Lenders, colleges and government agencies sometimes ask for a record of your tax return. The IRS offers two different things, and two different forms to ask for them. Knowing which you need can save weeks.
Transcript versus copy
- A transcript is a summary of the information on your return or your account. It is usually enough for loans and financial aid.
- A copy is a reproduction of the return you actually filed, with all attachments. You ask for it with Form 4506, and the IRS charges a fee for each return.
- Form 4506-T requests a transcript. There is no fee for transcripts.
The fastest route: get it online
You often do not need a form at all. The IRS Get Transcript service lets you view and download transcripts online after you verify your identity, and you can usually ask for them by mail too. Use Form 4506-T when you need the transcript sent to a third party, or you cannot use the online service.
Kinds of transcript
- Return transcript: most line items from the return as filed.
- Account transcript: payments, penalties and adjustments made after filing.
- Record of account: a combination of the two.
- Wage and income transcript: data reported to the IRS by employers and others, such as W-2s and 1099s.
- Verification of non-filing: shows the IRS has no record of a return for a year.
What the form asks
- Your name, Social Security number or other taxpayer ID, and current address.
- The address on your last return if it differs.
- Where to send the transcript, if it is going to a third party.
- Which transcript type and which tax years you want.
- Your signature. A joint return may need both spouses to sign in some cases.
Common mistakes
- Asking for a copy (4506) when a transcript (4506-T) would do, and paying a fee for no reason.
- Signing a form that has blank lines. Only sign when the details are complete.
- Entering an address that differs from the IRS record, so the request is rejected.
- Not allowing for processing time when a deadline is close.
If a lender asks you to sign a 4506-T, read what it lets them request and for which years before you sign.
Fill it in without uploading it
Form 4506-T opens in DocZap with its fields ready to type into, and what you enter stays in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. Complete every line before you sign, then send it the way the instructions describe. Download your copy when you are done.
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