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                                                                                               Department of the Treasury
Instructions for Form 8973                                                                     Internal Revenue Service

(May 2017)
Certified Professional Employer Organization/Customer Reporting Agreement

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless     own Form 8973 to notify the IRS that its service contract with 
otherwise noted.                                               the CPEO has ended.

Future Developments                                            When To File
For the latest information about developments related to       Generally, a CPEO must file Form 8973 within 30 days of 
Form 8973 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted    starting or ending a service contract with a customer. 
after they were published, go to IRS.gov/Form8973.             However, a newly certified CPEO has 6 months from the date 
                                                               of its notice of certification to submit Forms 8973 with respect 
                                                               to the commencement of any service contracts with existing 
General Instructions                                           customers (see section 2.06(1) of Rev. Proc. 2017-14, 
                                                               2017-3 I.R.B. 426, available at IRS.gov/irb/2017-03_IRB/
Purpose of Form 8973                                           ar14.html).
Certified Professional Employer Organizations (CPEOs) use 
Form 8973 to notify the IRS that a service contract between a  In addition, before the end of the last year or period listed 
CPEO and a customer has started or ended. If Form 8973 is      on the most recent prior CPEO Consent to Disclosure of Tax 
being used to notify the IRS that a service contract has       Information, the CPEO must renew the consent if it is still 
started, CPEOs also use Form 8973 to identify the forms that   under a service contract with the customer named on the 
the CPEO will file reporting wages or compensation paid to     consent. For more information on renewing the consent, see 
employees performing services for the customer and to allow    Renewing the CPEO Consent to Disclosure of Tax 
the CPEO to consent to the disclosure of tax information to    Information, later.
the customer.
                                                               Where To File
For purposes of this form, a service contract is either a      Mail to the following address:
CPEO contract described under section 7705(e)(2) or a 
service agreement described under Regulations section          Department of the Treasury
31.3504-2(b)(2) and a customer is any person who has           Internal Revenue Service
entered into such a service contract with the CPEO. For more   Ogden, UT 84201-0089
information on CPEO contracts and service agreements, see 
the line 10 instructions.
                                                               Specific Instructions
For more information about the CPEO program, including 
frequently asked questions, visit the IRS website at IRS.gov/  Part 1: Why Are You Filing This Form?
CPEO.                                                          Check a box to tell the IRS if you’re filing Form 8973 because 
      If the customer filed Form 2678, Employer/Payer          a service contract started between the customer reported in 
TIP   Appointment of Agent, appointing the CPEO as an          Part 2 and the CPEO reported in Part 3, a service contract 
      authorized agent of the customer under Regulations       ended between the customer reported in Part 2 and the 
section 31.3504-1, then the relationship between the CPEO      CPEO reported in Part 3, or you're correcting a previously 
and the customer isn’t subject to a CPEO contract or a         filed Form 8973. You must enter the date (formatted as 
service agreement under Regulations section 31.3504-2(b)       MM/DD/YYYY) that the service contract started or ended.
(2). In this case, the CPEO shouldn’t file Form 8973 for the   Service contract started. Either the customer or the CPEO 
customer.                                                      can complete Parts 1 and 2. The CPEO must complete Parts 
                                                               3 and 4 and provide the customer a copy of these 
Substitute Forms                                               instructions before the customer signs Part 5. The CPEO 
The IRS accepts quality substitute tax forms that are          must also complete Part 6 and the CPEO Consent to 
consistent with the official forms and have no adverse impact  Disclosure of Tax information before sending Form 8973 to 
on our processing. The official Form 8973 is the standard for  the IRS. The CPEO must provide the customer with a copy of 
substitute forms. Because a substitute form is a variation     the fully completed and signed Form 8973.
from the official form, you should know the requirements of    Service contract ended. The CPEO is required to file Form 
the official form for the year of use before you create a      8973 to notify the IRS that a service contract has ended. Only 
substitute version. For details on the requirements for        the CPEO’s signature is required to notify the IRS that a 
substitute forms, see Pub. 1167.                               service contract has ended. In addition, though not required, 
                                                               the customer may also separately file its own Form 8973 to 
Who Must File                                                  notify the IRS that its service contract with the CPEO has 
The CPEO must file Form 8973 to notify the IRS that a          ended. If a customer separately files its own Form 8973 to 
service contract started between a customer reported in Part   notify the IRS that its service contract with the CPEO has 
2 and a CPEO reported in Part 3 or to correct a previously     ended, only the customer’s signature is required on that 
filed Form 8973. The CPEO is required to file Form 8973 to     Form 8973. In both cases, Parts 1, 2, and 3 must be 
notify the IRS that a service contract has ended. In addition, completed (although Part 2, line 5, should be blank). It isn’t 
though not required, the customer may also separately file its 

