8842

Election To Use Different Annualization Periods for Corporate Estimated Tax

Agency
IRS
Revision
Rev. October 2021
Fillable fields
20
Pages
2
Official source
IRS form page
Checked
October 21, 2026
Fill 8842 online
Page 1 of form 8842

Form 8842: Election To Use Different Annualization Periods for Corporate Estimated Tax

Form 8842 is the election corporations and certain partnerships use to choose one of the two annualization options under section 6655(e)(2)(C) for figuring estimated tax payments under the annualized income installment method. The form says it is not filed with the organization's income tax return but separately.

It is a one-page election: name, employer identification number, address, tax year end, the type of return to be filed, a choice of Option 1 or Option 2, and a signature by an authorized officer, partner or LLC member. The instructions say an organization that wants the annualized income installment method without electing Option 1 or 2 can use the Standard Option without filing Form 8842.

The election applies only to the tax year for which it is made and cannot be revoked for that year. This page covers the October 2021 revision. You can fill out Form 8842 free in your browser on this page and download it without an account.

What's on Form 8842

Name and EIN

The name of the corporation or organization and its employer identification number.

Address and tax year

Number, street and room or suite, city or town, state and ZIP code or country, and the month and year the tax year ends.

Type of return

One box among Forms 1120, 1120-C, 1120-F, 1120-FSC, 1120-L, 1120-ND, 1120-PC, 1120-REIT, 1120-RIC, 1120-S, 1120-SF and 8804.

Annualization option

Option 1 uses the first 2, 4, 7 and 10 months for the four installments. Option 2 uses the first 3, 5, 8 and 11 months.

Signature

A declaration under penalties of perjury, signed by an officer, partner or LLC member, with title and date.

How to fill out Form 8842

  1. 1

    Name, EIN and address

    Enter the name and EIN. The instructions say to include the suite or room number, to use a P.O. box only if the post office does not deliver to the street address, and to enter C/O and the third party's name for mail received through them.

  2. 2

    Tax year end

    Enter the month and year the tax year ends.

  3. 3

    Type of return

    Check one box for the income tax return the organization will file.

  4. 4

    Option 1 or Option 2

    Check one of the two boxes. The instructions say Form 8842 is filed annually to elect Option 1 or 2, even if the same option is elected each year.

  5. 5

    Sign and date

    An authorized officer, partner or LLC member signs, enters a title and dates the election.

Why fill Form 8842 on indox

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Deadline, where to file and how long it lasts

Deadline

The instructions say to file Form 8842 by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year for which the election is to apply.

Where to file

The instructions and the About page give the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Kansas City, MO 64999.

Filed separately

The form says not to file it with the organization's income tax return.

One tax year only

The instructions say the election applies only to the tax year for which it is made and, once made, cannot be revoked for that tax year.

Standard Option

The Standard Option needs no Form 8842. The instructions point corporations to Form 1120-W and partnerships to the instructions for Form 8804 for it.

Related forms

Who files Form 8842?

  • Corporations

    The instructions say corporations, including S corporations, use the form to elect Option 1 or Option 2. The return types on the form run from Form 1120 to Form 1120-SF.

  • Partnerships under section 1446

    Partnerships required to pay the withholding tax under section 1446 also use it. Form 8804 is one of the return types listed on the form.

  • Who signs

    For a corporation, the president, vice president, treasurer, assistant treasurer, chief accounting officer or another authorized officer. For a partnership, a partner or an LLC member.

  • Receivers, trustees and assignees

    When one of them files for a corporation or partnership, the fiduciary signs. The instructions say a receiver or trustee in bankruptcy includes a copy of the court order or instructions authorizing the signing.

  • Not for tax-exempt organizations

    The instructions say tax-exempt organizations subject to the unrelated business income tax and private foundations should not file Form 8842, and point them to Form 990-W.

The form is filed by a business entity, not an individual. An authorized officer, partner or LLC member signs it for the organization, and it goes to the IRS separately from the return.

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Questions about Form 8842

Who can use Form 8842?

The instructions say corporations, including S corporations, and partnerships required to pay the withholding tax under section 1446.

When is Form 8842 due?

The instructions say by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year for which the election is to apply.

Is Form 8842 attached to the tax return?

No. The form says not to file it with the organization's income tax return. The instructions say to send it to the Internal Revenue Service Center, Kansas City, MO 64999.

Does the election carry over to later years?

No. The instructions say it applies only to the tax year for which it is made, and Form 8842 is filed annually even when the same option is elected.

What if neither option is elected?

The instructions say the organization can annualize income using the Standard Option, which can be used without filing Form 8842.

Can a tax-exempt organization use it?

The instructions say tax-exempt organizations subject to the unrelated business income tax and private foundations should not file Form 8842, and point to Form 990-W.