What Is an Account Transcript and What Does It Show?

An IRS account transcript is an official summary of a taxpayer’s account activity for a specific tax year. It is not a direct copy of the filed tax return but rather a line-by-line record of the transactions and data associated with that return as processed by the Internal Revenue Service. This document serves as a chronological record, detailing the original return information and any subsequent adjustments or actions that have occurred.

Third parties, such as mortgage lenders or student loan providers, often request these documents as a reliable way to verify income and filing history. Because the transcript reflects the IRS’s official record, it provides an authoritative snapshot of a person’s tax standing for a given period.

Information Contained in an Account Transcript

An account transcript provides a detailed summary of your tax information for a specific year. It includes basic data such as the type of return filed, like a Form 1040, and your filing status, for example, Single or Married Filing Jointly. The transcript also shows your adjusted gross income (AGI) and taxable income.

The document chronologically lists all transactions on your account. This includes any payments you have made toward your tax liability, such as estimated tax payments or payments made with the return itself. It also details any penalties or interest the IRS has assessed on the account, providing a clear picture of any outstanding balances or additions to your tax debt.

A significant feature of the account transcript is that it shows any changes made after the original return was filed. This includes adjustments initiated by you through an amended return (Form 1040-X) or those made by the IRS during processing or an audit.

Required Information for a Transcript Request

Before you can request an account transcript, you must gather several key pieces of personal information to verify your identity with the IRS. You will need your Social Security Number (SSN) or, if you are not eligible for an SSN, your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Your date of birth is also required for verification purposes. The mailing address you provide must be the one the IRS has on file for you, which is the address shown on your most recently filed tax return. For joint filers, the information of the primary taxpayer—the individual listed first on the tax return—is used for the request.

If you plan to request your transcript by mail, you will use Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. This form can be downloaded directly from the IRS website. On the form, you will need to enter your personal information and then check the box on line 6b to specify that you are requesting an “Account Transcript.”

How to Submit Your Transcript Request

Once you have your information ready, you can submit your request through several methods. The fastest way to get a transcript is by using the “Get Transcript Online” tool on the IRS website. This requires you to register and verify your identity through a secure process, which may require a government-issued photo ID and a text-enabled mobile phone. After successfully logging in, you can view, print, or download a PDF of your account transcript immediately.

You can also request a transcript by mail. This can be done either through the “Get Transcript by Mail” tool on the IRS website or by mailing a completed Form 4506-T. Another option is to use the IRS’s automated phone service by calling 800-908-9946 to have a transcript sent to you by mail. After the IRS processes a mailed request, the transcript is sent to the address of record, within five to ten calendar days.