May 16, 2017                                              Cat. No. 68908X



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necessary in either case to complete Part 4 or the CPEO                Line 5. Identify Forms That the CPEO Will File 
Consent to Disclosure of Tax Information.                              Reporting Wages or Compensation Paid to 
Correcting a previously filed Form 8973.  Submit Form                  Employees Performing Services for the 
8973 with the correct information in accordance with these             Customer
instructions.
                                                                       Check the boxes for all forms that the CPEO will file reporting 
       Before the end of the last year or period listed on the         wages or compensation paid to employees performing 
TIP    most recent prior CPEO Consent to Disclosure of                 services for the customer. If the CPEO is reporting only some 
       Tax Information, the CPEO must renew the consent if             of the wages or compensation paid to employees performing 
it is still under a service contract with the customer named on        services for the customer, check the boxes under CPEO 
the consent. See Renewing the CPEO Consent to Disclosure               reports some wages/compensation paid to employees.
of Tax Information, later.
                                                                       For example, if the CPEO reports wages or compensation 
Transfer or assignment of a service contract. If a CPEO                paid by the CPEO to employees performing services for the 
(the transferor) transfers or assigns a service contract that          customer pursuant to a service contract and the customer 
was previously reported as “started” on Form 8973 to a                 separately reports wages or compensation (including, for 
subsidiary or affiliate (the transferee), the transferor must file     example, bonuses, stock options, and taxable fringe 
a Form 8973 to tell the IRS that the service contract has              benefits) paid by the customer to the same employees, the 
ended between the customer reported in Part 2 and the                  CPEO is reporting some, but not all, of the wages or 
CPEO reported in Part 3. Then, if the transferee is a CPEO,            compensation paid to employees performing services for the 
within 30 days of the transfer, the transferee must file Form          customer and should check the boxes under CPEO reports 
8973 to tell the IRS that a service contract has started               some wages/compensation paid to employees.
between the customer reported in Part 2 and the CPEO                   Similarly, if a CPEO and a customer enter into a service 
(transferee) reported in Part 3.                                       contract that covers some, but not all, of the employees 
                                                                       performing services for the customer, so that the customer 
Part 2: Customer Information                                           reports wages or compensation paid to the employees not 
                                                                       covered by the service contract, the CPEO is reporting some, 
Line 1. Customer’s Employer Identification                             but not all, of the wages or compensation paid to employees 
Number (EIN)                                                           performing services for the customer and should check the 
Enter the customer’s EIN. The EIN that you enter on line 1             boxes under CPEO reports some wages/compensation paid 
must match the EIN that the IRS assigned to the customer. If           to employees.
the customer previously filed employment tax returns (for 
example, Form 941, Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax                    For details on wages and compensation, see Pub. 15-A, 
Return), the EIN on line 1 also must match the EIN that the            Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide, and the General 
customer used on its employment tax returns. The                       Instructions for Forms W-2 and W-3.

