Form 8453-TE 

2021

Tax Exempt Entity Declaration and Signature 

for Electronic Filing

Department of the Treasury 

Internal Revenue Service 

For use with Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T, 1120-POL, 4720, 8868, 5227, 5330, and 8038-CP 

▶ Go to www.irs.gov/Form8453TE for the latest information.

OMB No. 1545-0047

For calendar year 2021, or tax year beginning , 2021, and ending , 20

Name of filer EIN or SSN

Part I Type of Return and Return Information

Check the box for the type of return being filed with Form 8453-TE and enter the applicable amount, if any, from the return. Form 8038-CP 

and Form 5330 filers may enter dollars and cents. For all other forms, enter whole dollars only. If you check the box on line 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 

6a, 7a, 8a, 9a, or 10a below, and the amount on that line of the return being filed with this form was blank, then leave line 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 

6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, or 10b, whichever is applicable, blank (do not enter -0-). If you entered -0- on the return, then enter -0- on the applicable line 

below. Do not complete more than one line in Part I.

1a Form 990 check here . . ▶ b Total revenue, if any (Form 990, Part VIII, column (A), line 12) . . 1b

2a Form 990-EZ check here . ▶ b Total revenue, if any (Form 990-EZ, line 9) . . . . . . . . 2b

3a Form 1120-POL check here ▶ b Total tax (Form 1120-POL, line 22) . . . . . . . . . . 3b

4a Form 990-PF check here . ▶ b Tax based on investment income (Form 990-PF, Part V, line 5) . 4b

5a Form 8868 check here . . ▶ b Balance due (Form 8868, line 3c) . . . . . . . . . . . 5b

6a Form 990-T check here . ▶ b Total tax (Form 990-T, Part III, line 4) . . . . . . . . . . 6b

7a Form 4720 check here . . ▶ b Total tax (Form 4720, Part III, line 1) . . . . . . . . . . 7b

8a Form 5227 check here . . ▶ b FMV of assets at end of tax year (Form 5227, Item D) . . . . 8b

9a Form 5330 check here . . ▶ b Tax due (Form 5330, Part II, line 19) . . . . . . . . . . 9b

10a Form 8038-CP check here ▶ b Amount of credit payment requested (Form 8038-CP, Part III, line 22) 10b

Part II Declaration of Officer or Person Subject to Tax

11a I authorize the U.S. Treasury and its designated Financial Agent to initiate an Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic funds 

withdrawal (direct debit) entry to the financial institution account indicated in the tax preparation software for payment of the 

federal taxes owed on this return, and the financial institution to debit the entry to this account. To revoke a payment, I must 

contact the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent at 1-888-353-4537 no later than 2 business days prior to the payment (settlement) date. 

I also authorize the financial institutions involved in the processing of the electronic payment of taxes to receive confidential 

information necessary to answer inquiries and resolve issues related to the payment.

b If a copy of this return is being filed with a state agency(ies) regulating charities as part of the IRS Fed/State program, I certify that I 

executed the electronic disclosure consent contained within this return allowing disclosure by the IRS of this Form 990/990-EZ/ 

990-PF (as specifically identified in Part I above) to the selected state agency(ies).

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I am an officer of the above named entity or I am the person subject to tax with respect to

(name of entity) , (EIN) ,

and that I have examined a copy of the 2021 electronic return and accompanying schedules and statements, and, to the best of my 

knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete. I further declare that the amount in Part I above is the amount shown on the copy 

of the electronic return. I consent to allow my intermediate service provider, transmitter, or electronic return originator (ERO) to send the return 

to the IRS and to receive from the IRS (a) an acknowledgement of receipt or reason for rejection of the transmission, (b) the reason for any 

delay in processing the return or refund, and (c) the date of any refund.

Sign 

Here ▲

Signature of officer or person subject to tax Date

▲

Title, if applicable

Part III Declaration of Electronic Return Originator (ERO) and Paid Preparer (see instructions)

I declare that I have reviewed the above return and that the entries on Form 8453-TE are complete and correct to the best of my knowledge. If 

I am only a collector, I am not responsible for reviewing the return and only declare that this form accurately reflects the data on the return. 

