IRS adds new information in traditional Chinese to help with tax authorizations, part of growing multilingual effort to support taxpayers and help tax pros, third-party designees
IR-2022-152, Aug. 17, 2022, WASHINGTON — As part of a larger effort to expand tax resources in more languages, the Internal Revenue Service announced today the addition of a translation of the Instructions for Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, in traditional Chinese.
A Tax Information Authorization (TIA) is a critical form often used in assisting taxpayers with their IRS tax matters. Form 8821 is a taxpayer’s written authorization designating one or more third parties, including an entity, to receive and view the taxpayer’s information.
The designee(s) may inspect or receive confidential tax information for the tax matters, forms and periods specified on Form 8821. This authorization includes the right to receive verbal and written account information (e.g., transcripts) and copies of IRS notices. The designee(s) of a TIA can be anyone the taxpayer chooses, including family and friends.
Form 8821 and its instructions were already available in English and Spanish; also making the instructions available in traditional Chinese will expand access and understanding of this important process.
“This is another step we’ve taken in our ongoing efforts to do more to help taxpayers in their most comfortable language,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Providing Chinese-language instructions for this form helps ensure additional taxpayers with limited English proficiency can understand the authorization they’re giving to those who are helping them with tax matters.”
While Form 8821 is not yet available in traditional Chinese, the Instructions for Form 8821 (zh-t) in traditional Chinese joins other multilingual forms and publications available to assist tax professionals and third-party designees:
- Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization (Spanish)
- Instructions for Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization (Spanish)
- Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative (Spanish)
- Instructions for Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative (Spanish)
- Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney (Spanish)
- Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney (Simplified Chinese)
- Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney (Korean)
- Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney (Russian)
- Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney (Vietnamese)
- Circular 230, Regulations Governing Practice before the Internal Revenue Service (Spanish)
Most tax professionals now use the online Tax Pro Account at IRS.gov/TaxProAccount. Tax Pro Account allows for faster processing of certain Form 8821 authorizations versus filing Form 8821; most online requests record immediately to the Centralized Authorization File (CAF). See the Instructions for Form 8821 for details.
Increasing the availability of services and tax products that are easy to use and support the needs of all communities is part of the IRS’s recently released new five-year Strategic Plan that outlines the agency’s goals to improve taxpayer service and tax administration. Information about IRS services available in languages other than English is available at IRS.gov/MyLanguage.
IRS multilingual resources
The IRS also has a Languages webpage available in 20 languages to help taxpayers find basic tax information. Some of the multilingual resources include the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, e-file resources and many tax forms and publications. Other available multilingual resources include:
- Interpreter services. Taxpayers can access interpreters in more than 350 languages when interacting face-to-face or over the phone with IRS employees.
- The Let Us Help You page is available in seven languages.
- Latest tax news and information in seven languages through the agency’s official Twitter account @IRSnews.
- Help for taxpayers and tax professionals: Tax season alerts and planning ahead for 2023. This special page, available in seven languages on IRS.gov, includes the latest filing season updates and details of the agency’s ongoing efforts to address the inventory of previously filed tax returns.
- Online tools that provide step-by-step instructions in various languages:
Alternative media resources for blind, sight-impaired individuals
The IRS recently announced that the agency’s Alternative Media Center (AMC) is converting IRS Form 1040, its main schedules and six publications in Spanish Braille and large print. Taxpayers can download forms and instructions from the Accessible Forms and Publications page of IRS.gov or request copies by going to IRS.gov/OrderForms or calling 800-829-3676.
If a taxpayer has questions about IRS accessibility services, they can contact the Accessibility Helpline at 833-690-0598. This helpline does not have access to taxpayers’ IRS accounts. For help with tax law, refunds or other account-related issues, visit the Let Us Help You page on IRS.gov.
