legal name, DBA, address, and optional phone, plus reporting agent details and authorization items such as return filing method, filing authorization scope, starting period, and correspondence. It also includes filing location guidance and required privacy and paperwork reduction act notice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Reporting Agent Authorization for Magnetic Tape/Electronic Filers

Marking Instructions for Tax Form 8655

Taxpayer’s Information

Reporting Agent Information

Reporting Agent Authorization

Authorization Agreement

Where to File

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

Form 8655 with Instructions Reporting Agent Authorization for Magnetic Tape/Electronic Filers Marking Instructions for Tax Form 8655: • Use black or blue ink only. • Please print legibly. Use one character per block. MARKING EXAMPLE: | | I A | | --- | --- | | | 5 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | • Use only capital letters. • Keep all printing within the boxes. • Do not make any stray marks on this form. State Zip Code Instructions Please read the following instructions before filling out the information on the reverse side of this form. Taxpayer’s Information 1. Employer identification number (EIN) . Enter taxpayer business nine-digit Employer Identification number without dashes. 2. Other ID. For Reporting Agent use only. 3. Taxpayer Phone Number. Provide taxpayer area code and phone number.(optional) 4.“New” EIN. Check this box if taxpayer has recently applied for an EIN and has not yet received notice CP 575 (Verification of your EIN) from IRS. 5. Seasonal or Intermittent. Check this box if taxpayer business is seasonal or intermittent and there are quarters during the calendar year for which taxpayer will not pay wages. 6. Taxpayer Legal Name – Enter the Sole Proprietor/Owner’s name. This must match the name on IRS records. Do not abbreviate or omit spaces. Do not use the word "The" as the first word unless it is followed by only one other word. Include legal/formal suffixes with individual names (i.e. MD, PHD, CPA, Jr, Sr, III, etc.) * Valid characters are A-Z, 0-9, ampersand, hyphen, and only one blank space between each word. Any other punctuation, such asa comma, period, number sign, apostrophe, and multiple blanksis invalid. 7. Doing Business As (DBA) Name. Enter the trade name (DBA) of the business if different from the taxpayer name. Follow the same instructions as shown for Item 6 above; however, DO NOT enter "DBA" or "TA" on this line; show name only. Use valid character information as defined in Item 6 * . ✍ Note: Partnerships should enter the DBA name in Item 6. Enter the general partner’s name or the first partner’s name in Item 7. Ifa Corporation is a general partner, do not include the name in Item 7. 8. Address. Enter address of taxpayer. Use valid character information as defined in Item 6* . Reporting Agent information 9. Reporting Agent name. Use valid character information as defined in Item 6*. 10. Reporting Agent ID Number. 11-12. Reporting Agent phone & fax. 13. Reporting Agent address. Use valid character information as defined in Item 6 * . Reporting Agent Authorization 14. Return Filing Method. Indicate tax return filing method, electronic, magnetic, or both. For Tax Form 941, enter the ending month of the quarter and year (3/1999, 6/2000, etc.) . For Tax Form 940, enter the Tax Year (2000, 2001, etc) this agent will begin the annual filing. 15. Filing Authorization. Form 8655 can be used to authorize Reporting Agents to file certain tax returns on paper for existing clients who have already authorized the filing of magnetic/electronic Forms 941 and/or Forms 940 by the Reporting Agent. For Forms 941PR, 941SS, and 941NMI, enter the ending month of the quarter and year (3/2000, 6/2000, 9/2000, 12/2000), the Reporting Agent will file this return for the first time. For Forms 940PR, 943, 943PR, 945, 1042 and CT-1, enter the Tax Year (2000, 2001, etc.) the agent will begin the annual filing. 16. Starting Period. Enter the first tax period that electronic Federal Tax Deposits (FTDs) or other federal payments will be made. For electronic FTDs, enter the first month and year (2/2000, 3/2000, etc.) the Reporting Agent will begin making any deposit for each authorized tax form. 17. Correspondence Authorization. If you wish to have your Reporting Agent receive correspondence, please check here. 18. State and Local Forms (Optional)-may be used if accepted by state and local government. Authorization Agreement 19. Signature. T

FAQs

What are the marking rules when completing Form 8655?

Use black or blue ink only, print legibly with one character per block, use only capital letters, keep all printing within the boxes, and avoid stray marks on the form.

How should a taxpayer enter the EIN on Form 8655?

Enter the taxpayer’s nine-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN) without dashes.

What information does the reporting agent provide and authorize?

The reporting agent section collects the reporting agent’s name, ID number, phone/fax, and address, and the authorization items indicate the return filing method, filing authorization scope, starting period, and whether correspondence should be sent to the reporting agent.

Sep 19, 2026

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