Tax transcripts are often used to validate your income and tax filing status for mortgage applications, student loans, and small business loan applications. They can also be useful when you’re getting ready to prepare and file your tax return.
Order copies of tax records including transcripts of past returns, tax account information, wage and income statements and non-filer letters.
If you don’t have an existing IRS username or ID.me, have your photo identification ready.
Common Issues
There are several different kinds of tax transcripts:
Tax Return
A Tax Return transcript is the one most people need. It shows most items from your return (income, deductions, etc.) as you originally filed it. It doesn’t show changes made after you filed your original return. This transcript is only available for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years. This shows most items reflected on a taxpayer’s original tax return, including adjusted gross income, and accompanying forms and schedules for the current year and three prior years. This transcript will often be accepted by lending institutions for student loan or mortgage purposes. Note: the secondary spouse on a joint return must use Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T to request this transcript type. When using Get Transcript by Mail or phone, the primary taxpayer on the return must make the request.
Tax Account
If you or the IRS adjusted your tax return after filing, a Tax Account transcript includes these changes. This transcript is available for the current tax year and nine prior tax years through Get Transcript Online , and the current and three prior tax years through Get Transcript by Mail, or by calling 800-908- 9946. This provides basic tax return data (marital status, adjusted gross income, taxable income) along with listing the activity on a tax account, such as tax adjustments, payments, etc.
Record of Account
If you need the information from both the Tax Return and Tax Account transcripts, then get a Record of Account. This transcript is available for the current tax year and returns processed during the prior three years using Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T . This is the most comprehensive transcript. It combines the Tax Return Transcript and the Tax Account Transcript to provide a more complete picture of a taxpayer’s tax return and subsequent account activity for the current year and for returns processed in the three prior years.
Wage and Income
Wage and Income transcripts show the information from documents the IRS receives from people who have either paid you income (like wages) or received money from you (like mortgage interest). For example: IRS Forms W-2, 1099, and 1098. The transcript is limited to approximately 85 income documents. Current tax year information may not be complete until July. This transcript is available for c urrent and nine prior tax years using the Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T. This provides data from the third-party information statements the IRS has received for a specific taxpayer, such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098, or 5498, and can be useful if the taxpayer did not receive or retain a copy of these documents. While the Wage and Income transcript provides federal withholding amounts, it does not reflect state tax withholdings, which may limit its use when preparing state income tax returns.
Verification of Non-filing Letter
A Verification of Non-filing Letter can serve as proof that you didn’t file a return this year. IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040-series tax return for the year requested. It doesn’t indicate whether you were required to file a return for that year. This letter is available after June 15 for the current tax year or anytime for the prior three tax years using Get Transcript Online. Must use Form 4506-T if a letter is needed for tax years older than the prior three years.
You can request a transcript online, by phone, or by mail.
There is no fee for transcripts.