IRS Transcript: What It Is, the 5 Types, and How to Get One (2026)

The IRS provides five main types of transcripts, each containing different data. See also: how to get your W-2 online.

• Tax Return Transcript: Shows most line items from your original federal tax return (Form 1040), including adjusted gross income (AGI). Does not reflect changes made after the original filing. Most commonly requested for mortgage applications and financial aid verification.
• Tax Account Transcript: Shows basic data from your tax return — including return type, filing status, taxable income, and tax liability — as well as any subsequent adjustments made to your account (such as payments, penalties, or IRS adjustments).
• Record of Account Transcript: Combines the information in the Tax Return Transcript and the Tax Account Transcript into a single document — the most comprehensive single-document transcript.
• Wage and Income Transcript: Shows data reported to the IRS by employers and other payers on forms such as W-2s, 1099s, and 1098s. Particularly useful if you have lost income documents or need to reconstruct a prior-year return.
• Verification of Non-Filing Letter: Confirms that the IRS has no record of a federal income tax return filed for a specific year under your Social Security number. Often required for financial aid (FAFSA) or certain government benefit applications.

The fastest and easiest way to obtain an IRS transcript is through the IRS Get Transcript tool at IRS.gov — most transcripts are available immediately online at no cost. To access transcripts online, you must create or sign in to an IRS Online Account, which requires identity verification through ID.me. Follow these steps: See also: how to fill out your W-4.

1. Go to IRS.gov/get-transcript and select Get Transcript Online.
2. Sign in to your existing IRS Online Account, or create a new one and complete identity verification.
3. Select the transcript type you need and the applicable tax year.
4. View the transcript immediately on screen and save or print it — most transcript types are available for the current year and up to three prior years online.

If you prefer or cannot complete online identity verification, you may request a transcript by mail through the IRS Get Transcript tool or by submitting IRS Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return). Mail delivery typically takes five to ten calendar days, according to IRS guidance. The mailed transcript will be sent only to the address of record in the IRS system — if your address has changed, update it with the IRS before requesting. IRS Form 4506 (not Form 4506-T) is used to request an actual copy of a prior-year tax return, which differs from a transcript and involves a fee; verify the current fee at IRS.gov. See also: the 846 refund issued code.

IRS transcripts are used in a variety of common financial situations: See also: the TurboTax lawsuit.

• Mortgage applications: Lenders typically require a Tax Return Transcript or Tax Account Transcript to verify income when you apply for a home loan.
• Reconstructing a prior-year return: If you lost your tax documents, a Wage and Income Transcript shows what was reported to the IRS by employers and payers for that year.
• Verifying IRS records: If you receive an IRS notice about a discrepancy, a Tax Account Transcript can show what the IRS has on file versus what you reported.
• Financial aid: Colleges and FAFSA verification may require a Tax Return Transcript or Verification of Non-Filing Letter.
• Amended returns: A Tax Account Transcript can confirm that an amended return (Form 1040-X) was processed correctly.

A transcript is a summary of your tax information extracted from IRS records — it is not a photocopy of your original return. An actual copy of your filed tax return includes all attachments (W-2s, schedules, etc.) exactly as you submitted them. Tax return transcripts are free; actual copies of filed returns require submitting IRS Form 4506 with a fee per return period — verify the current fee at IRS.gov. For most common purposes — mortgage applications, income verification, FAFSA — a transcript is sufficient and preferred because it is free and faster to obtain. See also: how do tax write-offs work.