Tax Returns vs Tax Transcripts.

[frndly1 1]

Okay, Why are people sending in transcripts and not their copies of the tax return? Do people not keep their tax returns? I always file mine online but I do print out copies and signed them for whomever needs them.

I used my tax returns with the appropriate w2s and never had a problem.

[1HappyGuy 45]

There are lots of people that don't keep copies of tax returns or can't find their copies. The tax transcripts are official but limited reports from the IRS of a person's tax return. Some people may prefer them because of the official nature of the report, but a copy of the tax return filed is always best.

[maya62 7]

Some people, myself included, filed by telephone until this year when IRS discontinued that service.

Tax transcripts are free and easily obtained from IRS by phone. I used them and had no problems. Nice to have options, eh?

Maya

[lucyrich 20]

A practical reason to prefer transcripts is that transcripts are simply smaller. That may not be true in all cases, depending on the complexity of the return, but for us, it meant far fewer pages to photocopy.

Transcripts are free. About the only reason I can see for sending a photocopy of the actual return is if you don't have enough lead time to order the transcripts, or you want to bother with the phone call to order transcripts.

But either way is acceptable to the USCIS, and I haven't heard of anyone having any sort of problem because they sent transcripts instead of returns, or returns instead of transcripts. So do whatever seems most convenient for your situation.

[frndly1 1]

Thanks for the explanation.

Lucyrich. I am done with this immigration stuff for awhile.

[Yodrak 7]

lucyrich,

Agreed, tax returns can be a pain to photocopy when they contain odd size attachments such as the W-2, 1099s, and perhaps other documentation not on full sheets of paper.

The tax transcripts are created by the IRS from the complete original return, so they contain all necessary information, verified, on fewer pieces of paper.

Yodrak

A practical reason to prefer transcripts is that transcripts are simply smaller. That may not be true in all cases, depending on the complexity of the return, but for us, it meant far fewer pages to photocopy.

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