Frequently Asked Questions About DAWSON

• Yes. Petitions can be filed electronically in DAWSON. For more information, see the User Guides.
• If you file a petition electronically, there is no need to submit an additional paper copy. Likewise, if you have already sent a paper petition to the Court, there is no need to also file a petition electronically.

During the process of electronically filing your petition, a unique Docket Number will be assigned to your case. You may pay the fee on Pay.gov with an accepted payment method (e.g., credit card, bank account (ACH)). Your case Docket Number is required. For more information, see How to Pay the Filing Fee.

No. The requirement for mailed courtesy copies of eFiled documents longer than 50 pages is suspended until further notice.

• Parties to consolidated cases have the ability to electronically file documents simultaneously in all of the consolidated cases.
• Entries of Appearance for petitioner representatives and Decisions must still be filed in each case separately.
• Refer to the DAWSON Release Notes for more information, or the DAWSON User Guides for detailed instructions on how to electronically file documents in consolidated cases.

• Sealed Cases
• Parties wishing to file a Petition under seal must file the Petition on paper along with a Motion to Seal. The Motion should specify whether it seeks to seal the entire case or only the Petition.
• Parties wishing to seal a case that is already docketed must file a Motion to Seal.
• With the exception of an initial pleading or entry of appearance, parties may file documents in a sealed case in the same manner as filing documents in a case that is not sealed (including eFiling in DAWSON).
• Sealed Documents
• Specific documents on the docket record can be sealed in two ways.
• A document may be sealed from the public.
• A document may be sealed from the public and from the parties to the case.
• Parties wishing to file a new document under seal must file the document in paper along with a Motion to Seal specifying whether it is to be sealed from the public or the public and the parties.
• Parties wishing to seal a document that has previously been filed (e.g., after discovering missed redactions) may electronically file a Motion to Seal specifying whether it is to be sealed from the public or the public and the parties.
• For more information, see the User Guides.

No. Remove any encryption prior to uploading a PDF into DAWSON.

• Yes. Parties may submit a high-resolution or PDF document bearing either imaged or digitized signatures in satisfaction of the requirements of Rule 23(a)(3), Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
• PDFs of documents bearing an actual signature are acceptable. (Print and sign before turning into a PDF)
• Documents signed using an authentication program (e.g., Adobe or DocuSign) are acceptable. Be sure to remove encryption of password protection prior to uploading into DAWSON.
• Stylized signatures (e.g., signing with "/s" or using cursive font) are only acceptable when paired with the DAWSON username (email address) and password. Stylized signatures on paper submitted forms are not acceptable.