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If you need to see your past tax information, there’s a way to get it from the IRS by requesting an IRS transcript.
What is an IRS transcript?
An IRS transcript is a summary or overview of your tax return information. There are five types, and they include most line items from your tax return, such as your adjusted gross income (AGI), as well as information about your filing status, payments and return type. You can request an IRS transcript any time, and they are free.
Transcripts display only partial personal information, such as concealing all but the last four digits of your Social Security number. But financial and tax information, such as wages and taxable income, is fully visible. You can designate a third party to receive the information.
One important note: IRS tax transcripts are not photocopies of your actual tax return with all the forms and attachments. If that’s what you want, you’ll need to complete IRS Form 4506 and mail it to the IRS. There’s a $50 fee for that (unless you live in a federally declared disaster area), and it can take up to 75 days to process.
Types of IRS transcripts
Here’s the breakdown.
How to get an IRS transcript
There are three ways to request an IRS transcript.
Online
- Go to the IRS Get Transcript site.
- If you want the transcript to show on your screen (“Get Transcript Online”), you’ll need to authenticate your identity. If you have a credit security freeze with Experian, you’ll need to lift it to verify your identity.
- If you want the transcript mailed to you (“Get Transcript by Mail”), you’ll need your Social Security number, Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) or 10-digit customer file number from a lender, as well as your date of birth and mailing address. Orders typically take 5 to 10 days to process. Note that only the Record of Account and Tax Return transcripts are receivable by mail.
Phone
- Call 800-908-9946.
- The transcript will be sent to you in the mail.
- Orders typically take 5 to 10 days to process.
Paper
Other ways to get your tax records
If you’re looking for your tax records and you used tax software, your tax software provider may have them on file depending on which provider you used and what program you purchased. If you used a tax preparer, he or she may still have your tax returns on file as well.