how to get your tax returns

[phirephly 0]

Howdy everybody... It pops up here once in a while about what you need when it talks about copies of your tax returns for affadavits of support, etc. Apparently, transcripts are perfectly legit... now how do you get those? Let me walk you right through it (for most people, at least):

Call 1-800-829-1040

Press 3 for automated services

Enter your SSN

Press 1 to confirm it's an SSN

Press 1 to confirm the SSN is correct

Press 4 to order transcripts (or copies)

Enter your street address (for example, if you live at 123 Main Street, enter 123)

Press 4 to get an account transcript and return transcript (nothing more for them to request and it's free anyways )

Enter the tax year you want to request

Press 1 to confirm the year (eg, 2005)

Press 1 to confirm the (free) order (eg, trasncript of account and return for 2005)

Press 2 to request another, and go back to the year line above or

Press 3 to end the call.

So for two years of returns (and btw, you can also make multiple requests for the same year in the same call):

1-800-829-1040=>3=>SSN=>1=>1=>4=>HOUSE=>4=>YEAR=>1=>1=>2=>YEAR=>1=>1=>3

You can order these at any time of day (I just ordered a few more at 12:30 am), but last sunday the automated services were disabled, so maybe you can't during weekends. They say it takes 10 to 15 days. I think mine usually take about a week. May as well order them now and have them on hand for when your time comes (one less thing to worry about!). It's a lot easier to shred something you don't need than to send something you haven't received yet Some of these options you can press before the system is done talking to get you through faster... so knowing what you want ahead of time can make it a bit easier. Hope this is helpful to me fellow journey companions. ttyl,

mich

[zauberblume 0]

Can you also request these transcripts be delivered to a different address?

[germangel 0]

if you talk to an operator, yes, but the person on file has to request them then, I guess you want them for your grandpa?

Also, what I forgot in my other post, you can talk to an operator and request an evidence for non-filing from the IRS as you didn't file any.

[phirephly 0]

Can you also request these transcripts be delivered to a different address?

Not in the automated system. That info is never entered, as you'll note above. You verify that you're you by SSN and address number, and your papers are sent to the address that they have on file, apparently.

germangel -

If you didn't file, wouldn't that be indicated on your transcripts? Minimally, seems like they should return a letter saying "XX didn't file a return for the tax year 2003." or whatever.

ttyl,

mich

[germangel 0]

I know my hubbie spoke to an operator to get his verification of non-filing. I know that last time I tried to order over automated system, they said it can't be sent so talking to an operator is a safe way.

You can also request a verification for non-filing per fax

[sadie33138 0]

Howdy everybody... It pops up here once in a while about what you need when it talks about copies of your tax returns for affadavits of support, etc. Apparently, transcripts are perfectly legit... now how do you get those? Let me walk you right through it (for most people, at least):

Call 1-800-829-1040

Press 3 for automated services

Enter your SSN

Press 1 to confirm it's an SSN

Press 1 to confirm the SSN is correct

Press 4 to order transcripts (or copies)

Enter your street address (for example, if you live at 123 Main Street, enter 123)

Press 4 to get an account transcript and return transcript (nothing more for them to request and it's free anyways )

Enter the tax year you want to request

Press 1 to confirm the year (eg, 2005)

Press 1 to confirm the (free) order (eg, trasncript of account and return for 2005)

Press 2 to request another, and go back to the year line above or

Press 3 to end the call.

mich

When I called 1-800-829-1040 the first set of options gave #3 as Business Accounts not Automated Services. I tried it twice (at International Rates) because at first I thought I misdialed. Didn't. So, could you doublecheck this sequence please? Thanks.

[phirephly 0]

Howdy everybody... It pops up here once in a while about what you need when it talks about copies of your tax returns for affadavits of support, etc. Apparently, transcripts are perfectly legit... now how do you get those? Let me walk you right through it (for most people, at least):

Call 1-800-829-1040

Press 3 for automated services

Enter your SSN

Press 1 to confirm it's an SSN

Press 1 to confirm the SSN is correct

Press 4 to order transcripts (or copies)

Enter your street address (for example, if you live at 123 Main Street, enter 123)

Press 4 to get an account transcript and return transcript (nothing more for them to request and it's free anyways )

Enter the tax year you want to request

Press 1 to confirm the year (eg, 2005)

Press 1 to confirm the (free) order (eg, trasncript of account and return for 2005)

Press 2 to request another, and go back to the year line above or

Press 3 to end the call.

mich

When I called 1-800-829-1040 the first set of options gave #3 as Business Accounts not Automated Services. I tried it twice (at International Rates) because at first I thought I misdialed. Didn't. So, could you doublecheck this sequence please? Thanks.

Verified today, just now (sorry about the delay!). The topics I get at the main menu are as follows:

1 - recorded tax topics

2 - questions about you refund

3 - all other automated services

I wonder if you're getting a different menu from an international number. That's not very helpful for us if that's what's happening here.

