Need a Copy of Your Tax Transcript?

Every time you file your taxes, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your return. However, if you’ve failed to do that and now need access to your tax information, don’t worry. The IRS keeps transcripts of all of the taxes you’ve filed in your life, and you can easily access them if needed.  

Types of Transcripts

The IRS is very thorough in the information that it keeps, which means that you can actually choose from different types of transcripts.

Most people will simply want a tax return transcript which shows the basic information from your original return. You can also request a tax account transcript, which is even more detailed, or a record of account transcript that combines information from both types. You can even get a wage and income transcript or a non-filing transcript to verify you didn’t have to file in a given year.

How to Access Your Transcripts

No matter what type of transcript you require, the easiest way to access it is online. You simply create a verified account with the IRS using your social security number, cell phone number, birthday, an approved account number, your most recent filing status, and your email address. From there, you can see all of your tax information with a few simple clicks.

If you are missing any of the required verifiers, then you can simply have the tax transcript of your choice mailed to you. Obviously, this option takes a bit longer, but it’s still an easy, free way to access your information.

Save the Information

Once you have a copy of your transcripts, no matter how you accessed it, save it. That way, you won’t have to go through all these steps again should you need the information later.

Transcripts accessed online can easily be printed out, while mailed transcripts are complete in themselves.

And, while most of the sensitive data, like your full social security number, is blocked out for safety purposes, it’s still smart to keep these documents in a safe, secure place.

As you can see, accessing your tax information is very easy. It’s what you do with it that matters most!