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Official form guide
Form 3949A: Information Referral
IRS Form 3949-A is the Information Referral used to report suspected tax law violations by an individual, a business, or both. Anyone with such information can file it. The form is the October 2020 revision (Rev. 10‑2020).
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IRS Form 3949A - Information Referral
IRS Form 3949-A is the Information Referral used to report suspected tax law violations by an individual, a business, or both. Anyone with such information can file it. The form is the October 2020 revision (Rev. 10‑2020).
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Using Form 3949‑A for identity‑theft complaints instead of Form 14039 can invalidate the report.
- 2Leaving required fields blank in Section A, such as name or address.
- 3Failing to check all applicable violation boxes in Section B.
- 4Omitting tax years and dollar amounts when known in the violation description.
- 5Using Form 3949‑A for identity‑theft reports instead of Form 14039.
Plain English
Form 3949-A lets you tell the IRS about people or companies you think broke tax rules. You give details about who you are reporting, what you think they did wrong, and optionally your own contact info. The IRS then reviews the tip and may share it with the Justice Department. No signature is required on the form itself.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2020-10-13 22:15:45
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when you want to report alleged tax law violations by an individual, a business, or both.
- Do not use it when the issue involves identity theft, tax preparer misconduct, abusive tax avoidance schemes, or tax‑exempt organization wrongdoing.
- Check Form 14039 instead when you suspect your identity was stolen.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Identity theft suspicion
Specific form handles identity theft investigations
✓ Confirm the issue is identity theft, not general tax fraud
Misconduct by tax return preparer
Preparer misconduct requires dedicated reporting form
✓ Verify the preparer’s actions fit preparer misconduct criteria
Abusive tax avoidance scheme
Scheme reporting has separate form with different submission address
✓ Ensure the scheme meets the definition of abusive tax avoidance
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Section A – Name of individual
Individual’s full legal name · Form field 1a
Section A – Social Security Number/TIN
Taxpayer’s SSN or TIN · Form field 1b
Comments (facts of alleged violation)
Detailed description of alleged violation · Form field 5
Additional information – Book/records availability
Answer Yes/No about records · Form field 6a
Section C – Your telephone number
Your contact phone · Form field 7b
Before you submit
- 1Review Section A for completeness.
- 2Verify SSN/TIN format is correct.
- 3Enter date of birth if known.
- 4Complete street address fields for the reported party.
- 5Answer the Additional Information questions (records, danger, banks).
- 6Provide your own contact details in Section C if you wish to be contacted.
- 7Sign the form before mailing.
- 8Attach any extra sheets for detailed comments.
How to file this form
- 1Complete all applicable fields in Section A for the person or business being reported.
- 2Describe the alleged violation in the Comments section and attach extra sheets if needed.
- 3Answer the Additional Information questions in Section B.
- 4Optionally provide your own contact details in Section C.
- 5Review the entire form for accuracy and sign it.
- 6Mail the completed form to the IRS address listed on the form.
- 7Retain a copy of the mailed form as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1Do not use for identity theft; use Form 14039 instead.
- 2Do not use for tax return preparer misconduct; use Form 14157.
- 3Do not use for abusive tax avoidance schemes; use Form 14242.
- 4Do not use for misconduct by tax‑exempt organizations; use Form 13909.
- 5Do not use when you received a notice about someone claiming your exemption or dependent; follow the notice instructions.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The form shows Rev. 10‑2020 (October 2020). The source does not indicate any later revision or changes.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the form shows Rev. 10‑2020 (October 2020).
- Fee — Not stated in the official source.
- Mailing address — confirm you send to IRS PO Box 3801, Ogden, UT 84409.
- Signature — ensure the form is signed before mailing.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep the copy you mailed for at least three years.
- 2Expect no immediate confirmation; IRS may contact you if needed.
- 3If you discover an error, submit a corrected Form 3949‑A.
- 4Do not contact the person or business you reported.
- 5Preserve any supporting documents you referenced in case IRS requests them.
- 6Monitor for any follow‑up communication from the IRS.
Sources
- SRCForm p.1 — revision date shown as Rev. 10‑2020 (October 2020).
- SRCForm p.1 — purpose: report suspected tax law violations by an individual, a business, or both.
- SRCForm p.2 — do not use for identity theft; use Form 14039 instead.
- SRCForm p.2 — do not use for tax preparer misconduct; use Form 14157.
- SRCForm p.2 — do not use for abusive tax avoidance scheme; use Form 14242.
- SRCForm p.1 — mailing address: Internal Revenue Service PO Box 3801 Ogden, UT 84409.
- SRCForm p.1 — Section A fields list (Name, SSN/TIN, DOB, address).
- SRCForm p.3 — Comments section description for alleged violation facts.
- SRCForm p.3 — Additional information questions a‑c about records, danger, banks.
- SRCForm p.3 — Section Coptional reporter info (name, telephone, best time).
Common confusion points
Do I need to include my name?
The form says reporter info is optional but helpful.
→ Verify whether you want IRS to be able to contact you.
Is a signature required?
The source doesn’t list a signature line but general filing requires it.
→ Sign the form before mailing.
Can I send the form electronically?
No electronic submission method is provided in the source.
→ Mail the paper form to the listed address.
What if I don’t know the SSN?
The SSN/TIN field can be left blank if unknown.
→ Leave the field blank and note “unknown”.
Where exactly do I mail the form?
The source lists IRS PO Box 3801, Ogden, UT 84409.
→ Use that address on the envelope.
What if the violation involves a tax‑exempt organization?
The source directs use of Form 13909 for that case.
→ Use Form 13909 instead of Form 3949‑A.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 13909 – Tax‑exempt organization misconduct report
Questions about IRS Form 3949A
What is IRS Form 3949A used for?
Form 3949-A lets you tell the IRS about people or companies you think broke tax rules. You give details about who you are reporting, what you think they did wrong, and optionally your own contact info. The IRS then reviews the tip and may share it with the Justice Department. No signature is required on the form itself.
What information does IRS Form 3949A require?
Section A collects the name, address, SSN/TIN, occupation and other details of the person or business; Section B records the type of tax violation and any known tax years and amounts; Section C gathers optional reporter information.
Where do I file IRS Form 3949A?
Print and send the completed form to: Internal Revenue Service PO Box 3801 Ogden, UT 84409
How do I complete IRS Form 3949A?
First, fill out Section A with all known details about the individual or business. Next, check the applicable violations in Section B and list any tax years and dollar amounts you know. Then, optionally provide your own contact information in Section C. Finally, mail the form to the IRS address listed on the form.
What happens if IRS Form 3949A is filed incorrectly?
The information may be disclosed to the Department of Justice to enforce the tax laws, so inaccurate or false reports can trigger a federal investigation.
Do I need to include my name?
The form says reporter info is optional but helpful. Verify whether you want IRS to be able to contact you.
Is a signature required?
The source doesn’t list a signature line but general filing requires it. Sign the form before mailing.
Can I send the form electronically?
No electronic submission method is provided in the source. Mail the paper form to the listed address.
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