This Form 4506 guide explains the IRS Request for Copy of Tax Return. Form 4506 requests a copy of a tax return, which is a different service from obtaining a transcript. The requested form type, tax periods, identity details and required fee or payment process must be checked. A taxpayer should first determine which kind of record is actually needed.
Reviewed October 31, 2026. This is an independent guide. The version and availability information below identifies the IRS documents used for this page.
What Form 4506 does and who prepares it
A taxpayer or authorized person requests a copy of a filed tax return under the current instructions.
For the connected reporting route, see Form 4506-T. Keep the role of that document separate from the task explained on this page.
| Official form | Form 4506 |
|---|---|
| IRS title | Request for Copy of Tax Return |
| Guide period | the applicable reporting period |
| Target version | Apr 2025 |
| Availability | Current IRS catalog PDF |
| Last checked | October 31, 2026 |
Get the Form 4506 PDF and check its status
Use the IRS source to confirm the document before completing a real filing. The download link is a reference to the official file; it is not a statement that every copy inside the PDF may be printed and submitted. Follow any instructions about electronic filing, scannable copies, recipient copies or attachments.
Which version of Form 4506 should you use?
This form follows a revision or continuing-use format rather than a new title for every calendar year. Check the revision printed on the document and the period requested inside it. A revision date, transaction date and tax year are different pieces of information. The current document should be read with the instructions that apply to the actual transaction or return.
Records to gather for Form 4506
- Taxpayer name and identification.
- Tax form type.
- Requested periods.
- Address information.
- Authorized signature and payment details.
Keep a working reconciliation with these records. It should show the source of each reported item, any correction made before filing and the reason a different amount appears on a connected form. This is especially useful when a statement is corrected or a prior-year balance continues into the current calculation.
How to work through Form 4506
- Confirm applicability. Start with the purpose, filer category and version of the form. Complete any eligibility or applicability question before spending time on the numerical calculation.
- Prepare the source workpapers. Gather the records listed below and reconcile their totals. Keep prior-year balances, current-year transactions and estimated payments separate where they serve different purposes.
- Complete dependent calculations first. When a line refers to another form, schedule or worksheet, finish that supporting calculation first. Preserve any classification, limitation and carryforward information.
- Follow the line sequence. Use the actual line labels and arithmetic in the applicable form. A line number from an older version may refer to something different after a revision.
- Reconcile the filing package. Check names, identifying numbers, tax periods, totals and required attachments. Then use the filing method, signature process and deadline that apply to this filer and form.
Form-specific IRS instructions and reporting details
The following points retain the operative wording of the IRS documents linked above. Read each point with its stated conditions and the applicable form version. References to another form or section describe a connected requirement; they do not mean that every reader must file every referenced document.
Tip: Get faster service: Online at the IRS website Get Your Tax Record (Get Transcript) or by calling 1-800-908-9946 for specialized assistance. We have teams available to assist.
Note: Taxpayers may register to use Get your tax records and transcripts | Internal Revenue Service to view, print, or download the following transcript types: Tax Return Transcript (shows most line items including Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your original Form 1040-series tax return as filed, along with any forms and schedules), Tax Account Transcript (shows basic data such as return type, marital status, AGI, taxable income and all payment types), Record of Account Transcript (combines the tax return and tax account transcripts into one complete transcript), Wage and Income Transcript (shows data from information returns we receive such as Forms W-2, 1099, 1098 and Form 5498), and Verification of Non-filing Letter (provides proof that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040-series tax return for the year you request). 1a Name shown on tax return.
If a joint return, enter the name shown first.
5 If the tax return is to be mailed to a third party (such as a mortgage company), enter the third party’s name, address, and telephone number.
Additional reporting conditions
Caution: If the tax return is being sent to the third party, ensure that lines 5 through 7 are completed before signing. (see instructions). Tax return requested. Form 1040, 1120, 941, etc. and all attachments as originally submitted to the IRS, including Form(s) W-2, schedules, or amended returns. Copies of Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ are generally available for 7 years from filing before they are destroyed by law. Other returns may be available for a longer period of time. Enter only one return number.
If you need more than one type of return, you must complete another Form 4506. Note: If the copies must be certified for court or administrative proceedings, check here .
Partnerships. Generally, Form 4506 can be signed by any person who was a member of the partnership during any part of the tax period requested on line 7.
Note: If you are Heir at law, Next of kin, or Beneficiary you must be able to establish a material interest in the estate or trust.
Calculations and supporting information
Line 7. Enter the end date of the tax year or period requested in mm/dd/yyyy format. This may be a calendar year, fiscal year or quarter. Enter each quarter requested for quarterly returns. Example: Enter 12/31/2018 for a calendar year 2018 Form 1040 return, or 03/31/2017 for a first quarter Form 941 return. Signature and date. Form 4506 must be signed and dated by the taxpayer listed on line 1a or 2a. The IRS must receive Form 4506 within 120 days of the date signed by the taxpayer or it will be rejected.