The entity officer or person subject to tax will have signed this form before I submit the return. I will give a copy of all forms and information to 

be filed with the IRS to the officer or person subject to tax, and have followed all other requirements in Pub. 4163, Modernized e-File (MeF) 

Information for Authorized IRS e-file Providers for Business Returns. If I am also the Paid Preparer, under penalties of perjury I declare that I 

have examined the above return and accompanying schedules and statements, and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, 

correct, and complete. This Paid Preparer declaration is based on all information of which I have any knowledge.

ERO’s 

Use 

Only

ERO’s 

signature ▲

Date Check if also 

paid preparer

Check if selfemployed

ERO’s SSN or PTIN

Firm’s name (or yours if 

self-employed), 

address, and ZIP code

▲

EIN

Phone no.

Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined the above return and accompanying schedules and statements, and, to the best of 

my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer is based on all information of which the preparer has 

any knowledge.

Paid 

Preparer 

Use Only

Print/Type preparer’s name Preparer’s signature Date Check if selfemployed 

PTIN

Firm’s name ▶ Firm’s EIN ▶

Firm’s address ▶ Phone no. 

For Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see back of form. Cat. No. 31574T Form 8453-TE (2021) 
Form 8453-TE (2021) Page 2 

General Instructions

The Taxpayer First Act, P.L. 116-25, increased the number and 

types of tax-exempt and government entities required to file 

information and tax returns electronically. To accommodate the 

expansion of electronic filing, Forms 8453-EO and 8879-EO have 

been replaced by Forms 8453-TE and 8879-TE, respectively. The 

forms listed in Part I of Form 8453-TE and Form 8879-TE include 

forms currently available for electronic filing as well as forms 

expected to become available for electronic filing in 2022. Please 

see the instructions for each specific form for more information 

about electronic filing of that form.

TIP

Instead of filing Form 8453-TE, an entity officer or person 

subject to tax filing an exempt entity return through an 

electronic return originator (ERO) can sign the return 

using a personal identification number (PIN). For details, 

see Form 8879-TE, IRS e-file Signature Authorization for a Tax 

Exempt Entity.

Future Developments

For the latest information about developments related to Form 

8453-TE and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they 

were published, go to www.irs.gov/Form8453TE.

Purpose of Form

Use Form 8453-TE to:

• Authenticate the electronic Form 990, Return of Organization 

Exempt From Income Tax; Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of 

Organization Exempt From Income Tax; Form 990-PF, Return of 

Private Foundation; Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business 

Income Tax Return; Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for 

Certain Political Organizations; Form 4720, Return of Certain Excise 

Taxes Under Chapters 41 and 42 of the Internal Revenue Code; 

Form 8868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File an 

Exempt Organization Return; Form 5227, Split-Interest Trust 

Information Return; Form 5330, Return of Excise Taxes Related to 

Employee Benefit Plans; and Form 8038-CP, Return for Credit 

Payments to Issuers of Qualified Bonds;

• 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’re filing online (not using an ERO); and

• Authorize an electronic funds withdrawal for payment of federal 

taxes owed (Form 990-PF, Form 990-T, Form 1120-POL, Form 

4720, Form 5330, or Form 8868 with payment).

Who Must File

If you’re filing a 2021 Form 990, Form 990-EZ, Form 990-PF, Form 

990-T, Form 1120-POL, Form 4720, Form 5227, Form 5330, Form 

8038-CP, or Form 8868 with payment through an ISP and/or 

transmitter and you’re not using an ERO, you must file Form 

8453-TE with your electronically filed return. An ERO can use either 

Form 8453-TE or Form 8879-TE to obtain authorization to file a 

Form 990, Form 990-EZ, Form 990-PF, Form 990-T, Form 4720, 

Form 1120-POL, Form 5330, Form 5227, Form 8038-CP, or to file a 

Form 8868 with payment.

When To File

Form 990, Form 990-EZ, Form 990-PF, or Form 990-T. File Form 

990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-PF by the 15th day of the 5th month

after the organization’s accounting period ends. For information on 

when to file Form 990-T, see the Instructions for Form 990-T. If the 

regular due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the

organization may file on the next business day. The Form 8453-TE 

must be filed with the electronically filed Form 990, Form 990-EZ, 

Form 990-PF, or Form 990-T.

Form 1120-POL. File Form 1120-POL by the 15th day of the 4th

month after the organization’s accounting period ends. If the regular 

due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the 

organization may file on the next business day. The Form 8453-TE 

must be filed with the electronically filed Form 1120-POL.