customer’s business should have only one EIN. If the                   Part 3: CPEO Information
customer has more than one EIN and isn’t sure which one to 
use, the customer can write to the IRS office where it files its       Line 6. CPEO’s EIN
employment tax returns (use the Without a payment address 
in the instructions for the employment tax returns) or call the        Enter the CPEO’s EIN. The EIN that you enter on line 6 must 
IRS at 800-829-4933. If the customer doesn’t have an EIN, it           be the same as the EIN that you’ll use when you file 
may apply for one online by visiting the IRS website at                employment tax returns (for example, Form 941 and its 
IRS.gov/EIN. The customer may also apply for an EIN by                 related Schedule R (Form 941), Allocation Schedule for 
faxing or mailing Form SS-4 to the IRS. Customers outside of           Aggregate Form 941 Filers).
the United States may also apply for an EIN by calling 
267-941-1099 (toll call).                                              Line 7. CPEO’s Name
                                                                       Enter the CPEO’s name (not the trade name). The name that 
       Don’t use a social security number (SSN) in place of            you enter on line 7 must be the same as the name that you’ll 
!      an EIN.                                                         use when you file employment tax returns (for example, Form 
CAUTION
                                                                       941 and its related Schedule R (Form 941)).

Line 2. Customer’s Name                                                Line 8. CPEO’s Trade Name
Enter the customer’s name (not the trade name). The name               Enter the CPEO’s trade name (if any). The name that you 
on line 2 should be the same as the legal name the customer            enter on line 8 must be the same as the trade name that 
used when it applied for its EIN, unless the customer notified         you’ll use when you file employment tax returns (for example, 
the IRS of a name change.                                              Form 941).

Line 3. Customer’s Trade Name                                          Line 9. Address
Enter the customer’s trade name (if any). The trade name on            Enter the physical address that the CPEO provided on its 
line 3 should be the same as the trade name the customer               application for certification as a CPEO (if this address has 
used when it applied for its EIN.                                      changed and the CPEO has provided an updated address to 
                                                                       the IRS, enter the updated address). The address must be 
Line 4. Address                                                        an address in the United States.
Enter the customer’s address.

                                                                   -2-                   Instructions for Form 8973 (5-2017)



