Form 8453-S (2018)
Page 2
Future Developments
For the latest information about
developments related to Form 8453-S and
its instructions, such as legislation enacted
after they were published, go to
www.irs.gov/Form8453S.
General Instructions
Purpose of Form
Use Form 8453-S to:
• Authenticate an electronic Form 1120S,
U.S. Income Tax Return for an S
Corporation;
• Authorize the ERO, if any, to transmit via
a third-party transmitter;
• Authorize the intermediate service
provider (ISP) to transmit via a third-party
transmitter if you are filing online (not using
an ERO); and
• Provide the corporation’s consent to
directly deposit any refund and/or
authorize an electronic funds withdrawal
for payment of federal taxes owed.
TIP
Instead of filing Form 8453-S, a
corporate officer filing a
corporation’s return through an
electronic return originator
(ERO) can sign the return using a personal
identification number (PIN). For details, see
Form 8879-S, IRS e-file Signature
Authorization for Form 1120S.
Who Must File
If you’re filing a 2018 Form 1120S through
an ISP and/or transmitter and you’re not
using an ERO, you must file Form 8453-S
with your electronically filed return. An ERO
can use either Form 8453-S or Form
8879-S to obtain authorization to file the
corporation’s Form 1120S.
When and Where To File
File Form 8453-S with the corporation’s
electronically filed income tax return. Use a
scanner to create a Portable Document
Format (PDF) file of the completed form.
Your tax preparation software will allow
you to transmit this PDF file with the return.
Specific Instructions
Name. Print or type the corporation’s
name in the space provided.
Employer identification number (EIN).
Enter the corporation’s EIN in the space
provided.
Part II—Declaration of Officer
Note: The corporate officer must check all
applicable boxes on line 6.
If the corporation has tax due and the
officer didn’t check box 6c, the corporation
must deposit the payment no later than the
15th day of the 3rd month after the end of
its tax year. For more information on
depositing taxes, see the Instructions for
Form 1120S.
If the officer checks box 6c, the officer
must ensure that the following information
relating to the financial institution account
is provided in the tax preparation software.
• Routing number.
• Account number.
• Type of account (checking or savings).
• Debit amount.
• Debit date (date the corporation wants
the debit to occur).
An electronically transmitted return won’t
be considered complete, and therefore
filed, unless either:
• Form 8453-S is signed by a corporate
officer, scanned into a PDF file, and
transmitted with the return; or
• The return is filed through an ERO and
Form 8879-S is used to select a PIN that’s
used to electronically sign the return.
The officer’s signature allows the IRS to
disclose to the ERO, transmitter, and/or
ISP:
• An acknowledgement that the IRS has
accepted the corporation’s electronically
filed return, and
• The reason(s) for any delay in processing
the return or refund.
The declaration of officer must be signed
and dated by:
• The president, vice president, treasurer,
assistant treasurer, chief accounting
officer; or
• Any other corporate officer (such as tax
officer) authorized to sign the corporation’s
income tax return.
If the ERO makes changes to the
electronic return after Form 8453-S has
been signed by the officer, whether it was
before it was transmitted or if the return
was rejected after transmission, the ERO
must have the officer complete and sign a
corrected Form 8453-S if either:
• The total income (loss) on Form 1120S,
line 6, differs from the amount on the
electronic return by more than $150; or
• The ordinary business income (loss) on
Form 1120S, line 21, differs from the
amount on the electronic return by more
than $100.
Part III—Declaration of Electronic
Return Originator (ERO) and Paid
Preparer
Note: If the return is filed online through an
ISP and/or transmitter (not using an ERO),
don’t complete Part III.
If the corporation’s return is filed through
an ERO, the IRS requires the ERO’s
signature. A paid preparer, if any, must
sign Form 8453-S in the space for Paid
Preparer Use Only. But if the paid preparer
is also the ERO, don’t complete the paid
preparer section. Instead, check the box
labeled “Check if also paid preparer.”
Use of PTIN
Paid preparers. Anyone who’s paid to
prepare the corporation’s return must enter
their PTIN in Part III. For information on
applying for and receiving a PTIN, see
Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer Tax
Identification Number (PTIN) Application
and Renewal, or visit www.irs.gov/ptin.
EROs who aren’t paid preparers. Only
EROs who aren’t also the paid preparer of
the return have the option to enter their
PTIN or their social security number in the
“ERO’s Use Only” section of Part III. For
information on applying for and receiving a
PTIN, see Form W-12, IRS Paid Preparer
Tax Identification Number (PTIN)
Application and Renewal, or visit
www.irs.gov/ptin.
Refunds
The IRS generally issues a refund within 3
weeks after accepting the return. However,
some refunds may be delayed because of
compliance reviews to ensure that returns
are accurate.
Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction
Act Notice. We ask for the information on
this form to carry out the Internal Revenue
laws of the United States. You’re required
to give us the information. We need it to
ensure that you’re complying with these
laws and to allow us to figure and collect
the right amount of tax. Internal Revenue
Code section 6109 requires EROs to
provide their identifying numbers on the
return.
You’re not required to provide the
information requested on a form that is
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
unless the form displays a valid OMB
control number. Books or records relating
to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may
become material in the administration of
any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are
confidential, as required by Internal
Revenue Code section 6103.
The time needed to complete and file
this form will vary depending on individual
circumstances. The estimated burden for
business taxpayers filing this form is
approved under OMB control number
1545-0123 and is included in the estimates
shown in the instructions for their business
income tax return.
Comments. You can send us comments
from www.irs.gov/FormComments. Or you
can write to the Internal Revenue Service,
Tax Forms and Publications Division, 1111
Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526,
Washington, DC 20224. Don’t send the
form to this office.