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Form 13551 (2019)

Use a Form 13551 2019 template to make your document workflow more streamlined.

What Form 13551 (2019) is

Form 13551 (2019) is an IRS application used by an organization seeking participation in the IRS e-file program. It collects the organization’s identifying information, responsible-official details, and other information the IRS uses during its application and suitability review. In signNow, an administrator uploads the form, reviews detected fields, assigns completion and signature fields, and routes the application to responsible officials. Each signer can review the assigned sections electronically. The completed PDF and audit trail can then be stored as the organization’s application record.

Who uses Form 13551 (2019)

IRS e-file applicants

Organizations applying to participate in the IRS e-file program use Form 13551 to provide application information, identify responsible officials, and collect the approvals required for their submission. An administrator can prepare the 2019 PDF in signNow, assign fields to authorized participants, route it for review, and retain the signed record with its audit trail.

Tax administration teams

Tax professionals and administrators coordinating an organization’s e-file application use Form 13551 when multiple responsible officials must review consistent information. signNow provides a controlled routing sequence for the application, while exported completion records preserve evidence of who signed, when actions occurred, and which PDF was completed.

How Form 13551 works in signNow

Form 13551 is handled as a controlled application record: prepare the IRS information, route designated officials, collect signatures, and preserve evidence.

  • Upload form: Upload the Form 13551 (2019) PDF to signNow and inspect detected fillable fields.
  • Assign fields: Assign organization information and responsible-official fields to the correct participants.
  • Collect signatures: Send the application for review and collect each required electronic signature.
  • Store evidence: Download the signed PDF and preserve its audit trail with application records.

Steps to complete Form 13551

Use this sequence to prepare Form 13551 (2019), route it to the appropriate responsible officials, and preserve the completed application record.

  • Upload form:

     Upload the 2019 Form 13551 PDF into signNow.

  • Check fields:

     Review detected fields and add missing signature or date fields.

  • Assign participants:

     Assign each field to the responsible official who must complete it.

  • Send for signature:

     Send the completed routing package and monitor signer status.

  • Archive records:

     Download the signed form and audit trail after completion.

Ways to send and sign Form 13551

  1. Use the signNow web app when an administrator prepares the Form 13551 PDF, assigns fields, and manages responsible-official routing from a desktop browser.
  2. Use the signNow mobile app when an authorized official needs to review and sign the assigned Form 13551 from an iOS or Android device.
  3. Use kiosk mode when officials complete the application at a controlled workstation without exchanging individual signing links between participants.
  4. Use a shareable signing link when a responsible official needs direct access to the assigned Form 13551 without opening an email invitation.
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Recommended Form 13551 workflow setup

Configure Form 13551 around attributable signatures, protected transmission, exported audit evidence, and the organization’s IRS record-retention policy.

SettingRecommendation
Authentication methodEmail verification with SMS 2FA
Signature typeElectronic signature with signer intent
Audit trailExport certificate of completion
Document retentionRetain under IRC §6001 records policy
EncryptionAES-256 at rest and TLS in transit

What the Form 13551 audit trail records

The audit trail documents how Form 13551 moved through review and signature, creating evidence that complements the signed application rather than replacing it.

01

Authenticate signer:

 The signer opens the assigned Form 13551 through an authenticated invitation or link.
02

Capture timestamp:

 signNow records the time associated with each Form 13551 action.
03

Record document identity:

 The completed PDF is associated with its signing history and document record.
04

Seal completion:

 The completed package receives a tamper-evident completion record.
05

Preserve action history:

 The audit trail preserves signer actions and routing events.
06

Export evidence:

 An administrator downloads the signed PDF and audit trail together.

Find and fill out the correct form 13551 rev 6 2019

airSlate SignNow helps you fill in and sign documents in minutes, error-free. Choose the correct version of the editable PDF form from the list and get started filling it out.

