Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, asks the IRS for an exact copy of a return you filed, with every attachment as originally submitted, including W-2s, schedules and amended returns. As of October 2026 it costs $30 per return, can take up to 75 calendar days, and the IRS must receive it within 120 days of the date you sign. If you only need the figures, a free transcript is usually quicker.
This guide follows Form 4506 (Rev. April 2025) and its instructions, as of October 2026.
Copy or transcript: which you need
Most people who search for a copy of their return need a transcript, not the return itself. Transcripts are free through the IRS Get Transcript service or Form 4506-T, and lenders often use Form 4506-C to get one directly. Form 4506 is for when you need the actual pages: a court case, an estate, or attachments a transcript won't show.
| Transcript type | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Tax Return Transcript | Most line items, including AGI, from the original Form 1040-series return as filed, with forms and schedules |
| Tax Account Transcript | Basic data such as return type, marital status, AGI, taxable income and payments |
| Record of Account Transcript | The return and account transcripts combined |
| Wage and Income Transcript | Data from information returns such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and 5498 |
| Verification of Non-filing Letter | Proof the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040-series return for a year |
That list comes from the top of Form 4506 itself, which points you to the faster online route before you go further.
How far back you can go
Copies of Forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ are generally available for 7 years from filing, after which they're destroyed by law. Other returns may be kept longer. You can ask for business returns too, such as Form 1120 or 941, but only one return number per form, so different return types need separate requests.
Filling it in
- Line 1a and 1b: the name shown first on the return and its SSN, ITIN or EIN. For a 1040 that includes Schedule C, use your SSN.
- Lines 2a and 2b: your spouse's name and number if it was a joint return.
- Line 3: your current address, including a P.O. box or, if you're incarcerated, your inmate number.
- Line 4: the address on your last return, if it's different.
- Line 5: a third party, such as a mortgage company, if the copy should go to them.
- Line 6: the return requested, and a box to tick if you need certified copies for court or administrative proceedings.
- Line 7: the end date of each tax year or period, in mm/dd/yyyy. For a calendar year 2018 Form 1040 that's 12/31/2018; the form's example for a first quarter 2017 Form 941 is 03/31/2017.
- Line 8: the fee per return, the number of returns and the total.
The fee, as of October 2026
It's $30 for each return requested, and full payment has to come with the request or it's rejected. Make a check or money order payable to United States Treasury, and write your SSN, ITIN or EIN and Form 4506 request on it. If the IRS can't find the return, it refunds the fee, and there's a box to send that refund to the third party on line 5 instead.
The signature rules
Don't sign until every line that applies is filled in, including lines 5 to 7. The IRS must receive the form within 120 days of the signature date or it's rejected. Sign exactly as your name appeared on the original return, and add your current name if it's changed. You also have to tick the box confirming you have authority to sign, or the form isn't processed.
For a joint return, either spouse can get the copy and only one signature is needed. For a partnership, generally anyone who was a partner during the period can sign. For a corporation it's an officer with authority, someone the board designates, or a shareholder of record owning 1% or more, who must send documentation.
Where to mail it
Mail it, with payment, to the RAIVS Team address for the state you lived in, or your business was in, when that return was filed. There are two charts, one for Form 1040-series returns and one for all other returns, covering Austin, Kansas City and Ogden. If you're asking for more than one year and the chart shows two addresses, use the one for your most recent return.
If your current address and the one on your last return differ, and you haven't told the IRS, send Form 8822 or Form 8822-B with the request.
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Privacy for third parties
If you name a third party on line 5, section 6103(c) of the tax code limits how they can use the return. They can't access it for other purposes, use it otherwise or pass it on without your express permission, and they face penalties if they do.
The verdict
Start with a transcript, because it's free and quicker, and most lenders and agencies accept one. Use Form 4506 only when you need the original pages or certified copies. Fill in every line, include the $30 per return, sign last, and post it to the right RAIVS address within 120 days of signing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form 4506 used for?
It's the Request for Copy of Tax Return, used to get an exact copy of a filed return with its attachments, such as W-2s and schedules.
How much does Form 4506 cost?
As of October 2026, $30 for each return requested, paid with the request.
How long does Form 4506 take?
The IRS says it may take up to 75 calendar days to process the request.
What's the difference between Form 4506 and 4506-T?
Form 4506 gets a full copy of the return for a fee; Form 4506-T gets a free transcript of the return's data.
Can I get a certified copy of my tax return for court?
Yes. Tick the box on line 6 of Form 4506 if the copies must be certified for court or administrative proceedings.
How far back can I request a copy of my tax return?
Copies of Forms 1040 are generally available for 7 years from filing; other returns may be kept longer.