Form 4720. Generally, file Form 4720 by the due date of the 

organization’s Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or Form 5227. If none of 

these forms is required, file Form 4720 by the 15th day of the 5th

month after the end of the tax year. The Form 8453-TE must be filed 

with the electronically filed Form 4720.

Form 8868. Generally, file Form 8868 by the due date of the return 

for which you’re requesting an extension. The Form 8453-TE must 

be filed with the electronically filed Form 8868.

Form 5227. File Form 5227 for a calendar year by April 15 of the 

following year. In the case of a final short-year period, the return is 

due by the 15th day of the 4th month following the date of the trust’s 

termination. The Form 8453-TE must be filed with the electronically 

filed Form 5227.

Form 5330. File Form 5330 to report excise taxes in accordance 

with the Instructions for Form 5330 for the applicable due dates. 

The Form 8453-TE must be filed with the electronically filed Form 

5330.

Form 8038-CP. See the Instructions for Form 8038-CP for 

information on when to file Form 8038-CP. The Form 8453-TE must 

be filed with the electronically filed Form 8038-CP.

How To File

File Form 8453-TE with the electronically filed return. Use a scanner 

to create a PDF file of the completed form. Your tax preparation 

software will allow you to transmit this PDF file with the return.

Note: If you are using Form 8453-TE to authenticate the electronic 

Form 8038-CP (after it becomes available), enter the interest 

payment date from Form 8038-CP, Part III, line 18, in the period 

ending date at the top of the form.

Part II. Declaration of Officer or Person Subject to Tax

If a Form 990-PF, Form 990-T, Form 1120-POL, Form 4720, Form 

5330, or Form 8868 filer chooses to pay the tax due by electronic 

funds withdrawal (direct debit), check the box. Otherwise, leave the 

box blank.

If the officer or person subject to tax checks the box when filing 

Form 990-PF, Form 990-T, Form 1120-POL, Form 4720, Form 

5330, or Form 8868 with payment, that person 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, and

• Debit date (date the entity or person subject to tax wants the debit 

to occur).

In the third paragraph, check the appropriate box to declare 

whether you are an officer or person subject to tax (and enter the 

name of the entity and employer identification number (EIN)).

An electronically transmitted return will not be considered 

complete (and therefore not considered filed) unless either:

• Form 8453-TE is signed by an officer or person subject to tax, 

scanned into a PDF file, and transmitted with the return; or

• The return is filed through an ERO and Form 8879-TE is used to 

select a PIN that is used to electronically sign the return.

The signature of the officer or person subject to tax allows the 

IRS to disclose to the ISP, ERO, and/or transmitter:

• An acknowledgment that the IRS has accepted the electronically 

filed return, and

• The reason(s) for a delay in processing the return or refund.

The declaration of officer or person subject to tax must be signed 

and dated by:

• The president, vice president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief 

accounting officer; or

• Any other officer or person subject to tax authorized to sign the 

return.
Form 8453-TE (2021) Page 3 

If this return contains instructions to the IRS to provide a copy(ies) 

of the return to a state agency(ies) regulating charities as part of the 

IRS Fed/State program, the checkbox in Part II must be checked.

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 the ERO’s Use Only section in 

Part III.

If the return is filed through an ERO, the IRS requires the ERO’s 

signature. A paid preparer, if any, must sign Form 8453-TE in the 

space for Paid Preparer Use Only. But if the paid preparer is also 

the ERO, don’t complete the paid preparer’s section. Instead, check 

the box labeled Check if also paid preparer.

An ERO may sign the Form 8453-TE by rubber stamp, 

mechanical device, or computer software program. The alternative 

method of signing must include either a facsimile of the individual 

ERO’s signature or of the ERO’s printed name.

Use of PTIN

Paid preparers. Anyone who is paid to prepare the entity return 

must enter their PTIN in Part III. The PTIN entered must have been 

issued after September 27, 2010. 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. If the PTIN is entered, it must have been issued after September 

27, 2010. For information on applying for and receiving a PTIN, see 

Form W-12, or visit www.irs.gov/PTIN.

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. 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. However, 

certain returns and return information of tax exempt organizations 

and trusts are subject to public disclosure and inspection, as 

provided by section 6104.

The time needed to complete and file this form will vary 

depending on individual circumstances. The estimated burden for 

tax exempt organizations filing this form is approved under OMB 

control number 1545-0047 and is included in the estimates shown 

in the instructions for their information return.