How Do I Get My 1040 From Last Year?
Learn how to obtain a copy of last year’s 1040 through online requests, mail, tax professionals, or personal records while considering potential costs.
Filing taxes often requires access to previous returns, especially for income verification or completing current filings. If you misplaced last year’s Form 1040, several options are available to retrieve it through the IRS, a tax professional, or personal records.
Online Tax Return Transcript Requests
The IRS provides an online tool, Get Transcript Online, which offers a tax return transcript summarizing key details from your Form 1040, including adjusted gross income, taxable income, and any credits or deductions. While this transcript does not include copies of actual forms or attachments, it is often sufficient for financial verification, such as mortgage or student loan applications.
To use the tool, you must verify your identity with your Social Security number, date of birth, filing status, and mailing address from your most recent return. Additionally, a financial account, such as a credit card or loan, is required for identity confirmation. Once verified, you can download the transcript immediately as a PDF.
If online verification is not possible, Get Transcript by Mail allows you to request a physical copy, which typically arrives within 5 to 10 days. This method does not require financial account verification but does require the same personal details. The mailed transcript contains the same information as the online version but takes longer to receive.
Mailing a Request to the IRS
For a full copy of a previously filed Form 1040, including all schedules and attachments, submit Form 4506, “Request for Copy of Tax Return,” to the IRS. This may be necessary for legal matters or lender requirements.
Form 4506 requires your name, Social Security number, and the address used on the original filing. You must specify the tax year and include a $43 processing fee per return, payable by check or money order to the “United States Treasury.”
Processing times can take up to 75 days, so consider this delay if you need the document for a loan application or legal proceeding.
Requesting Copies Through a Tax Professional
If you filed through a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax preparation service, they may have retained copies of your returns. Firms such as H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, as well as independent accountants, often provide past returns upon request, sometimes charging a retrieval fee.
Tax professionals can also assist if an exact return is needed for compliance or financial verification. They can help resolve discrepancies between IRS records and your own documentation, particularly in cases of audits or amendments.
In some cases, tax professionals can request a copy directly from the IRS on your behalf by submitting Form 4506-T, which authorizes them to obtain tax transcripts.
Personal Record Examination
Before seeking external copies, check your own records. Many taxpayers keep digital or paper copies, especially if they use accounting software or electronic filing systems. Tax preparation platforms like TurboTax, TaxAct, and FreeTaxUSA store past returns for users who filed through their services, often allowing access for multiple years.
If you manually filed or saved your returns outside of tax software, check computer files, external hard drives, or cloud storage platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox. Financial advisors recommend keeping tax documents for at least three years, aligning with the IRS audit statute of limitations under 26 U.S. Code 6501. If underreported income exceeds 25% of total earnings, the IRS can audit up to six years, making long-term retention advisable.
Potential Processing Costs
Tax return transcripts obtained online or by mail are free, but requesting a full copy from the IRS using Form 4506 requires a $43 fee per return, payable by check or money order.
Some tax professionals and preparation services may charge retrieval fees, particularly for archived records. However, taxpayers who filed electronically through platforms like TurboTax or H&R Block may be able to download past returns at no cost, depending on the provider’s policies.
Understanding these costs and processing times helps in selecting the most efficient method for obtaining a past tax return.