Form 4506 - Request for Copy of Tax Return

What Form 4506 is

Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, is how you order an exact copy of a tax return you filed with the IRS, including the Forms W-2, schedules, and amended returns attached to it. You can have the copy sent to you or to a third party such as a mortgage company. This template is the Rev. April 2025 edition, a 2-page PDF. As of October 3, 2026, it matches the current version on the IRS Form 4506 page.

Form 4506 is not the same as a transcript. A transcript is a computer printout of most line items, and the IRS provides transcripts at no charge (see transcript types and ways to order them). If a transcript is enough, use Form 4506-T or the IRS Get Transcript tool instead.

Who uses it

Individuals who need a full copy of a past return, for example for a court or administrative proceeding (the form offers certified copies), or when a lender or agency asks for the return as filed. Businesses, partnerships, estates, and trusts can also use it, signed by someone authorized to act for them. According to the form, copies of Forms 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ are generally available for 7 years from filing.

What to have ready

• The name and SSN, ITIN, or EIN exactly as shown on the return, and your spouse's for a joint return.
• Your current address, and the address on your last return if it was different.
• The return type (such as 1040, 1120, or 941) and the tax years or periods you need.
• Third-party name, address, and phone number if the copy should go to someone else.
• A check or money order for the fee.

How to fill out Form 4506 online

Click "Fill Template Now," type into the fields on page 1, sign, and download the completed form to print and mail.

Lines 1 to 5, who is asking and where the copy goes

Line 1a is the name shown first on the return, and line 1b is the first SSN, ITIN, or EIN. Lines 2a and 2b are the spouse's name and number for a joint return. Line 3 is your current name and address, including any apartment, suite, or inmate number. Line 4 is the address on the last return you filed, if it differs from line 3. Line 5 is the third party's name, address, and phone number if the copy should be mailed to them.

Lines 6 and 7, what you want

Line 6 is the return form number. Enter only one. If you need different return types, use a separate Form 4506 for each. Check the box on line 6 if you need certified copies for court or administrative proceedings. Line 7 has spaces for the ending date of each tax year or period, in mm/dd/yyyy format, for example 12/31 of the year for a calendar-year Form 1040.

Lines 8 and 9, the fee

Line 8a is the cost per return, line 8b the number of returns requested on line 7, and line 8c the total. Check line 9 if any refund of the fee should go to the third party on line 5.

Signature section

Check the box confirming you have the authority to sign. The instructions say the form will not be processed if it is unchecked. Then add the signature, date, printed name, phone number of the taxpayer on line 1a or 2a, and title if signing for a corporation, partnership, estate, or trust. For a joint return, only one spouse needs to sign. Sign exactly as your name appeared on the return, and if you changed your name, also sign your current name.

Fee, timing, and where to mail

The form states a fee of $30 for each return requested. Full payment must be included or the request will be rejected. Make the 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.

The IRS says processing can take up to 75 calendar days. The form must reach the IRS within 120 days of the date you sign it. Mail it with payment to the IRS RAIVS Team address on page 2 for the state you lived in when the return was filed. There are separate charts for individual and other returns, with offices in Austin, Kansas City, and Ogden. Form 4506 is a paper form, so check IRM 10.10.1 before signing electronically, or print it and sign in ink.

Common mistakes

• Signing before lines 5 through 7 are complete. The form warns against it.
• Leaving the attestation box in the signature area unchecked.
• Listing more than one return type on line 6.
• Sending the form without the full fee.
• Ordering a $30 copy when a transcript would do.
• Using an old address without updating it. If lines 3 and 4 differ and you haven't told the IRS, the form says to file Form 8822 along with Form 4506.

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