Free IRS form · Official PDF

Form 4506-T: Request for Transcript of Tax Return

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Need proof of your tax history for a mortgage, SBA loan, or financial aid — or just lost last year's return? Form 4506-T requests free IRS transcripts. Download it below, and see when the online tool beats the paper form.

Form 4506-T — Request for Transcript of Tax Return

Free · Official IRS PDF · Current IRS revision · Print-ready
↓  Download Form 4506-T (PDF) Instructions: irs.gov

What is Form 4506-T?

Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, asks the IRS for a transcript — a line-summary of your return or account — rather than a photocopy. Transcripts are free, satisfy nearly every lender and agency, and come in flavors: return transcript (most line items as filed), account transcript (payments, penalties, adjustments), record of account (both), wage & income transcript (every W-2/1099 reported about you), and verification of non-filing.

Faster paths exist: IRS Online Account downloads most transcripts instantly, and lenders often pull them directly via their own channels. The paper 4506-T remains the tool when online identity verification fails, when a third party needs to receive it, or when you need wage & income data going back years. (Need an actual photocopy of the return? That's Form 4506, with a fee.)

Who files Form 4506-T?

  • Mortgage and loan applicants — lenders verify income against IRS records.
  • Small business owners applying for SBA loans — transcript verification is standard.
  • Students and parents resolving FAFSA verification.
  • Anyone who lost a prior-year return — or needs W-2/1099 history to file late or amend.

Deadlines

No deadline — request whenever needed. Paper requests take around 10 business days once received; online is immediate. Return transcripts cover the current year and three prior years; wage & income data reaches back about ten.

How to fill out Form 4506-T

  1. Lines 1–4 — identity and address

    Name and SSN exactly as on the return, current address, and the previous address if the return used a different one.

  2. Line 5 — third-party delivery (optional)

    Send the transcript straight to a lender or agency if they require it.

  3. Line 6–8 — pick the transcript type

    Check the box for return transcript, account transcript, record of account, or the wage & income / non-filing options.

  4. Line 9 — the years

    Enter the period(s) requested — each year you need, in date format.

  5. Sign within 120 days and submit

    The signature must be recent. Fax or mail per the chart in the instructions; unsigned or stale-dated forms are rejected.

Form 4506-T — frequently asked questions

A transcript is a free IRS-generated summary of the return's line items — accepted by nearly all lenders. An exact photocopy requires Form 4506, costs a fee per return, and takes much longer. Start with the transcript; it's almost always enough.
Instantly through IRS Online Account, or by mail in 5–10 calendar days via the automated phone/online request. The paper 4506-T takes about 10 business days from IRS receipt — use it when the others don't fit.
Usually the return transcript for the last two years — often pulled by the lender directly. Self-employed borrowers may also be asked for account or wage & income transcripts.
Yes — the verification of non-filing letter proves the IRS has no return on record, and the wage & income transcript shows what employers and banks reported about you, which is exactly what you need to catch up on unfiled years.

Related IRS forms

Form 1040-XAmended U.S. Individual Income Tax ReturnForm 1040U.S. Individual Income Tax ReturnForm 8822Change of Address

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Important: BizDocs is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Internal Revenue Service. The forms offered on this page are official, unmodified IRS documents provided free as a public resource; the IRS publishes them in the public domain at irs.gov. The guides on this page are general information, not tax or legal advice — tax rules change and depend on your situation, so verify details in the official IRS instructions or with a qualified tax professional before filing.