Form 4506
can be used to
request copies of previously filed tax returns or Form W-2 only. The IRS cannot provide
copies of information returns such as Form 1099. Form 4506 can also be ordered by calling
1-800-829-3676. There is a charge of $23.00 for a copy of the
tax return for each tax
period requested. The IRS also provides tax return transcripts and copies of
Form W-2 at
no charge. A tax return transcript shows most line items from the original tax return,
including accompanying tax forms and schedules. It does not reflect any changes you or the IRS
made to the original tax return. Tax return transcripts of Form 1040, Form 1040A, or
Form 1040-EZ are
available for tax years after 1991.You may request a tax return transcript by telephone,
by personally visiting your local IRS office, or by using Form 4506.
Once you complete the Form 4506, mail it to the IRS service center where you originally
filed the tax return. The same Form 4506 can be used to request tax returns for up to four tax
periods from the same IRS Service Center. However, you must use a separate
Form 4506 for each IRS Service Center from which you are requesting information.
After the tax return request is
filed with the IRS, you should allow up to 60 days to receive copies of tax returns, or 10 work days for
a tax return transcript.
If you need the prior year's tax return for information to file this year's
tax return, and
you find that April 15th is near and you have not yet received the tax
return copy, you have two
options:
