12C-1.0221. Returns, Notices, and Elections; Signing and Verification

(1) A return, election, or notice required of a taxpayer shall be signed by an officer duly authorized to sign. A return or notice required of a taxpayer made by a fiduciary under Section 220.22(3), F.S., shall be signed by the fiduciary. An officer’s or fiduciary’s signature on a return or notice made by or for a taxpayer shall be prima facie evidence that such individual was authorized to sign the return or notice on behalf of the taxpayer.

(a) Florida corporate income/franchise and emergency excise tax returns (Form F-1120), amended returns (Form F-1120X), or notices shall be signed by the president, vice-president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief accounting officer, or any other officer duly authorized to sign such returns or notices.

(b) Consolidated returns (Form F-1120) and affiliations schedules (Form F-851) shall be signed by the president, vice-president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief accounting officer, or any other officer of the common parent authorized to sign. Each authorization and consent of subsidiary corporation to be included in a consolidated return (Form F-1122) shall be signed by an officer duly authorized by the subsidiary to sign.

(c) Form F-7004 shall be signed by a person authorized by the taxpayer to request such extension. Such person must be an individual authorized under paragraph (a) or (b) to sign the taxpayer’s return; a person currently enrolled as an agent under Treasury Department Circular Number 230 (Rev. 8-2011, herein incorporated by reference, Effective 01/13) (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-02113) to practice before the Internal Revenue Service; an attorney who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; or any certified public accountant who is duly qualified to practice in any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

(d) A fiduciary includes a receiver, trustee in dissolution, trustee in bankruptcy, or assignee, who, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, by operation of law or otherwise, has possession of or holds title to all or substantially all of the property or business of a corporation.

(e) Notices include, but are not limited to, waivers of restrictions on assessment and collection of proposed assessments under Section 220.715, F.S., consents to extend the statutory period under Section 213.23, F.S., and notifications of federal adjustments under Section 220.23(2), F.S.

(2) A Florida partnership information return (Form F-1065) or notice required of a partnership shall be signed by any one of the general partners, and the fact that a partner has signed a return or notice shall be prima facie evidence that such partner was authorized to sign such document on behalf of the partnership. A Florida partnership return or notice made by a receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, or assignee shall be signed by such fiduciary. A Form F-7004, application for extension of time to file a Florida partnership return, shall be signed by a person authorized to make such application. Such person shall include a general partner; a person currently enrolled as an agent under Treasury Department Circular Number 230 to practice before the Internal Revenue Service; an attorney who is a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; or any certified public accountant who is duly qualified to practice in any state, possession, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

(3) Each return or notice required to be filed under this code shall be verified by a written declaration that is made under the penalties of perjury. A return prepared for the taxpayer by another person shall contain a declaration by the preparer that it was prepared on the basis of all information of which the preparer has knowledge.

(a) Florida corporate income tax returns (Form F-1120), amended returns (Form F-1120X), and partnership information returns (Form F-1065) shall contain a declaration, under the penalties of perjury, that the officer, partner, or fiduciary signing the return has examined the return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and declares that to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the return is true, correct, and complete. If such returns are prepared by a person other than the taxpayer, the preparer shall declare, under penalties of perjury, that the return, accompanying schedules, and statements are true, correct, and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief based on all of the information of which he or she has any knowledge.

(b) Affiliations schedules (Form F-851) shall contain a declaration, under the penalties of perjury, that the officer or fiduciary signing the schedule has examined the information and statements contained therein and declares to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that the schedule is true and correct.

(c) Florida tentative income tax return and application for extension of time to file income tax return (Form F-7004) and authorization and consent of subsidiary corporation to be included in a consolidated return (Form F-1122) shall contain a declaration, under the penalties of perjury, that the person signing such form has been authorized to sign the form and that the information and statements therein are true and correct to the best of his or her knowledge and belief.

(4)(a) An electronically filed return or notice shall be deemed to be signed when the individual who is authorized to sign under subsection (1) includes his or her name in the filed electronic return data identified as signature information.

(b) When the individual who is authorized to sign includes his or her name in the filed electronic return data identified as signature information, it will also be deemed to serve as the written declaration made under penalties of perjury in accordance with subsection (3).

(5) Tax Return Preparers Other Than the Taxpayer.

(a) If an electronically filed return is prepared by a person other than the taxpayer, the declaration of the preparer that such return or notice was prepared on the basis of all information of which he or she has any knowledge shall be deemed to be signed when the preparer includes his or her name in the completed electronic return data identified as preparer information.

(b) When the preparer includes his or her name in the completed electronic return data identified as preparer information, it will also be deemed to serve as the written declaration made under penalties of perjury in accordance with subsection (3).

(c) The requirements of Internal Revenue Notice 2004-54, Alternative Methods of Signing for Income Tax Return Preparers (August 16, 2004, herein incorporated by reference), will be followed regarding the signature of a tax return preparer (other than the taxpayer) for returns submitted electronically to a taxpayer and filed with the Department by the taxpayer.

(d) All filed returns, including electronically-filed returns, prepared by a person other than the taxpayer, must include all information that is required on the return for paid preparers, including the firm name of the preparer (or individual name for a self-employed preparer) and address, and the preparer’s tax identification number and federal employer identification number.

Rulemaking Authority 213.06(1), 220.51 FS. Law Implemented 213.755, 220.221, 220.23(2)(a) FS. History–New 3-5-80, Amended 12-18-83, Formerly 12C-1.221, Amended 12-21-88, 4-8-92, 1-28-08, 4-26-10, 1-17-13.