Ensure that all applicable lines, including lines 5 through 7, are completed before signing.
Corporations. Generally, Form 4506 can be signed by: (1) an officer having legal authority to bind the corporation, (2) any person designated by the board of directors or other governing body, or (3) any officer or employee on written request by any principal officer and attested to by the secretary or other officer. A bona fide shareholder of record owning 1 percent or more of the outstanding stock of the corporation may submit a Form 4506 but must provide documentation to support the requester's right to receive the information.
All others. See section 6103(e) if the taxpayer has died, is insolvent, is a dissolved corporation, or if a trustee, guardian, executor, receiver, or administrator is acting for the taxpayer.
Exceptions and related reporting
Note. If the addresses on lines 3 and 4 are different and you have not changed your address with the IRS, file Form 8822, Change of Address, or Form 8822-B,Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business, with Form 4506.
Individuals. Copies of jointly filed tax returns may be furnished to either spouse. Only one signature is required. Sign Form 4506 exactly as your name appeared on the original return. If you changed your name, also sign your current name.
You must check the box in the signature area to acknowledge you have the authority to sign and request the information. The form will not be processed and returned to you if the box is unchecked.
Reading the lines and boxes
These selected labels come from the linked target PDF. They are a reading aid, not a replacement for the full line instructions or a completed calculation. Match the label and document version before transferring any amount.
| Line or box | Label in the source form | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | Name shown on tax return. If a joint return, enter the name shown first. | Use the identity of the person or entity requested on this line. Check that the name and identification number agree with the underlying tax records. |
| 2a | If a joint return, enter spouse’s name shown on tax return. | Use the identity of the person or entity requested on this line. Check that the name and identification number agree with the underlying tax records. |
| 3 | Current name, address (including apt., room, suite, or inmate no.), city, state, and ZIP code (see instructions). | Use the identity of the person or entity requested on this line. Check that the name and identification number agree with the underlying tax records. |
| 4 | Previous address shown on the last return filed if different from line 3 (see instructions). | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
| 5 | If the tax return is to be mailed to a third party (such as a mortgage company), enter the third party’s name, address, and telephone number. | Use the identity of the person or entity requested on this line. Check that the name and identification number agree with the underlying tax records. |
Further selected fields
| Line or box | Label in the source form | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Tax return requested. Form 1040, 1120, 941, etc. and all attachments as originally submitted to the IRS, including Form(s) W-2, | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
| 7 | Year or period requested. Enter the ending date of the tax year or period using the mm/dd/yyyy format (see instructions). | Use the date or tax period requested by this particular field. A payment date, acquisition date and return year can describe different facts. |
| 8 | Fee. There is a $30 fee for each return requested. Full payment must be included with your request or it will | Reconcile the relevant payment or withholding record with the tax period and category requested here. A reported payment is not necessarily the final tax liability. |
| 9 | If we cannot find the tax return, we will refund the fee. If the refund should go to the third party listed on line 5, check here | Check the applicable line instructions and keep the source workpaper with the return records. Transfer only the information that matches the field and reporting period. |
A practical example
A taxpayer needs a filed return record for a specific purpose. After checking whether a transcript is sufficient, the taxpayer chooses the copy request route when necessary and identifies the requested return and period precisely.
This example illustrates the order of the review. It does not assume an unverified deduction, exemption, treaty rate or final tax amount. The applicable form instructions and the actual records determine the result.
Common mistakes to avoid with Form 4506
- Do not confuse a return copy with a transcript.
- Check the current fee and processing rules before submitting a request.
- Use exact tax periods rather than describing a filing season ambiguously.
Questions about Form 4506
Does receiving or downloading this form mean I must file it?
A taxpayer or authorized person requests a copy of a filed tax return under the current instructions. The form purpose and the applicable filing or furnishing conditions determine the action. Downloading a blank PDF does not itself create a filing obligation or establish eligibility for a tax benefit.
Is the revision date always the same as the tax year?
No. Some forms show a tax year, while continuing-use forms show a revision date and ask separately for the reporting period. Check the actual document and instructions. Do not relabel a payment or transaction solely because it was reported in a later calendar year.
What should I do if the underlying information is wrong?
Do not confuse a return copy with a transcript. Keep the original record and the correction trail. The issuer correction process, an amended return and an updated certificate can be different procedures. Choose the process that matches the document and the actual error.
Which records should I keep with the completed form?
Retain the source documents, applicable worksheets, submitted version and filing or furnishing confirmations. For this form, the working file should include taxpayer name and identification, tax form type, requested periods. Keep continuing balances and prior-year support for as long as they remain relevant under the applicable recordkeeping rules.
Related forms and next steps
Use these guides when the connected issue applies to your records. Each page has its own purpose, reporting year and availability status.