Tax Return vs. Tax Transcript

[CHD 0]

Quick question: Due to my husband's horrid filing habits, he has no complete tax records. We noticed the IRS website has 2 request forms - one for copies of tax RETURNS (notable fee and long processing time), and one for copies of tax TRANSCRIPTS (no fee and short processing time). Anyone know which of the two we should we be requesting to submit with the I-864?

[Zee Bee 61]

Tax transcripts.

[psiprez 3]

Since there is no fee for tax transcripts, and you can order up to four years back at a time, order them all! That way you will have them for your own records. Each year will be mailed in a separate envelope in about a week.

He didn't make a copy of his 2007 taxes before he sent them? Then order that too. If he used a tax preparer, like H & R Block or an accountant, he can still go get a copy from them. Otherwise, I'd order a copy of the actual return for 2007. It may be too early to get a transcript version anyways.

As for what to send... we were K-1, not IR-1/CR-1, but we were required to send the original of the current year, with copies of the W-2's attached, and transcripts of the prior three years. At our interview, they took and kept them all. It seems like a safe bet that they would want the same for the IR-1/CR-1, but double check for sure.

[CHD 0]

Tax transcripts.

Thank you. I would have wasted a lot of time and money going the 'safe' route with the returns.

[happyinlove012408 0]

I submitted the tax transcripts with the I-864 package. That should work. It is much faster to receive and does not cost a dime. Goodluck.

[Fedup 0]

Quick question: Due to my husband's horrid filing habits, he has no complete tax records. We noticed the IRS website has 2 request forms - one for copies of tax RETURNS (notable fee and long processing time), and one for copies of tax TRANSCRIPTS (no fee and short processing time). Anyone know which of the two we should we be requesting to submit with the I-864?

I-864 comes with instructions, here is the paragraph 25. Federal Income Tax Information :

You must provide either an IRS transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year. If you believe additional returns may help you to establish your ability to maintain sufficient income, you may submit transcripts or photocopies of your Federal individual income tax returns for the three most recent years.

You are not required to have the IRS certify the transcript or photocopy unless specifically instructed to do so by a Government official; a plain transcript or photocopy is acceptable. Telefile tax records are not acceptable proof of filing.

Further down:

If you provide a photocopy of your tax return(s), you must include a copy of each and every Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to your return(s). Do not include copies of these Forms if you provide an IRS transcript of your return(s) rather than a photocopy.

Seems pretty clear. These instructions are included in the PDF I-864 that you can download from USCIS site.