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Official form guide
Form 12673: Agreement to Bid
IRS Form 12673 is an Agreement to Bid for the sale of government property, filed by bidders who must commit to a minimum bid amount and deposit.
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IRS Form 12673 - Agreement to Bid
IRS Form 12673 is an Agreement to Bid for the sale of government property, filed by bidders who must commit to a minimum bid amount and deposit.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Failing to bid at least the specified amount within the time limit results in deposit forfeiture and potential liability for excess damages.
- 2Bidding less than the minimum bid amount specified in the agreement
- 3Property offered for sale outside the specified days from the agreement date
- 4Deposit not applied against sale price if you are the successful bidder
- 5Deposit not enclosed with the agreement as authorized
Plain English
This form is a legally binding contract between a bidder and the U.S. government for the purchase of property offered for public sale. The bidder agrees to pay at least a specified amount if the property is sold within a set number of days. If the bidder fails to meet the commitment, their deposit may be kept to cover government damages.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2016-08-08 00:00:00
- 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 bidding on government property offered for public sale and you need to commit to a minimum bid amount with a deposit.
- Do not use it when the property is not being offered for public sale or when you are not acting as a bidder for the property.
- Check Form 12674 instead when submitting a bid after having signed an Agreement to Bid.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Property not offered for sale within specified time
The agreement becomes void
✓ Verify property sale status
Bidder needs to submit actual bid amount
Filing the bid after agreeing
✓ Confirm bid deadline
Deposit amount dispute
Contact IRS directly
✓ Keep deposit receipt
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Minimum bid amount
Property purchase agreement · Form 12673
Deposit amount
Bank or cashier's check · Form 12673
Property legal description
Attached document · Form 12673
Bidder contact info
Completed section · Form 12673
Authorization for deposit application
Signed agreement · Form 12673
Before you submit
- 1Complete the minimum bid amount in the first blank field labeled 'agree to bid at least the amount of $'
- 2Fill in the legal property description in the field below the bid amount
- 3Record the property address in the 'Property address' field
- 4Confirm the deposit amount is filled in the 'deposit of $' field
- 5Write the number of days specified in 'within ___ days from the date of this agreement'
- 6Enter your printed name in the 'Name (print/type)' field
- 7Provide your telephone number in the 'Telephone number' field
- 8Complete your street address, city, state, and zip code in the 'Bidder Information' section
- 9Sign in the 'Signature of Bidder' field above the date line
- 10Enter the date in the 'Date' field after signing
How to file this form
- 1Fill in the minimum bid amount in the designated field
- 2Complete all bidder information (name, address, telephone)
- 3Attach additional pages if the legal property description requires more space
- 4Sign and date the agreement
- 5Submit the form with the required deposit
- 6Keep a copy of the signed agreement for your records
Known limitations
- 1The agreement is voided if the property is not offered for sale within the specified time
- 2The government reserves the right to reject any and all bids
- 3The government may withdraw the property from sale at any time
- 4If the bid does not meet the minimum and the property sells for less, the deposit may be retained
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 current edition is Revision 8-2016 (August 2016). The source does not indicate a 'latest information' page or mention any changes from prior editions.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads 08/16 (August 2016)
- Fee — not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — not stated in the official source
- Signature — must be signed by the bidder
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Retain a signed copy of the Agreement to Bid
- 2Keep proof of deposit submission (receipt or cancelled check)
- 3Monitor for confirmation of bid acceptance or rejection
- 4If the property is not sold, the deposit may be returned or applied to damages
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Form 12673 is an Agreement to Bid for government property sales
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Minimum bid amount must be specified in the designated field
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Deposit amount must be enclosed and will be applied to sale price
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Bidder must sign and provide contact information
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Property legal description must be attached if additional pages needed
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Agreement is void if property not offered for sale within specified time
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Government may reject any and all bids and withdraw property from sale
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Revision date is 08/16 (August 2016)
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Catalog Number 29514X and form number 12673
Common confusion points
Confusion
Why it happens
→ Safe check
What is the minimum bid amount?
The form has blanks for the amount and days, both must be filled
→ Check that the dollar amount blank is completely filled with digits
How many days do I have to bid?
The form shows 'within ___ days from the date of this agreement' with a blank
→ Verify the days field contains a number before the date field
What deposit should I submit?
The deposit amount is a separate field labeled 'deposit of $'
→ Confirm the deposit amount matches what you are providing
Do I need to describe the property separately?
The form says to attach additional pages for the legal property description
→ Check that all pages are attached before signing
Can I sign without filling all blanks?
The form requires all fields to be completed for the agreement to be valid
→ Scan the form to ensure no blanks remain in the numbered fields
What if the property isn't sold?
The form states the deposit may be retained or you may owe excess damages
→ Read and initial any modifications to the liability terms
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 12674 - To correct or resubmit a bid
- Contact IRS directly - For deposit disputes or questions about the agreement
Questions about IRS Form 12673
What is IRS Form 12673 used for?
This form is a legally binding contract between a bidder and the U.S. government for the purchase of property offered for public sale. The bidder agrees to pay at least a specified amount if the property is sold within a set number of days. If the bidder fails to meet the commitment, their deposit may be kept to cover government damages.
Who must file IRS Form 12673?
Bidders who wish to purchase property offered for public sale by the U.S. government must file this Agreement to Bid.
What information does IRS Form 12673 require?
The form collects the bidder's name, address, telephone number, the minimum bid amount, the deposit amount, and the property description. It requires the bidder's signature and date to acknowledge the agreement's terms.
How do I complete IRS Form 12673?
Complete the property description and minimum bid amount. Enter the deposit amount you are authorized to provide. Fill in your printed name, street address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number. Sign and date the agreement to bind yourself to its terms.
What happens if IRS Form 12673 is filed incorrectly?
If the bidder does not bid at least the specified amount and the property is not sold for at least such amount within the time specified, the deposit will be retained pending final determination of damages.
Confusion — what should I check?
Why it happens Safe check
What is the minimum bid amount?
The form has blanks for the amount and days, both must be filled Check that the dollar amount blank is completely filled with digits
How many days do I have to bid?
The form shows 'within ___ days from the date of this agreement' with a blank Verify the days field contains a number before the date field
Source transparency
Copyright & Licensing - US Government Forms
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