SECTION 7. FORM 8453, U.S.

INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX DECLARATION FOR ELECTRONIC FILING

.01 P rocedures for Completing Form 8453. (1) Form 8453 must be completed in accordance with the instructions for that form.

(2) The taxpayer(s)’s name, address, social security number(s), tax return information, and direct deposit of refund information in the electronic transmission must be identical to the information on the Form 8453 that the taxpayer(s) signed and provided for submission to the Service.

(3) An Electronic Filer, a financial institution, or any other entity associated with the electronic filing of a taxpayer’s return must not put its address in the section reserved for the taxpayer’s address on Form 8453 or anywhere in the electronic portion of a return.

(4) Before the electronic portion of the return is transmitted, the taxpayer must verify the information on the electronic portion of the return and on Form 8453, and must sign Form 8453. Both spouses’ signatures are required on the Form 8453 prior to the electronic transmission of a joint tax return. The taxpayer may verify the information on the electronic portion of the return by viewing this information on a computer display terminal. A taxpayer need not verify the electronic portion of the return prior to its transmission if the taxpayer provided a completed paper return for filing and the information on the electronic portion is identical to the information provided by the taxpayer.

(5) An Electronic Filer must submit the taxpayer’s Form 8453 to the appropriate service center within one work day after the Electronic Filer receives acknowledgment that the electronic portion of the taxpayer’s return has been accepted for processing.

(6) If an Electronic Filer functions as an ERO, the Electronic Filer must sign the ERO’s Declaration on Form 8453.

(7) If the ERO is also the paid preparer, the ERO must check the “Paid Preparer” box and sign the ERO Declaration on Form 8453.

.02 Corrections to Form 8453. (1) A new Form 8453 is not required for a nonsubstantive change. A nonsubstantive change is limited to a correction that does not exceed the tolerances, described in section 7.02(2) of this revenue procedure for arithmetic errors, a transposition error, a misplaced entry, or a spelling error. The incorrect nonsubstantive information must be neatly lined through on the Form 8453 and the correct data entered next to the lined-through entry. Also, the individual making the correction must initial the correction.

(2) The tolerances for section 7.02(1) of this revenue procedure are:

(a) the amount of “Total income” does not differ from the amount on the electronic tax return by more than $25; or

(b) the amount of “Total tax”, “Federal income tax withheld”, “Refund”, or “Amount you owe” does not differ from the amount on the electronic portion of the tax return by more than $7.

(3) If the ERO makes a substantive change to the electronic portion of the return after Form 8453 has been signed by the taxpayer, but before it is transmitted, the ERO must have all the necessary parties described above sign a new Form 8453 that reflects the corrections before the return is transmitted.

(4) Dropping cents or rounding to whole dollars does not constitute a substantive change or alteration to the return unless the amount differs by more than the above tolerances. All rounding should be accomplished in accordance with the instructions in the Form 1040 tax package.

.03 Missing Form 8453. If the Service determines that a Form 8453 is missing, the ERO must provide the Service with a replacement. The ERO must also provide a copy of the Form(s) W–2, W–2G, 1099R, and all other attachments to Form 8453. .04 Substitute Form 8453. If a substitute Form 8453 is used, it must be approved by the Service prior to use. See Rev. Proc. 96–48, 1996-–2 C.B. 339.

1997–52 I.R.B. 45 December 29, 1997

processed by the Service, will be used to update the taxpayer’s address of record. The Internal Revenue Service uses the taxpayer’s address of record for various notices that are required to be sent to a taxpayer’s “last known address” under the Internal Revenue Code, and for refunds of overpayments of tax (unless otherwise specifically directed by the taxpayer, such as by Direct Deposit).