Options For Getting a Copy of a Prior Year Federal Tax Return or IRS Transcripts

Are you in process of refinancing, applying for student loans or dealing with some other issue that requires information from a prior year tax return, but you can’t find a copy of the return? Here are your options.

Who Prepared the Return?

If you paid someone to do the tax return, it is likely that they can provide a copy of the return. If you did the return yourself using software like TurboTax, you should be able to log in and retrieve a copy of the return.

How to Obtain an IRS Transcript

If the above does not work and you primarily need information from the return but not necessarily a complete copy of the return, you can request a tax return transcript from the IRS. This can be done online (and almost immediately), by phone or by mail.

Obtaining an IRS Transcript Online

It’s actually quite simple obtaining a copy of tax return transcript or wage and income transcript at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. But first things first. You need to establish an eServices account with the IRS unless you already have one.

Setting up an eServices account at https://sa.www4.irs.gov/eauth/pub/es_general.jsp will take maybe 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll need the following information: Full name, Social Security Number, email, birthdate, most recent year’s tax filing status and current address. To verify your identity, the IRS will also need information from one of your financial accounts - such as the last eight digits of a credit card or other loan. You’ll also need your cell phone registered under your name to confirm you are you.

After you’ve set up your eServices account, you can log in to obtain your transcripts. Make sure your cell phone is handy, as the IRS uses two-factor authentication each time you log in. They will text a code to your phone.

When you log in, after selecting the reason for needing the transcript (e.g. Higher Education/Student Aid, FEMA/Disaster Related, etc.), you will have access to up to four years of return transcripts, five years of account transcripts and 10 years of wage and income transcripts.

Obtaining an IRS Transcript by Phone or Mail

You can also call 800-908-9946 or complete and mail in Form 4506-T to obtain a transcript. There is no cost for this. The form is at www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506-t.

Request a Copy of Tax Return From the IRS

If the transcript is not sufficient and you otherwise are not able to obtain a copy of your tax return, you can request a copy using Form 4506. Copies of individual tax returns (1040, 1040-SR, etc.) can take up to 75 days to be processed, so get ready to wait.

And yes, it does cost you to obtain a copy of the return. Up until very recently though, it was $50, But the new Form 4506 shows a fee of $43 for each return requested.

Returns are generally available for 7 years from filing before they are destroyed by law.