Can i look up old tax returns online

Certain situations may require you to have access to your previously filed tax returns. The most common is during a loan application process when your lender requests prior years' tax information to verify your stated income. You may also need old tax information to amend a prior-year tax return, compare it to your current year tax return, or defend yourself in the case of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit.

While you should save a copy of your business tax returns for a minimum of seven years, if a situation arises and you need to access an old tax document you do not have in your possession, what should you do?

Tax Transcript vs. Exact Copy of Tax Return

You can obtain an exact copy of your previously filed tax return by filing Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return with the IRS. You can request many types of tax returns on the Form 4506, including:

• Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
• Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return
• Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income
• Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts
• Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return

In some cases, a tax return transcript may satisfy the person or entity requesting your tax information. Most mortgage lenders are satisfied with the information provided on a tax return transcript.

A tax return transcript is a shorter printout of the information on your previously filed tax return. It lists most line items including your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your original tax return as filed. It does not show any changes made in an amendment to your return. A tax return transcript is only available for the current year and previous three years.

There are several advantages to the tax return transcript. It is free, while there is a small fee for an exact copy of your tax return. The fee for an exact copy of your tax return is $43 as of 2021.

The processing time is also much shorter for a tax return transcript. You can get your tax return transcript instantly with the Get a Tax Transcript tool on the IRS website or by calling the IRS at 1-800-908-9946. Alternatively, you can complete and mail in Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. If you mail in your request for a tax return transcript, you can expect to receive it in the mail after five to 10 business days. On the other hand, if you mail in the Form 4506, you can expect to wait up to 75 calendar days to receive an exact copy of your tax return.

Please note, if you file a tax return jointly with your spouse, only the primary spouse listed on the tax return can request a tax return transcript via the telephone. Either spouse can request a tax return transcript via the website or complete and mail the Form 4506-T. Similarly, either spouse can complete and mail the Form 4506 to request an exact copy of the tax return.

Other Transcript Types

There are several other tax transcript types.

A tax account transcript shows a more abbreviated version of important information from your previous tax return. It shows your return type, filing status, AGI, taxable income, and payment type. This transcript type is available for more tax years than the tax return transcript; you can request a tax account transcript for up to 10 prior years.

A record of account transcript combines both the tax return and tax account transcripts into a complete transcript. It is available for the prior three years.

A wage and income transcript shows data from information returns filed with the IRS such as Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, Form 1098 Mortgage Interest Statement, and the various Form 1099s. These are available for up to 10 prior years, although the current tax year information may be incomplete until July.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can provide you with copies of your tax return from the most recent seven tax years. You can request copies by preparing Form 4506 and attaching payment of $43 for each one. Once the IRS receives your request, it can take up to 60 days for the agency to process it. If you filed your taxes with a TurboTax CD/download product, your tax return should be stored on your computer, so you can print a copy at any time. If you used TurboTax Online, you can log in and print copies of your tax return for free.

Step 1: Download Form 4506

The only way you can obtain copies of your tax return from the IRS is by filing Form 4506 with the IRS. You can download this form from the IRS website.

Step 2: Enter required data

Enter your name and Social Security number on line 1. If you filed a joint return for any of the years you are requesting copies, then you must also provide your spouse’s name and Social Security number on line 2.

Step 3: Enter address

Enter your current address on line 3. If your current address is different than the address you report on your past-filed returns, enter that previous address on line 4. If you want your tax return sent directly to a third party, such as a bank evaluating your mortgage application, you can enter their name, address and phone number on line 5. If you leave line 5 blank, the IRS will mail your tax return to your current address.

Step 4: Enter form used

Enter the form you used to file your federal income tax return on line 6. If you are requesting a personal income tax return, it’s likely you filed on Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040A or 1040EZ. You must also enter the tax years you are requesting copies for on line 7. For example, if you are requesting your 2020 tax return, enter “12/31/2020” and not just “2020”.

Step 5: Enter number of returns

Enter the number of returns you are requesting on line 8b. As of 2022, the IRS charges $43 for each return. Multiply the number of returns you are requesting on line 8b by the applicable fee on line 8a and enter the total fee on line 8c.

Step 6: Sign and mail

Sign the form and mail to the appropriate IRS address. Page 2 of Form 4506 requires you to mail your request to the address listed for the state you lived in when you filed the original return. Before mailing, insure you enclose full payment; otherwise, the IRS will not process your request.

Remember, if you filed your tax return with TurboTax, you can skip these steps and either print your tax return from your computer, or download it from your TurboTax Online account.

Things You'll Need:

• IRS Form 4506

Tips:

• If you are requesting copies of a joint return, it’s not necessary for your spouse to sign Form 4506.

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