When is a taxpayer required to sign Form 8453?

Form 8453, also known as the "U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for an IRS e-file Return," serves a specific purpose in the electronic filing process. It is not a form that necessarily requires a physical signature from the taxpayer. Instead, it is used to authenticate the signed tax return when it is filed electronically.

The form is typically signed in scenarios where a taxpayer's e-filed return needs to be accompanied by certain documents or contains information that cannot be transmitted electronically. However, because e-filing systems allow for the taxpayer's consent to be obtained through electronic means, the need for physical signatures on this form is circumvented.

In situations where the taxpayer does not have to sign digitally, implying that the electronic acceptance of the return suffices, this leads to the understanding that Form 8453 does not intrinsically require a signature from anyone. Thus, asserting that Form 8453 does not require anyone's signature accurately reflects its use within the framework of electronic filing procedures.