Need A Copy of Your Tax Return?
By Joseph S Reisman

You may find that you need some tax return information. You can request a ‘tax return transcript,’ a ‘tax account transcript,’ or a copy of your tax return that you filed within the past six years.

A Tax Return Transcript shows most line items as you reported on your original 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, including all forms and schedules. It does not show any changes that you may have reported subsequent to your original return, like the amended 1040X.

A Tax Account Transcript shows the line items as you reported on your original tax return, and changes that you or the IRS made after the original return was filed. This transcript shows basic data including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income, taxable income, payments and adjustments made on your account.

Tax return and account transcripts are generally available for the current and past 3 years. There is no charge for either transcript and, according to the IRS, you should receive it in about 10 business days from the time of your request.

In most cases, either of these transcripts may be acceptable substitutes for an actual copy of the return by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and lending agencies for student loans and mortgages, or for proof from the IRS that you did not file a tax return for a particular tax year. Check with your agency or lender to be sure.

You can obtain a transcript by either calling (800)–829–1040 or by completing and mailing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, to the address listed in the instructions. (You can go to IRS.gov, search to 4506-T, and use the fill-in form.)

Transcripts will be mailed directly to you, and should be received within two weeks after the IRS gets your request. Transcripts can be mailed to a third party if you specify this on Form 4506–T. However, you must sign and date the form giving your consent for the disclosure.

The IRS can provide Form W-2 information for up to 10 years. Information for the current year is generally not available until the year after it is filed with the IRS. For example, Form W-2 information for 2005, filed in 2006, will not be available from IRS until 2007.

Also, an exact Copy of Your Tax Return including all attachments and W-2s is available. You must complete Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return (on IRS.gov as a fill-in) and mail it to the IRS address in the instructions along with a $39 fee for each tax year requested. Copies are generally available for returns filed in the current and past 6 years. You should allow 60 calendar days for a response.

Finally, your tax practitioners can now request transcripts of their client’s tax records and receive them within minutes if they are apart of the IRS’s e-service, the Transcript Delivery System (TDS). The documents are returned to the practitioner’s computer through a secure online connection within minutes.

Questions? Contact Joseph Reisman at 2751 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235-5004
Tel: 718-332-1040; Fax: 718-743-2721; E-mail: JSReisman@TaxHelp1040.com;