An acceptance agent is an individual or entity (college, financial institution, accounting firm, etc.) that has entered into a formal agreement with the IRS permitting them to assist alien individuals and other foreign persons with obtaining a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). The type of duties that an acceptance agent is permitted to perform is based upon the application to become either an Acceptance Agent (AA) or a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA).
Anyone who wishes to participate in the IRS Acceptance Agent Program must apply by completing IRS Form 13551.
In TaxSlayer Pro, acceptance agent information is included in the preparer's record in the Configuration Menu. To enter this information in a preparer's record, you must be logged in either as Admin or as a preparer with a security role of Unlimited. (In an office with more than one PC preparing taxes and networked, editing the preparer record is done on the PC designated as the file server.)
To include acceptance agent information for a preparer in TaxSlayer Pro, from the Quick Menu select:
- Configuration
- Firm / ERO / Preparer Setup
- Preparer(s) Menu - Select the preparer, then Edit
-
2848 / Acceptance Agent Information - Enter the information:
- Acceptance Agent Title
- Acceptance Agent Office Code - The office code is a number assigned by the ITIN Policy Section when the application for AA status is approved. (See important info below.)
- Acceptance Agent Business Name
- Acceptance Agent IRS Agreement Date
The information you enter in the Preparer Setup Menu will automatically pull to Form W-7 when selected to do so.
Adding Acceptance Agent Info to Form W-7
In TaxSlayer Pro, acceptance agent information doesn't print on Form W-7 until you have added it to the form. After you have started the form for an individual, in the Form W-7 Application for ITIN menu select Acceptance Agent/Certificate of Accuracy Information, answer the confirmation question Yes, then select the agent whose info should print on the Form.
Important: If the IRS assigns an agent a new EFIN, the agent must notify the ITIN Policy Office. They will assign the agent a new office code based on the new EFIN. To avoid Form W-7 rejecting, the agent should not include on it the office code for the previous EFIN. The office code must be the code associated with the agent's current EFIN.
Additional Information:
IRS: ITIN Acceptance Agent Program Changes
IRS: Acceptance Agent Revenue Procedure
IRS: Publication 4520 - Acceptance Agent's Guide for Individual Tax Identification Number
Form W-7 - Application for an ITIN/Taxpayers Without a Social Security Number