Applying N-400 based on 3 year marriage - is IRS tax transcript required or regular copies are accepted?

[LLbeans 2]

Hi:

I am reading the USCIS document checklist on their website, where I found:

• Documents referring to you and your spouse:

- Tax returns, bank accounts, leases, mortgages, or birth certificates of children; or

- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified copies of the income tax forms that you both filed for the past 3 years; or

- An IRS tax return transcript for the last 3 years.

And I am confused since all three lines has something to do with the tax returns -- do I need to get a transcript from IRS or it is okay to send in the regular tax return copies?

thanks!

[Inky 1,110]

Its listing what is accepted by them. They would accept any of thos items.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

They want proof you paid your taxes. Copies are not sufficient to prove that. You need transcripts to show that. The transcripts serve both as proof of marital status, and proof of tax payment.

[NickD 202]

Do transcripts for your own convenience, that 800 number has been posted many times.

With the forms, need all of those, legally signed, meaning with copies, have to hand sign the forms you turned in, need all of your 1099's and W-2 statements, plus any other forms exactly how you submitted that to the IRS.

Either is acceptable, but highly condensed transcripts are far more convenient both for you and your IO and will make that phase go a lot quicker.

[LLbeans 2]

Thank you all! I will order the transcript then.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you all! I will order the transcript then.

I called today, the transcript service is out of service until the end of January, but you can order certified copies currently for free (there is usually a charge for copies but because the transcript service is down they will send them free)

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I called today, the transcript service is out of service until the end of January, but you can order certified copies currently for free (there is usually a charge for copies but because the transcript service is down they will send them free)

Order a Transcript will not be available starting Monday, December 26, 2011 at Midnight Eastern Time, until Monday, January 9, 2012, 08:00AM Eastern Time for annual maintenance. Please check back with us on January 9, 2012.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.html

[LLbeans 2]

What's the different between the transcript and the certified copy? which one is better?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What's the different between the transcript and the certified copy? which one is better?

The transcript is a condensed version and shows payment information. The certified copy is an exact copy of what the IRS received in when the tax return was filed.

http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=232219,00.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What's the different between the transcript and the certified copy? which one is better?

The transcript is free. The certified copy costs $57.

Edited January 7, 2012 by ☼

[NickD 202]

Order a Transcript will not be available starting Monday, December 26, 2011 at Midnight Eastern Time, until Monday, January 9, 2012, 08:00AM Eastern Time for annual maintenance. Please check back with us on January 9, 2012.

http://www.irs.gov/i...=232168,00.html

Should post this for people that are waiting for their oath letter. But don't no why they are stating December 26, 2011, should be December 22, 2011instead. Apparently, with January 9, 2012, takes them well over a week to get over a New Years Eve hangover.