How to Obtain a Transcript of Copy of Your Federal Income Tax Return

By JC Leahy,  MA, Accounting
Twitter@TaxHelpWhenNeed

In this case, the transcript was required the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. My client had filed a Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (Form I-751) for his wife. The Immigration Service was demanding that he show proof that his marriage was not a sham "entered into in order to evade U.S. Immigration laws." Immigration demanded an "official transcript" from the IRS of one or more joint income tax returns.

His question for me was: "What the heck is a tax return official transcript and how can I get one." An official transcript from the IRS can be obtained free by filing a Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.. It's a free service. Form 4506-T is pretty straightforward. Just make sure you tell them on line 6 what form you want a copy of.  Be sure, also, to tell them on line 8 which years' tax returns you want. Here's a link to print a copy of Form 4506-T with instructions:

DOWNLOAD FORM 4506-T, REQUEST FOR TRANSCRIPT OF TAX RETURN


The problem with using Form 4506-T is that is takes considerable time to process.  You can speed up the process by using the telephone.  Simply call the IRS at 800-908-9946 and make your request verbally.  If you are near a FAX machine, they will FAX you your transcript while you wait.  In that case, be sure not to call them on the same phone line that the FAX uses.  (An alternate IRS phone number would be their general one: 800-829-1040)

 Here's an important point:  Your tax return transcript will show the highlights of your Federal income tax return as you originally filed it.  It will not show any subsequent changes made by you or the IRS.  For information about those subsequent changes to the return, you need to request a tax ACCOUNT transcript.  Both the tax RETURN transcript and the tax ACCOUNT transcript are free.  Ask for BOTH when you call the 800 number.  Nowadays, there is also an IRS link to order tax transcripts online.

There is a very similar form in case you need a copy of a tax return with all it's attachments. This is Form 4506 "Request for Copy of Tax Return". It sounds similar, and the form is very similar, but this one costs you a fee of $57 per tax return. A complete copy will show the details of all the attachments to your tax return while a transcript does not. Here's a link to print a copy of Form 4506-T with instructions:

DOWNLOAD FORM 4506, REQUEST FOR COPY OF TAX RETURN

There are all sorts of reasons why you might need a copy of your tax return or even an "official transcript."  For example, mortgage loan applications, job applications, security clearance applications.  You might want to bookmark this article, just for future reference.

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ADDENDUM:

District of Columbia Tax Contact Telephone Numbers
Maryland Tax Contact Telephone Numbers
Pennsylvania Tax Contact Telephone Numbers
Virginia Tax Contact Telephone Numbers

Contact Data:
JC Leahy,  MA, Accounting
TaxHelpWhenYouNeedIt.com
JC Leahy and Company, LLC
Silver Spring, Maryland
Tel. (301)537-5365
E-Mail jcleahy@taxhelpwhenyouneedit.com