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Unfortunately, I can speak from personal experience on this subject. In November of 2014 I was notified by a Federal agency that an increase in the cost of one of my benefits had occurred, and that my new monthly net benefits had been significantly reduced. If I wished to file an appeal of this decision, the agency required that I provide documentary support for my prior years taxable income. Fortunately, the agency would accept a transcript (instead of a complete copy) of all of the tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. As this article will state, transcripts are immediately available to you at no cost from the IRS website. You may obtain either a “Tax Return Transcript” or a “Tax Account Transcript”, or both. These documents are available for the most recent prior three year periods.
In most cases, either or both of these documents will provide the agency or entity with all of the information that is required. There are many different reasons for which you may need a copy of your tax return information from a prior year. You may need it when applying for a student loan, a home mortgage application, rental agreement or lease application, or for a VISA card or Master Card.  As the article below will state, obtaining a copy of your entire tax return, which can be requested for any of the six prior years, costs $50.00 per copy, and can take up to six or seven weeks to obtain from the IRS.Â
How to Get a Copy of Your Prior Year Tax Information
There are many reasons you may need a copy of your tax return information from a prior year. You may need it when applying for a student loan, home mortgage or for a VISA. If you don’t have your copy, the IRS can help. It’s easy to get a free transcript from the IRS. Here are several ways for you to get what you need:
- Tax Return Transcript. A return transcript shows most line items from your tax return just as you filed it. It also includes forms and schedules you filed. However, it does not reflect changes made to the return after you filed it. In most cases, your tax return transcript will have all the information a lender or other agency needs.
- Tax Account Transcript. This transcript shows any adjustments made by you or the IRS after you filed your return. It shows basic data, like marital status, type of return, adjusted gross income and taxable income.
How to Get a Transcript. You can request transcripts online, by phone or by mail. Both types of transcripts are free of charge. They are available for the most current tax year after the IRS has processed the return. You can also get them for the past three tax years.
Order online. Use the ‘Get Transcript’ tool available on IRS.gov. You can use this tool to confirm your identity and to immediately view and print copies of your transcript in a single session for free. The tool is available for five types of tax records: tax account transcript, tax return transcript, record of account, wage and income and verification of non-filing.
Order by phone. Call 800-908-9946. A recorded message will guide you through the process.
Order by mail. The easy way to order your transcript by mail is to use the “Get Transcript by Mail†online option on IRS.gov. On the other hand, you can complete and mail Form 4506T-EZ to get your tax return transcript. Use Form 4506-T to request your tax account transcript by mail.
- How to Get a Tax Return Copy. Actual copies of your tax returns are generally available for the current tax year and as far back as six years. The fee per copy is $50. Complete and mail Form 4506 to request a copy of your tax return. Mail your request to the IRS office listed on the form for your area.
Delivery times for online and phone orders typically take 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request. You should allow 30 days to receive a transcript ordered by mail and 75 days for copies of your tax return. You can print tax forms online at IRS.gov/forms. To get forms in the mail go to IRS.gov/orderforms to place an order.
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