The IRS is continuing its march toward a more digital-first future, announcing that it is expanding access to its Business Tax Account to include more entities. Now, partnerships, federal, state, and local governments, Indian tribal governments, and tax-exempt organizations can use the online platform at IRS.gov.

The move marks one of the more significant expansions of the platform since it launched the second phase of its rollout in 2023 to include S corporations, and C corporations. Prior to that, access had been limited to sole proprietors.

What the Business Tax Account Does

The Business Tax Account is designed to be an online hub for managing your federal taxes. Eligible users and authorized representatives can view balances and payment history, make payments, access certain IRS notices digitally, retrieve eligible tax transcripts, including payroll and income records, and request tax compliance checks (useful when bidding for contracts or securing financing). You can also confirm your basic entity information, like your business name and address on file.

“By opening the Business Tax Account to partnerships, tax-exempts and other organizations, we’re giving millions more entities secure, convenient access to their tax information,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. He emphasized that expanding digital access reduces reliance on paper filings and phone assistance for routine interactions.

Continuation of a Longer Rollout

The IRS expects the Business Online Account to be a one-stop shop that allows business taxpayers to conduct various business online. Currently, business can access some letters or notices, request tax transcripts, add authorized third parties for power of attorney or Tax Information Authorization, and store bank account information to manage tax payments.

That hasn’t always been the case. In 2023, then IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel explained that online options would make interactions easier for businesses and reduce the need to call the IRS. However, under the older system, you could generally use the system only if you were an individual partner or shareholder with a Social Security number (SSN) or an individual tax ID number (ITIN), and a Schedule K-1. Your access to information and features depended on your business type and your role in the business.

Now, partners, shareholders, and organizations can interact directly with the IRS through the platform. This includes partnerships that file Form 1065, tax-exempt organizations that manage compliance and filings, and government entities that have traditionally relied on paper for filing and communications.

The Bigger Picture: A Work in Progress

The IRS has characterized the Business Tax Account as part of its broader modernization effort, aimed at making life easier for taxpayers and the agency. The IRS believes the platform could reshape how businesses interact with the agency, shifting routine compliance tasks away from paper and phone channels (which have experienced high wait times, especially following personnel cuts at the agency).

Of course, “could” is doing some heavy lifting. The rollout remains incremental (this is the most significant online change for businesses since 2023). And, access and functionality still vary depending on who you are and what kind of business you have.

Setting Up an Online Account

To set up a new Business Tax Account, or for more information, visit the IRS website. You’ll need to know your tax election to gain access—remember that you create an entity at the state level like, say, a limited liability company (LLC) but for federal tax purposes, you may elect tax treatment (an LLC could be taxed as a partnership, S corporation, C corporation or disregarded).

To register for full access for most entities, you must be a Designated Official. For example, the Designated Official for an S corporation must be an officer (president, vice president, CEO, CFO, COO, secretary, treasurer) or managing member of the entity; a current employee who received a W-2 for the most recent tax filing year; and authorized to legally bind the business or entity. The Designated Official for a partnership must be either a general partner or a managing partner of an LLC.

If you’re registered as a Designated Official, you must renew your role annually to maintain access to Business Tax Account. You’ll get a notification in your account during the 6-week renewal period. If you don’t renew during this period, you’ll need to register again.

A Business Tax Account isn’t yet available for LLCs that file as sole proprietors with Schedule C or Schedule F (Form 1040).

If you have multiple entities, you can access them all in your Business Tax Account. Just select the one you want to view from the list when you sign in.

Individual Taxpayers Can Sign Up, Too

Online accounts aren’t just limited to businesses. Individuals can take advantage of the platform, too—there’s no need to create a separate account. You’ll use the same sign-in for your Business Tax Account and individual online account.

You can use your individual online account to see key details from your most recently filed tax return, including adjusted gross income and filing status, check current balances with penalties and interest, review your payment history, and make payments or set up installment agreements. The account also provides access to tax transcripts, including return, account, and wage and income records, and allows you to view some IRS notices. Importantly, you can also update your bank information if you’re expecting a tax refund. To sign up, navigate to IRS.gov and click “create account.”

Online services are also available to tax professionals who use a Tax Pro Account. A Tax Pro Account allows tax professionals to securely request and manage authorizations such as powers of attorney and tax information authorizations, view and withdraw those authorizations once approved, and access certain client tax information without relying on paper forms or faxes. The platform also allows you to initiate electronic authorization requests for clients to approve through their own IRS online account (I’m a big fan, it’s a huge time-saver). To get the most out of your Tax Pro Account, you’ll need to link your Centralized Authorization File (CAF)—a unique, nine-digit identification number assigned to you—to the account. If you don’t have a CAF number, you can get one through Tax Pro Account or when you file your first POA or TIA with Form 2848 or 8821.

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