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Official form guide
Form 8621A: Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections To End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company
IRS Form 8621A is the Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections To End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company. It lets U.S. shareholders of former PFICs or Section 1297(e) PFICs elect a late deemed sale or dividend, with interest accruing from the return due date until the election is filed.
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IRS Form 8621A - Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections To End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company
IRS Form 8621A is the Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections To End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company. It lets U.S. shareholders of former PFICs or Section 1297(e) PFICs elect a late deemed sale or dividend, with interest accruing from the return due date until the election is filed.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Failing to sign and date the form invalidates the election.
- 2Leaving the election box unchecked in Part I.
- 3Omitting required lines in Part II or Part III for the selected election.
- 4Not calculating interest on line 17 as required.
- 5Failing to enter the aggregate tax increase on line 16.
Plain English
Taxpayers use this form to make a late election that ends a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) classification for a stock they own. The election changes how the income or gain is taxed, and the form calculates any extra tax and interest that must be paid.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2025-02-06 22:10:34
- 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 a shareholder is making a late deemed dividend or late deemed sale election to end treatment as a PFIC for a specific PFIC.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Late election for a single PFIC
Required to make the late purging election for that PFIC
✓ Verify PFIC eligibility before filing
Late election for multiple PFICs in a chain
Separate Form 8621-A must be filed for each PFIC in the chain
✓ Ensure each PFIC has its own form attached
Closing agreement for a closed tax year
File the closing agreement on page 3 in duplicate with original signatures
✓ Mark the taxpayer copy clearly
Deadline or filing window
Not stated in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Part I election box
Selection of election type · Part I of Form 8621-A
Line 18 amount
Late deemed dividend or sale amount · Line 18 of Form 8621-A
Line 19 interest
Calculated interest on line 18 · Line 19 of Form 8621-A
Closing Agreement signatures
Original signatures on both copies · Page 3 of Form 8621-A
Balance sheet
Asset and liability figures · Page 4 of Form 8621-A
Before you submit
- 1Check the applicable election box in Part I
- 2Complete all required lines in Part II or III as described
- 3Attach any required statements to Part II, III, or IV
- 4Complete Part IV and attach required documents
- 5Sign and date the form on page 2
- 6If filing a closing agreement, sign both copies on page 3
- 7Complete the balance sheet on page 4 if required by line 4 or line 8
- 8Include payment for line 21 with a check payable to United States Treasury
How to file this form
- 1Select the appropriate election box in Part I and attach supporting statements
- 2Fill out the required lines in Parts II, III, and IV, adding any attachments
- 3Sign the form on page 2 and, if needed, sign both copies of the closing agreement on page 3
- 4Prepare the balance sheet on page 4 when required and attach it
- 5Mail the completed Form 8621-A and any attachments to the IRS Deposit Team address and retain the mailing receipt as proof of filing
Known limitations
- 1A separate Form 8621-A must be filed for each PFIC for which a late purging election is being made — Instructions p.1
- 2If the shareholder owns one PFIC that owns other PFICs, a separate Form 8621-A is required for each Section 1297(e) PFIC or former PFIC in the chain — Instructions p.1
- 3The election can be made only by a U.S. person who is a shareholder of a former PFIC that was a CFC during the last tax year as a PFIC — Instructions p.2
- 4The form is filed separately from the shareholder’s income tax return — Form p.1
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.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->The form is the December 2024 revision (Rev. December 2024) and the OMB number was updated to 1545-1002. The instructions direct users to the IRS.gov/Form8621A page for the latest information.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads December 2024
- OMB number — confirm it is 1545-1002
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — confirm filing address is Internal Revenue Service Deposit Team, M/S 6059 Attn: Specials Desk, Ogden, UT 84201
- Signature — confirm original signatures on both copies of the closing agreement if applicable
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep a copy of the filed Form 8621-A for your records — Instructions p.1
- 2If the election year is a closed tax year, file the closing agreement on page 3 in duplicate with original signatures — Instructions p.1
- 3Make the check or money order payable to “United States Treasury,” include your identifying number and “Form 8621-A,” and ensure full payment of line 21 to avoid processing delays — Instructions p.1
- 4File Form 8621-A with the IRS Deposit Team, M/S 6059, Specials Desk, Ogden, UT 84201 — Instructions p.1
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — A separate Form 8621-A must be filed for each PFIC for which a late purging election is being made.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — If the shareholder owns one PFIC and through that PFIC owns other PFICs, a separate Form 8621-A is required for each Section 1297(e) PFIC or former PFIC in the chain.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — The election can be made by a U.S. person that is a shareholder of a former PFIC provided the foreign corporation was a CFC during the last tax year as a PFIC.
