How to Get a Copy of My Income Tax Return from the IRS

The official government division that tracks the income of every American citizen, who earns money working inside the United States borders and pays taxes, is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many financial transactions require proof of personal or business income from the current and previous years, and leave the client wondering, "how to get a copy of my income tax return from the IRS." The IRS can be contacted by telephone, 1(800)829-1040 or on the web at www.irs.gov. Whether you are applying for a mortgage or a student loan or have been impacted by a federally declared natural disaster, you will need to know whether you need an official copy of the tax return, a tax return transcript, or a tax account transcript.

An exact copy of the original tax return can be obtained for the current tax year and the previous six tax years. A fee of $57.00 for each return is required, and the IRS will accept a personal check or money order made payable to the “United States Treasury.” The tax return that was originally processed and all of the attachments will be provided approximately sixty calendar days after the request is received in the IRS office. IRS Form 4506 is required and can be printed online or requested by calling the 800 number listed above. If the requested return was filed jointly, one spouse can make the request, and one signature is sufficient on the request.

If the return is within the current or previous three tax years, a tax return transcript may be an acceptable substitute for the official copy of the original tax return. When answering a request from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for proof of income, a tax return transcript is normally accepted. A financial institution will accept the tax return transcript for proof of income to qualify for a home mortgage or a school loan. Form 4506T-EZ, the Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript, must be filled out completely and sent to the address listed. Transcripts are provided free of charge and can be provided to a third party with the consent of the taxpayer. A response time of ten to thirty days for the transcript to arrive is average.

When a tax return is modified after filing, either by an amended tax return filed by the taxpayer or by corrections made in the IRS office, a tax account transcript is the request to make of the IRS. All the changes will be shown on this type of transcript. The current tax year and three previous tax years can be requested, but any return prior to that will require a complete copy of the tax return. These transcripts are also free of charge and can be requested on the IRS website or by calling 1-800-829-1040 and following the prompts.

When records have been destroyed by a natural disaster, the replacement copies can be obtained from the IRS by filing the request. Fees are waived, and requests are expedited for people who need the information to file for benefits. Another reason for these transcripts is to amend previously filed returns when disasters occur during the course of the year. When contacting the IRS in the aftermath of a disaster, communicate your situation clearly and listen for instructions that will help you through the red tape associated with claiming the benefits.

To protect your personal identity, beware of scams where someone you do not know wants a copy of your income tax returns. Unless you initiate contact with an institution personally, any request for you to learn "how to get a copy of my income tax return from the IRS," is a red flag. Only the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Government can supply this official information. Any contact from the IRS would never ask you to give you personal information over the phone. This organization already has more of your personal information than any other.