[sadie33138 0]

Howdy everybody... It pops up here once in a while about what you need when it talks about copies of your tax returns for affadavits of support, etc. Apparently, transcripts are perfectly legit... now how do you get those? Let me walk you right through it (for most people, at least):

Call 1-800-829-1040

Press 3 for automated services

Enter your SSN

Press 1 to confirm it's an SSN

Press 1 to confirm the SSN is correct

Press 4 to order transcripts (or copies)

Enter your street address (for example, if you live at 123 Main Street, enter 123)

Press 4 to get an account transcript and return transcript (nothing more for them to request and it's free anyways )

Enter the tax year you want to request

Press 1 to confirm the year (eg, 2005)

Press 1 to confirm the (free) order (eg, trasncript of account and return for 2005)

Press 2 to request another, and go back to the year line above or

Press 3 to end the call.

mich

When I called 1-800-829-1040 the first set of options gave #3 as Business Accounts not Automated Services. I tried it twice (at International Rates) because at first I thought I misdialed. Didn't. So, could you doublecheck this sequence please? Thanks.

Verified today, just now (sorry about the delay!). The topics I get at the main menu are as follows:

1 - recorded tax topics

2 - questions about you refund

3 - all other automated services

I wonder if you're getting a different menu from an international number. That's not very helpful for us if that's what's happening here.

Dunno That may be the case, because #1 is Recorded Tax Topics, #2 is Individual Accounts & #3 is Business Accounts.

I called twice using the info posted here and both times got a message that they were overloaded and then telling me to call back, then a disconnect. I also asked my daughter in the States to try it, she got the same thing. She got all the way to "Press 4 to order transcripts" and then got the same message I did and the disconnect. So I ended up faxing my request in. 1-800 numbers can be called from out of the US but you have to pay for them, they aren't free. Just a heads up for others out of the US.

[iceyspots 0]

Is it possible to get all 3 years worth of tax returns ?

[sadie33138 0]

Is it possible to get all 3 years worth of tax returns ?

From what I read, it is. Are you wanting an exact copy of your tax returns? If so, it costs $39 per tax year. If you want the "transcripts", they are free. The form for those is IRS 4506-T and it allows you to request four different tax years at the same time. You can mail it or fax it in or if you are in the US you can use the phone number detailed above.

See: http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq1-6.html

[iceyspots 0]

When filing the affadavit of support, do they accept transcripts, or does it have to be the full copy?

[sadie33138 0]

When filing the affadavit of support, do they accept transcripts, or does it have to be the full copy?

As far as I have been able to find out, transcripts are accepted and some posts say they are preferred over the IRS copies of the full return. Good news as they are free.

[phirephly 0]

When filing the affadavit of support, do they accept transcripts, or does it have to be the full copy?

From what I've read a few places, transcripts are supposed to be acceptable for an AoS, though off the top of my head, I don't have any pointers to evidence.

And to answer your other question, yes, you can get all three years in one call. If I remember right, you can even get two copies of the same year in the same call. I believe the limit for transcript requests is 10 per call or something like that. So you could get two copies of all three years in one shot. ttyl,

mich

Dunno That may be the case, because #1 is Recorded Tax Topics, #2 is Individual Accounts & #3 is Business Accounts.

I called twice using the info posted here and both times got a message that they were overloaded and then telling me to call back, then a disconnect. I also asked my daughter in the States to try it, she got the same thing. She got all the way to "Press 4 to order transcripts" and then got the same message I did and the disconnect. So I ended up faxing my request in. 1-800 numbers can be called from out of the US but you have to pay for them, they aren't free. Just a heads up for others out of the US.

Interesting. That's not cool if they're being inconsistent. I've never run into that disconnect message either. Wow, you have all the bad luck, lady Definitely thanks for the warning, I guess it's best to have the USC deal with it domestically in case there are issues, as crummy as that is...

If it helps any, I usually call later at night when I know the office would be closed (less chance of more people on there), and I've never had a problem that way. ttyl,

mich

[simple_male 1]

I tried the following sequence and it worked for me:

1-800-829-1040 => 2 => 2 => SSN => 1 => 1 => 4 => Address => 4 => Year => 1 => 1 => 2 => Year

And so on. This is an automated system. So it will send you the transcripts to the address that the IRS system has. If someone wants them in a different address, then this option is not going to work. In that case, speaking with a live person will do it.

[phirephly 0]

I tried the following sequence and it worked for me:

1-800-829-1040 => 2 => 2 => SSN => 1 => 1 => 4 => Address => 4 => Year => 1 => 1 => 2 => Year

And so on. This is an automated system. So it will send you the transcripts to the address that the IRS system has. If someone wants them in a different address, then this option is not going to work. In that case, speaking with a live person will do it.

You're calling from in the US or out of it? it sounds like you might have been getting similar prompts to what sadie observed. Would be good to figure out how that's happening. ttyl,

mich