VersionsForm popularityFillable & printable
IRS 13551 *2019 20234.8 Satisfied (277 Votes)
IRS 13551 *2019 20194.8 Satisfied (2320 Votes)
IRS 13551 *2019 20144.7 Satisfied (326 Votes)
IRS 13551 *2019 20084.6 Satisfied (111 Votes)

Form 13551 processing and record timeline

Form 13551 moves from information gathering through responsible-official review, signature collection, and controlled record storage.

01

Prepare application details

Review the IRS e-file application and gather the organization’s required identifying and suitability information.
02

Deliver to signers

Send the completed application to designated responsible officials for review and required signatures.
03

Complete signer review

Each responsible official reviews the application and signs after confirming submitted information.
04

Archive completed record

Store the signed application and audit trail with the organization’s IRS e-file records.

Record-keeping practices for Form 13551

Form 13551 records should remain complete, attributable, and retrievable from preparation through signature and later IRS-related review.

Retain the application with supporting evidence

Keep the completed Form 13551, signer certificate, and audit trail together in one controlled record set. Apply the retention period required for the organization’s IRS records under IRC §6001 and related regulations, while checking any longer state or industry rule.

Export the audit trail after signing

Export the audit trail after every completed signing and preserve the original signed PDF without overwriting it. The record should show signer actions, timestamps, and document history so the organization can demonstrate how responsible officials approved the Form 13551 submission.

Limit access to authorized administrators

Restrict access to personnel responsible for the IRS e-file application and record administration. Use role-based permissions, review shared links, and remove access when a user leaves or changes responsibilities within the organization.

Check responsible-official information before sending

Verify every responsible official’s name, title, and contact information before sending the form. Correcting identity or authorization information before signature prevents an incomplete application record and reduces the need to circulate a replacement document.

Form 13551 completion challenges

  • Responsible-official information may be assigned to the wrong signer, leaving Form 13551 incomplete or attributable to an unauthorized participant.
  • A scanned 2019 PDF may contain fields that require manual placement before signers can complete the application accurately.
  • Submitting the signed PDF without its audit trail weakens the organization’s record of signer identity, timestamps, and document history.
  • Replacing a corrected Form 13551 without preserving the earlier version can obscure which application record was reviewed and signed.

Security controls for Form 13551 records

Data at rest:

 AES-256 encryption at rest

Data in transit:

 TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3

Service assurance:

 SOC 2 Type II certified

Security management:

 ISO 27001 certified

Electronic signatures:

 ESIGN and UETA compliant

Protected health information:

 HIPAA compliance with BAA

Pricing and plan facts for Form 13551

For Form 13551 workflows, signNow pricing is verified for its listed plans; competitor prices and capabilities are shown as not verified where the available source provides no details.

FeaturessignNowDocuSignAdobe SignPandaDocDropbox Sign
Annual Business plan price$8/user/month annuallyNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified
Business Premium annual price$15/user/month annuallyNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified
Free trial period7 days, no credit cardNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified
Bulk send availabilityBusiness Premium includes bulk sendNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified
Audit trail availabilityIncluded with Business planNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verifiedNot verified

Form 13551 troubleshooting questions

Resolve field, routing, signature, compliance, and record-retrieval issues without changing the underlying IRS application information.

If signNow does not detect every field in the scanned 2019 PDF, open the document editor and place the missing text, date, and signature fields manually. Confirm each field assignment before sending the application to responsible officials.

If the wrong responsible official receives a signature field, stop the routing before completion, correct the assignment in the signNow editor, and resend the application. Preserve the corrected final PDF and its audit trail as the authoritative record.

The signNow Business plan includes templates, audit trails, and mobile apps at $8 per user per month with annual billing. Business Premium adds bulk send at $15 per user per month annually.

Electronic signatures generally receive legal recognition under ESIGN and applicable UETA rules when intent, consent, attribution, and record reproduction are established. Consumer-facing transactions may also require the ESIGN disclosure under 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

If the application contains protected health information, signNow identifies HIPAA compliance as requiring a business associate agreement. Confirm that a BAA and organizational safeguards apply before including such information.

If a completed Form 13551 cannot be located, retrieve the signed PDF and completion evidence from signNow’s document records, then store both with the organization’s IRS records under its IRC §6001 retention policy.

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