Plain-English distinction
- Form 2848 is for authorizing an eligible individual to represent the taxpayer before the IRS.
- Form 8821 is for authorizing someone to inspect or receive specified confidential tax information.
- Form 56 gives notice of a fiduciary relationship, such as certain estate or trust situations.
- Form 4506-T requests transcripts, but the IRS also offers online and mail transcript paths for many individual taxpayers.
Product implication
Tax Paperwork already has a narrow Form 56 draft preview because fiduciary notice can sometimes be framed as known authority plus known tax matters. Form 2848 and Form 8821 need more review before packet generation because representation eligibility, scope, confidential information, and revocation effects are too easy to misunderstand.
Current status
This cluster stays education-only until counsel and tax review approve the authority boundaries. Do not send confidential tax information, notices, transcripts, or authorization files to Tax Paperwork support.