Signing 2290 returns for electronic filing

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You can sign an electronic return by using either the Practitioner Personal Identification Number (PIN) or the Scanned Form 8453 option.

To use the Practitioner PIN option, follow these steps.

  1. Complete the Signature date field in Screen ELF in the Return folder with the date on which the authorized person will sign Form 8879-EX.

    Note: This field is mandatory if you use the Practitioner Personal Identification Number (PIN) option to electronically sign the return. If you select the Use current date option in the When Form 8879 (etc.) signature date(s) are not entered field in the Setup > Office Configuration > Print Options tab, you do not need to complete the Signature date field. UltraTax CS prints the current date on Form 8879-EX and includes the form in the electronic file.

  2. Enter the last five numbers of your Electronic Return Originator (ERO) PIN in the ERO PIN field. The first six digits are your IRS-supplied Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) and the last five digits consist of the self-selected numbers entered in Screen ELF. You may choose any five digits other than 00000.
  3. Have the client complete the Taxpayer PIN field, which is a self-selected set of five numbers other than 00000.

Note: As the ERO, you can enter this PIN if you have the taxpayer's written signature on Form 8879-EX, IRS e-file Signature Authorization, which will print with the return if you elect to use the PIN. Keep this form with your records, and do not mail the form to the IRS unless requested to do so.

To use the Scanned Form 8453 option, follow these steps.

  1. Once the return is completed, print a copy of Form 8453-EX, Excise Tax Declaration for an IRS e-file Return.
  2. Sign the form as the ERO and, also, have an authorized person sign the form.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • If you are licensed for FileCabinet CS, scan the signed form into FileCabinet CS to create and store a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of the form.
    • If you do not have FileCabinet CS, create a PDF file of the signed form and save the file to the desired location on your hard drive.
  4. To include the PDF form in the electronic file, choose Edit > Electronic Filing Attachments and click the Add button.
  5. In the Attachment title field, select 8453 Signature Document from the drop-down list.
  6. In the Product field, select Federal from the drop-down list.
  7. In the Return field, select the unit number of the tax return from the drop-down list.

    Note: UltraTax CS allows multiple units of Form 2290 in a single client. Select the unit number of the return you want to electronically file.

  8. If the document was scanned into FileCabinet CS, click the FileCabinet CS option and click the Select button to select the appropriate document. If the document was not scanned into FileCabinet CS, click the File option and click the Browse button to browse to the location of the document you want to attach.

    Note: If you are running UltraTax CS through Virtual Office CS or Software as a Service (SaaS), you can navigate to files on your local network.

  9. Click OK to return to the Electronic Filing Attachment dialog.
  10. Click the View Attachment button to see the PDF file that will be included in the electronic file or click OK to close the dialog.

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