IRS Offers Online Way to Order Tax Return Transcripts

The Internal Revenue Service has introduced a new online tool for ordering tax return copies, tax transcripts and return information.

In addition to ordering by phone, taxpayers and preparers can now order over the Web from IRS.gov. Users can now order the current-year transcript, as well as for the past three years, for free from the IRS. The tax return transcript shows most line items from the tax return as it was originally filed, including any accompanying forms and schedules. However, any changes made after the return was filed will not be reflected on this type of transcript.

The tax account transcript is designed to show the adjustments that the taxpayer or the IRS made after the tax return was filed. This transcript shows basic data, including marital status, type of return filed, adjusted gross income and taxable income.

Several options are available to order transcripts:

•  Use the new online tool, Order A Transcript.
•  Call 1-800-908-9946 to order by phone.
•  Use these forms to receive tax return information in the mail:
o  4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript, for a tax return transcript.
o  4506T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, for a business, partnership or individual tax account transcript.  
o  4506, Request for an exact copy of a previously filed and processed tax return and all attachments, including W-2s.