- SRCForm p.1 — File Form 8621-A separately from your income tax return.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Keep a copy of the form for your records.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — If the election year is a closed tax year, file the closing agreement on page 3 of the form in duplicate. Both copies must contain original signatures.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Make your check or money order payable to “United States Treasury.” Include your identifying number and “Form 8621-A” on your payment. If Form 8621-A doesn't include full payment of the amount shown on line 21, the form won’t be processed.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — File Form 8621-A with: Internal Revenue Service Deposit Team, M/S 6059 Attn: Specials Desk, Ogden, UT 84201.
Common confusion points
Do I need one Form 8621-A for each PFIC?
The instructions require a separate form for each PFIC with a late election.
→ Verify you have a distinct Form 8621-A for every PFIC in the chain.
Should I attach Form 8621-A to my tax return?
The form must be filed separately from the income tax return.
→ Submit Form 8621-A as a standalone filing to the IRS Deposit Team.
Where do I mail the form?
The address is specified for the IRS Deposit Team, M/S 6059, Specials Desk, Ogden, UT 84201.
→ Confirm the mailing address matches the one in the instructions.
Is a payment required with the form?
The instructions state a check payable to the United States Treasury must include the identifying number and cover line 21.
→ Include the full amount shown on line 21 and label the payment correctly.
Do I need a closing agreement?
A closing agreement is required when the election year is a closed tax year, filed in duplicate with original signatures.
→ Determine if your election year is closed; if so, prepare and sign the duplicate closing agreement.
Do both copies of the closing agreement need signatures?
Both copies must contain original signatures per the instructions.
→ Sign both copies of the closing agreement before mailing.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 8621-A – file a corrected Form 8621-A with original signatures to amend the election.
Questions about IRS Form 8621A
What is IRS Form 8621A used for?
Taxpayers use this form to make a late election that ends a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) classification for a stock they own. The election changes how the income or gain is taxed, and the form calculates any extra tax and interest that must be paid.
Who must file IRS Form 8621A?
U.S. persons who are shareholders of a former PFIC or of a Section 1297(e) PFIC may make the election.
What information does IRS Form 8621A require?
The form records the election choice in Part I, required details in Part II or Part III (specific lines per election), and the tax and interest calculations in Part IV.
How do I complete IRS Form 8621A?
The shareholder checks the appropriate box (A, B, C, or D) in Part I, completes the required lines in Part II or Part III, and then calculates the tax and interest on the amounts in Part IV. The form is signed and dated at the bottom of page 2. If the election year is a closed tax year, a closing agreement must be filed on page 3 in duplicate with original signatures. A balance sheet on page 4 is required when line 4 or line 8 of the form applies, and a copy should be kept for records.
Do I need one Form 8621-A for each PFIC?
The instructions require a separate form for each PFIC with a late election. Verify you have a distinct Form 8621-A for every PFIC in the chain.
Should I attach Form 8621-A to my tax return?
The form must be filed separately from the income tax return. Submit Form 8621-A as a standalone filing to the IRS Deposit Team.
Where do I mail the form?
The address is specified for the IRS Deposit Team, M/S 6059, Specials Desk, Ogden, UT 84201. Confirm the mailing address matches the one in the instructions.
Is a payment required with the form?
The instructions state a check payable to the United States Treasury must include the identifying number and cover line 21. Include the full amount shown on line 21 and label the payment correctly.
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