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                                                                     employment taxes for wages or compensation paid to 
Part 4: Customer Relationship 
                                                                     individuals performing services for the clients.
Information
Answer “Yes” or “No” to the questions on lines 10–13.                Line 12. Is the Customer Reported in Part 2 a 
However, if you answer “No” to question 10, you may skip             Related Party of the CPEO?
lines 11–13.                                                         A CPEO won’t be treated as the employer of an individual 
                                                                     performing services for the customer for purposes of federal 
Line 10. Is the CPEO’s Relationship With the                         employment taxes if the customer is a related party, even if 
Customer Reported in Part 2 Subject to a                             the CPEO’s relationship with the customer is subject to a 
Contract Described Under Section 7705(e)(2)?                         CPEO contract. The customer is a related party if it has a 
                                                                     relationship with the CPEO as described in section 267(b) or 
The CPEO’s relationship with the customer is subject to a 
                                                                     section 707(b), but substituting “10 percent” for any reference 
contract described under section 7705(e)(2) (also called a 
                                                                     to “50 percent.”
CPEO contract) if the contract is in writing and, with respect 
to an individual providing services for the customer pursuant        Line 13. Does the CPEO Apply the Exemptions, 
to the contract, provides that the CPEO will assume 
responsibility for:                                                  Exclusions, Definitions, and Other Rules Which 
Payment of wages or Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA)               Are Based On Type of Employer Under Sections 
compensation to the individual(s) performing services for the        3511(a)(2) and 3511(c)(2) to the Customer 
customer, without regard to the receipt or adequacy of               Reported in Part 2?
payment from the customer;
                                                                     For purposes of federal employment taxes, the exemptions, 
Reporting, withholding, and paying any applicable federal 
                                                                     exclusions, definitions, and other rules that are based on type 
employment taxes on the wages or RRTA compensation 
                                                                     of employer under sections 3511(a)(2) and 3511(c)(2) are 
paid to the individual(s) performing services for the customer, 
                                                                     presumed to be based on the customer, and in most cases 
without regard to the receipt or adequacy of payment from 
                                                                     “Yes” will be checked for this line. However, check the “No” 
the customer;
                                                                     box in the rare case that another entity is the common law 
Providing employee benefits that the contract may require 
                                                                     employer of individuals performing services for the customer, 
the CPEO to provide, without regard to the receipt or 
                                                                     and the exemptions, exclusions, definitions, and other rules 
adequacy of payment from the customer; and
                                                                     that are based on type of employer will be based on that 
Recruiting, hiring, and firing individuals performing 
                                                                     entity.
services for the customer (in addition to the customer’s 
responsibility for recruiting, hiring, and firing).                  Part 5: Customer Signature
Additionally, the CPEO must agree in the contract to                 Part 5 must be signed by a person who has the authority to 
maintain employee records for the individual(s) performing           execute Form 8973 for the customer listed in Part 2. By 
services for the customer and to be treated as a CPEO for            signing Part 5, you acknowledge that Form 8973, Parts 1, 2, 
federal employment tax purposes in relation to the                   and 4 are, to the best of your knowledge and belief, true, 
individual(s) performing services for the customer.                  correct, and complete.
If the CPEO’s relationship with the customer isn’t subject                  Customers can visit IRS.gov/CPEO for more 
to a CPEO contract (“No” is checked on line 10), Form 8973           TIP    information about the CPEO program and to access 
must still be filed if the CPEO’s relationship with the customer            the list of organizations (updated quarterly) that are 
reported in Part 2 is subject to a service agreement                 certified by the IRS as CPEOs.
described under Regulations section 31.3504-2(b)(2). A 
service agreement under Regulations section 31.3504-2(b)             Part 6: CPEO Signature
(2) means an agreement that provides that the CPEO:
                                                                     Part 6 must be signed by a person who has the authority to 
Asserts it is the employer (or “co-employer”) for the 
                                                                     execute Form 8973 for the CPEO listed in Part 3. By signing 
individual(s) performing services for the customer pursuant to 
                                                                     Part 6, you acknowledge, under penalties of perjury, that 
the agreement;
                                                                     Form 8973, Parts 1–4 are, to the best of your knowledge and 
Pays wages or RRTA compensation to the individual(s) 
                                                                     belief, true, correct, and complete.
performing services for the customer pursuant to the 
agreement; and                                                              Only the CPEO’s signature is required if you're telling 
Assumes responsibility to collect, report, and pay, or               TIP    the IRS that a service contract has ended.
assumes liability for, employment taxes on the wages or 
RRTA compensation paid by the CPEO to the individual(s) 
performing services for the customer pursuant to the                 CPEO Consent to Disclosure of Tax 
agreement.                                                           Information
Line 11. Is the Customer Reported in Part 2 a                        When filing Form 8973 to report the start of a service 
                                                                     contract, the CPEO must complete the CPEO Consent to 
Provider of Employment-Related Services?
                                                                     Disclosure of Tax Information.
The customer is a provider of employment-related services if 
it provides:                                                         By signing, dating, and entering the CPEO’s EIN at the 
Employment tax administration,                                       bottom of the consent, you allow the IRS, to the extent 
Payroll services, or                                                 necessary to carry out the purposes of the CPEO program, to 
Other employment-related compliance services to clients.             disclose information to the customer named on the consent 
                                                                     from the CPEO’s employment tax returns (for example, 
Other employment-related compliance services may                     Forms 940 and 941) as it relates to the customer named on 
include, but aren’t limited to, collecting, reporting, and paying 

