I will be out of the country before receiving my tax documents and will be gone for the rest of 2008. Can I designate a tax preparer to do my taxes without requiring a signature? What is the best way to get my tax documents to that tax preparer (this is secondary as I do have someone who can forward them for me if necessary)?

Hello

Yes, you can Fax an authorization form to the Tax preparer and also Fax the documents.

We receive documents from many clients from overseas during the Tax Season.

Hope this helps!

Save Taxes on H1B,OPT,F1 and other visas at VisaTaxes.com

VTE is correct. If you have access to a fax, it is a simple matter to fax your tax documents to the tax professional.
Original W-2s are NOT needed.

Once the return is done, the tax returns can be sent to you in PDF form for your review and approval.

If you are eligible to efile, then the tax pro can email you the efile permission forms in PDF form. You would then print it off, sign it and then fax the signed form back to the tax pro.

He would then efile your return (with direct deposit of the refunds into your checking account) and email you a file copy of your return in PDF form.

This is quite easily done, and successfully completed multiple times last year.

If jstoel has only the foreign address, then the return can't be e-filed. In the case, jstoel sign the copy of tax return and mail it to the tax preparer for submission to the IRS.

MukatA:

Technically, you are correct. However, since the refunds (state and federal) are sent directly to the bank account, the address on the return is essentially irrelevent.

Jstoel could enter a friend's address (just in case the IRS were to send some type of notice) as his own address and the IRS would not be any the wiser, nor would they really care as long as the tax return was accurately filed.

Remember that the IRS WANTS you to file electronically. They can process such returns much faster and much easier than a printed-and-mailed return.