How to Get a Copy of Your Federal Income Tax Return

You are applying for a mortgage, and the bank requires copies of your income tax returns for the past two years. You search and search, but to no avail. The good news is that your future life as a homeowner is not doomed. The bad news is that it might take some time and cost some money.

The Internal Revenue Service has established two options for obtaining your federal income tax information, and you can request either option by telephone or by mail.

Tax Return Transcript

The first option is called a tax return transcript, which shows most line items for the tax return as it was originally filed. The tax return transcript includes any accompanying forms and schedules, but it does not reflect any changes that you, your representative, or the IRS made after the return was filed. In many situations, the tax return transcript satisfies your needs.

Tax Account Transcript

If your return was changed after the original filing, you probably need a tax account transcript, which shows any adjustments made by you, your representative, or the IRS. A tax account transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income, and taxable income.

The IRS does not charge a fee for either a tax return transcript or a tax account transcript, which are available for the current and three prior calendar years. In addition, the delivery time for a transcript is reasonably quick. You can expect them in about two weeks.

Actual Photocopy

If you need an actual photocopy of a previously filed and processed tax return and its attachments, you must fill out a form and mail it to the area IRS office. Copies are usually available for the currents and past six years. There is, however, a fee of $39 for each requested tax period, and it may take up to two months to receive these photocopies.

Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.