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How to Send a Fax Without a Fax Machine

You don't need a fax machine, a landline or a subscription. Here's how online faxing works, what it costs and how to avoid the mistakes that make a fax fail.

Published: 2026-10-14

Many U.S. offices still ask for documents by fax: hospitals and clinics, insurers, some IRS processes and plenty of government and business offices. If you don't own a fax machine, an online fax service turns your file into a fax and transmits it to the recipient's fax number over the phone network. The recipient gets an ordinary fax and can't tell it was sent from a phone or a computer. With AnytimeFax you upload a PDF, DOC or DOCX file, enter the fax number, verify your phone number and pay per fax. There is no account to create and no subscription.

Fax is still part of everyday healthcare

In 2025, 40% of U.S. hospitals said they often used mail or fax to send summary-of-care records to outside providers, according to ONC data from the American Hospital Association IT Survey.

Check that the recipient accepts faxes

Not every institution does. U.S. immigration courts state that they do not accept faxes, and federal courts generally require electronic filing instead. Confirm the fax number and that faxing is allowed before you send.

What you need

  • Your document as a PDF, DOC or DOCX file — up to 10 MB in total and 20 pages per order (larger jobs can be quoted).
  • The recipient's full fax number, including the area code (U.S. fax numbers have 10 digits).
  • A mobile phone that can receive a one-time code by SMS or WhatsApp.
  • A payment card if your fax is longer than one page. Your first one-page fax is free (once per phone number).

Step-by-step

  1. Prepare the document

    Scan the paper document or export it to PDF. Make sure signatures, stamps and small print are legible: dark text on a white background survives the conversion to fax best. If the recipient asked for a cover sheet, make it the first page.

  2. Upload it

    Open Send a Fax and upload one or more PDF, DOC or DOCX files. Several files are merged into a single fax in the order you upload them, and the total page count sets the price.

  3. Enter the recipient's fax number

    Type all 10 digits and compare them with the original source — the letter, the form instructions or the institution's official website. A mistyped number is the most common reason a fax fails.

  4. Verify your phone

    You'll receive a one-time code by SMS or WhatsApp. Verifying your phone replaces creating an account.

  5. Pay and send

    You pay per fax: one page free (once per phone number), $4.99 for 2–4 pages, $5.99 for 5–10 pages and $7.99 for 11–20 pages. If it can't wait, choose Urgent: $20 for up to 20 pages, processed within 90 minutes of payment confirmation.

  6. Track the result

    Save your order ID (it starts with AF-). On the Track Order page you can follow the status and download your invoice.

Tips

  • Keep the original file and your order ID until the recipient confirms they have your document.
  • Ask the recipient whether the first page must show a reference — a case, claim, account or patient number — so your fax is matched to the right file.
  • If the recipient needs to send something back to you, ask for an email address or an upload option. AnytimeFax currently sends faxes only; receiving faxes is in beta.
  • For IRS forms, follow the form's own instructions: for Form 2848, for example, the IRS fax number depends on your state, and the IRS notes these numbers can change without notice.

Common mistakes

  • A missing digit or the wrong area code in the fax number.
  • Uploading a photo of the document taken at an angle or in poor light — it can become unreadable once converted to a black-and-white fax.
  • Faxing a form signed electronically when the agency requires a handwritten signature. The IRS, for instance, only accepts Forms 2848 and 8821 by fax or mail with a wet-ink signature; electronic signatures are accepted only through its online tool.
  • Assuming the recipient accepts faxes without checking first.

Delivery expectations

Standard orders of 2 to 20 pages are delivered within 24 hours, and the free one-page option can take up to 3 days. Urgent orders are processed within 90 minutes from payment confirmation. A successful delivery confirms that the fax was transmitted to the recipient's fax number; it does not confirm that someone has reviewed or accepted your document.

Alternatives

  • A fax machine and landline, if you fax often enough to justify the equipment and phone line.
  • A print or copy shop that offers faxing at the counter, usually charged per page.
  • A subscription online fax service, if you need your own fax number to receive faxes regularly.
  • An online upload portal, when the recipient offers one. The IRS, for example, lets tax professionals submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online.
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Frequently asked questions

Yes. Phones don't include a fax feature, but you can use an online fax service from your phone's browser: upload the file from your phone, enter the fax number and pay. With AnytimeFax there's no app to install.

No. You verify your phone number with a one-time code and pay per fax. Nothing renews automatically.

With AnytimeFax, one page is free once per phone number; after that it's $4.99 for 2–4 pages, $5.99 for 5–10 pages and $7.99 for 11–20 pages, or $20 for Urgent processing within 90 minutes. Other services charge a monthly subscription instead, which can make sense if you fax every week.

No. The recipient receives a standard fax on their fax machine or fax system.

Files are uploaded over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, stored encrypted with AES-256, and automatically deleted 30 days after your order is completed.

Not yet. Receiving faxes is in beta; you can join the waitlist on the Receive Fax page.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-13

AnytimeFax is an independent service operated by Rise & Built Corp. It is not affiliated with the IRS, any court or any government agency. Third-party requirements were checked on the date shown above; always confirm current requirements with the recipient.