An IRS Fax Cover Sheet can help protect confidential information. Because, if you are sending documents related to tax and other legal matters it's better to follow some safety measures. IRS or Internal Revenue Service operates under the US Department of the Treasury. It serves to collect taxes and also enforce tax laws. And in this process, the agency may contact an individual for tax returns or other relevant information.

These days due to the advent of e-fax or online fax services it has become easier to send tax-related information or notices to taxpayers. Because an individual can directly get the information via email even if they do not have a fax machine.

Even though faxing may seem obsolete for most businesses or industries, it's still in use in some agencies including IRS. Because it is considered a safe mode of sending and receiving confidential and sensitive information. Moreover, these days digital faxes have made things a lot easier.

So, for example, if you want to apply for an Employer ID Number or EIN, you can choose to apply online or you can also choose to fax. And if you do have your return fax number, they will respond with return fax within one week. In case you do not include a return number, it may take up to two weeks. This is why you should apply for the EIN a few weeks before you need to make the deposit or file a return.

To confirm if IRS has received your fax, you need to call on one of their official numbers because there is no automatic response.

Here are a few things that you should include in an IRS Fax Cover Sheet:

  • Subject
  • Sender’s Name, Contact Number, Address, Title
  • Taxpayer’s Name
  • Date
  • Total number of pages including the cover page

Fax cover sheets are an essential document for both the senders and receivers. It makes it easier for the receiver to communicate the details of the document and send it to the intended owner. Additionally, using a fax cover also helps in the confidentiality of the information contained within the documents. Suppose for some reason the documents are left on a desk for too long, there is a chance of its pieces of information being disclosed unintentionally. And using a fax cover sheet can prevent that from happening to some extent.

And refrain from adding any personal information such as your social security number.