NEW FINGERPRINTING PROCESS IMPLEMENTED FOR E-FILE APPLICATIONS:

The Internal Revenue Service is planning to mandate a new electronic fingerprinting process for e-file applications for tax practitioners starting Sept. 25.

In an email Wednesday to tax professionals, the IRS said individuals would be required to use an IRS-authorized vendor for fingerprinting. Each new principal and responsible official listed on a new e-file application or added to an existing application needing fingerprints will need to schedule an appointment with the IRS authorized vendor.

The cutoff date to mail paper fingerprint cards (Form FD-258) to the IRS is August 15, 2022. The fingerprints cards also need to be postmarked by August by that same date, and the application has to be submitted prior to mailing the fingerprint cards.

The IRS won’t process fingerprint cards postmarked after August 15, 2022; the agency warned. In addition, customers needing fingerprints will need to wait until September 25 to schedule an electronic fingerprinting appointment. On September 25, 2022, they can schedule an appointment by accessing the scheduling link located on the e-file application summary page.

Instructions for scheduling an appointment will be provided upon submitting an e-file application and on IRS.gov. The IRS plans to provide additional information about the new fingerprinting process on September 25th. The Become an Authorized e-file Provider page on IRS.gov will offer the most up-to-date information.