To request transcripts of your tax return or other tax records, you can complete IRS Form 4506-T.
In today’s post, I’ll explain Form 4506-T and give you some tips for filling out the form.
Why is IRS Form 4506-T used?
You can complete and mail in IRS Form 4506-T in order to request a transcript of your tax return, tax account, reported wages and income, or a verification of nonfiling. You may sometimes be asked to provide these documents when applying for a loan or mortgage, or you may want to request a copy for your records.
How do I complete IRS Form 4506-T?
Luckily, Form 4506-T is only one page and is pretty straightforward, but there are a couple of tricky spots where you may be unsure of what to choose or enter. Follow these instructions for completing Form 4506-T:
Line 1a:
Enter your first and last name as it appeared on your tax return. If you are requesting a transcript for a joint return, then enter the first and last name that appeared first on your return.
Line 1b:
If you are requesting a transcript for your personal taxes, even if you filed a Schedule C with your Form 1040 to report your income and loss from your business, then you’ll enter either your social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)–whichever you entered on your tax return. If you are requesting a transcript for your business tax return that you filed using Form 1120S, then you’ll enter your employer identification number (EIN). Make sure the number you enter here corresponds to the name you entered in Line 1a.
Line 2a:
If you’re requesting a transcript for a joint return, enter the first and last name that appeared second on the return.
Line 2b:
Enter the SSN or ITIN that corresponds to the name you entered in Line 2a.
Line 3:
Enter your current address or P.O. Box.
Line 4:
If you have a different address than you did when you filed your most recent return, enter the address listed on your most recent return. Also, if you need to update the address you have on file with the IRS, you’ll need to complete Form 8822. For updating a business address, you’ll use Form 8822-B.
Line 5:
This line is optional. If you’d like, you can enter up to 10 numbers that will become your customer file number. This number will then appear on the tax transcript the IRS sends you. You cannot include an SSN or name in your customer file number.
Line 6:
Enter the number of the tax form for which you’re requesting a tax transcript. Make sure you also check the box next to one of these options:
- Return Transcript: Check this box if you’re requesting a transcript for any Form 1040, Form 1065, Form 1120, Form 1120-A, Form 1120-H, Form 1120-L, or Form 1120-S. You can request a Return Transcript for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years.
- Account Transcript: Check this box if you’d like a transcript of the financial changes and status of your tax account. This transcript will list penalty assessments, payments, and adjustments made by you or the IRS.
- Record of Account: Check this box if you want a combination of the Return Transcript and the Account Transcript. You can request a Record of Account for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years.
- Line 7 Verification of Nonfiling: Check this box if you’re requesting proof that you did not file a tax return for a certain year. If you’re requesting a Verification of Nonfiling (VNF) for the current year, you cannot make the request until after June 15th. You can request a VNF for any year.
- Line 8 Form W-2, Form 1099 series, Form 1098 series, or Form 5498 series transcript: Check this box if you’re requesting one of these types of transcripts. It’s important to note that you won’t be able to request this information until the year after you’ve filed it. So if you are requesting a transcript of a Form W-2 for 2022, which was filed in 2023, you won’t be able to request that until 2024. You can likely request one of these transcript types for forms processed during the 10 previous years.
Line 9:
Enter the year or period for which you’re requesting a tax transcript. You’ll enter the end date for the year or period, so this could be a calendar year (12/31/xxxx), fiscal year (e.g. 9/30/xxxx), or quarter (03/31/xxxx). You’ll enter two digits for the month, two digits for the day, and four digits for the year. If you’re requesting a transcript for more than one quarterly return, you’ll need to enter the end date for each of the quarters requested.
Signature of taxpayer(s):
Make sure you check the attestation box; your request won’t be processed if you don’t. Then, you must sign and date the form. You should also enter your phone number, and you should enter your title if you’re requesting a transcript for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust.
Also, if you’re requesting a transcript for a joint return, either spouse’s signature will work, and you only need to provide one signature. You should sign your name as it appeared on your tax return, but if your name is now changed, then you should sign both your previous and current names.
Where do I mail my Form 4506-T?
Use the chart on the second page of Form 4506-T to find the correct mailing address. Pay special attention to the headings on those charts as there are different mailing addresses provided depending on which type of transcript you’re requesting.
How long will it take to process my Form 4506-T request?
According to the IRS, most requests will be processed within 10 business days of receiving the request.
How do I request a copy of my full tax return?
To request a copy of your full tax return rather than just a transcript of your return, you should complete and submit Form 4506.
How do I get a copy of a Form W-2 or Form 1099?
To request a copy of a Form W-2 or Form 1099, you should contact the payer first. If that doesn’t work, you can request a copy of the Form W-2 or Form 1099 you filed with your return by submitting Form 4506, which requests that the IRS send you a copy of your tax return, including all attachments.
How else can I request tax transcripts?
You can also request your tax transcripts online or by phone.
No matter your reason for needing a tax transcript, if you follow the instructions above, you should be able to complete the request on your own and have your transcript in your hand within a couple of weeks. For more complex tax-related questions, be sure to contact an accountant you can trust.
