Declaration Control Number

[Dan]

What numbers is the DCN (Declaration Control Number) supposed to include?

I see that the one I have on Form 8879 has my EFIN number in it. Is this what you have in your DCN?

Are you to keep it there or can you change it if you want?

[Slappy Tax]

The format for a DCN (for a TY2008 return) is 00-xxxxxx-yyyyy-9, where xxxxxx is your 6-digit EFIN, and yyyyy is an increasing, sequential number assigned by your software to the return. For instance, under certain conditions, your first efiled return could be assigned 00001. In actuality, the software can be set to begin assigning sequential numbers beginning with any number, for example, beginning with 01000. The only requirement is that the same DCN not be repeated on different returns or the return will reject. DCNs are not particularly useful numbers so "just set it and forget it." A few years ago the IRS conducted a poll to see whether eliminating DCNs altogether would cause any problems. I never learned the outcome of the poll, but DCNs are still around so someone must have expressed a use for them.

[kcjenkins]

All of them start with your EFIN, which must not be changed. They all end with the year code, so all of them will end with 9 THIS FILING SEASON. Your default starting number is 00000, so your first efile this year will start with 00-your efin-000009 unless you change the starting DCN. Next one will be 00-your efin-000019 then 00-your efin-000029, which is why some newbie to efiling will post a question about why his DCN is increasing by 10's !!!!