Instructions for Form 8973 (5-2017)                               -3-



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the consent. This consent also covers the disclosure of any 
information regarding the CPEO’s obligations to report,             Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.            We 
deposit, and pay federal employment taxes for the customer          ask for the information on Form 8973 to carry out the Internal 
named on the consent. You also consent to the disclosure of         Revenue laws of the United States. Our authority to request 
information regarding the CPEO’s certification, regardless of       the information is Internal Revenue Code sections 3511 and 
year. You must enter the following information on the               7705 and the regulations thereunder. We use this information 
consent.                                                            to record the start or end of a service contract between a 
                                                                    CPEO and the customer. A customer isn’t required to enter 
Customer’s Name.   Enter the customer’s name as shown in            into a service agreement with a CPEO. However, if a 
Part 2.                                                             customer chooses to enter into a service contract with a 
Customer’s EIN.    Enter the customer’s EIN as shown in Part        CPEO, both the customer and the CPEO are required to 
2.                                                                  provide the information requested. Section 6109 requires the 
                                                                    customer and the CPEO to provide their identification 
Tax form number.   Enter the tax form the CPEO files that           numbers. If the customer or CPEO fail to provide the 
will include information related to the customer named on the       information in a timely manner, or provide false or fraudulent 
consent. Enter only one tax form on each line.                      information, the customer and the CPEO may be subject to 
         Don’t use a general reference such as “All tax forms”      penalties. Additionally, if the CPEO fails to provide this 
                                                                    information in a timely manner, or provides false or fraudulent 
   !     in place of the actual tax form number.                    information, the IRS may revoke or suspend its certification.
CAUTION
Year(s) or period(s).   Enter the year(s) or period(s) for          Neither the CPEO nor the customer is required to provide 
which you consent to the disclosure of tax information. You         the information requested on a form that is subject to the 
may not list more than 3 years or 12 quarters. However, we          Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid 
recommend that you list exactly 3 years or 12 quarters              OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or 
because you must renew the consent, if you’re still under a         its instructions must be retained as long as their contents 
service contract with the customer named on the consent,            may become material in the administration of any Internal 
when the last year or period listed on the consent ends.            Revenue law.
   Example. You may list “2017–2019” or “2017, 2018,                Generally, tax returns and return information are 
2019” for returns filed annually. For returns filed quarterly,      confidential, as required by section 6103. However, section 
you may list “2nd Qtr. 2017–1st Qtr. 2020” or you can list the      6103 allows or requires us to disclose this information to 
years (as shown earlier) if those years include all four            others as described in the Code. We may disclose your tax 
quarters.                                                           information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal 
                                                                    litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and 
         Don’t use a general reference such as “All years” or       U.S. commonwealths and possessions to administer their tax 
   !     “All periods” in place of the actual year(s) or            laws. We may also disclose this information to other 
CAUTION  period(s).
                                                                    countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to 
Signature. Sign and date the bottom of the consent. You             enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law 
also must enter the CPEO’s EIN and name, and print your             enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
name and title.                                                     The time needed to complete and file Form 8973 will vary 
                                                                    depending on individual circumstances. The estimated 
Renewing the CPEO Consent to Disclosure of                          average time is:
Tax Information
If you’re still under a service contract with the customer          Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 min.
named on the consent before the end of the last year or             Learning about the law or the form . . . . . . . . . . .   1 hr.
period listed on the most recent prior consent, you must            Preparing and sending the form to the IRS   . . . . . .   15 min.
renew the consent by sending a new consent to the IRS. The 
renewed consent can cover an additional 3 years or 12 
quarters. For details, see Year(s) or period(s) above. You          If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these 
only need to send the renewed consent (page 3 of Form               time estimates or suggestions for making Form 8973 simpler, 
8973). Don’t send a completed Form 8973. Mail the renewed           we would be happy to hear from you. You can send us 
consent to the address provided under Where To File,                comments from IRS.gov/FormComments. Or you can write to 
earlier.                                                            the Internal Revenue Service, Tax Forms and Publications 
         You must enter the customer’s name and customer’s          Division, 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, 
                                                                    DC 20224. Don't send Form 8973 to this address. Instead, 
CAUTION  corrected Form 8973 that was filed to report the start 
   !     EIN that were included in Part 2 of the original or        see Where To File, earlier.
of the service contract.

                                                                -4-                             Instructions for Form 8973 (5-2017)






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