Can clients e-sign Form 8879?

Short answer: yes, but remote e-signatures require identity verification (KBA).

• IRS Publication 1345 allows electronic signatures on Forms 8879 and 8878; no specific technology is required, and a typed name counts.
• In person: check a government photo ID and record name, SSN, address and date of birth (not needed again for multi-year clients verified this way before).
• Remote: record name, SSN, address and date of birth, and verify identity through a third-party record check such as KBA; after three failed attempts, get a handwritten signature.
• A hand-signed 8879 returned by scan, photo or fax isn't a remote e-signature and doesn't need KBA.
• An access code or private link is not KBA.

SignLucid finds the 8879 signature lines and places taxpayer and spouse fields. KBA is in development; until then, sign in person or have clients hand-sign and return a scan.

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