Where Can I Find Last Year’s Tax Return?

You may need a copy of a past tax return for various reasons, such as applying for loans, financial planning, or income verification. Fortunately, several methods are available to retrieve your tax returns, from checking personal records to requesting information directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Checking Your Personal Records

The most immediate way to find your last year’s tax return is by checking your own records. Many individuals keep physical copies of their tax documents in a designated home office, a secure file cabinet, or a safe deposit box. Beyond physical storage, digital copies are increasingly common. You might have saved your tax return on a computer hard drive, an external storage device, or in cloud storage services. Checking your personal email accounts is also a good idea, as tax preparation software or a professional preparer might have sent you an electronic copy. If you used tax preparation software, logging into your account with that provider often allows you to access and download past returns directly.

Obtaining Transcripts from the IRS

If your personal records do not contain the tax return you need, the IRS offers free tax transcripts, which summarize your tax return information. These transcripts often suffice for purposes like loan applications or financial aid. The IRS provides several types of transcripts, including the Tax Return Transcript, which shows most line items from your original Form 1040-series tax return, and the Wage and Income Transcript, which displays data from Forms W-2 and 1099.

The fastest way to obtain a transcript is through the IRS Get Transcript Online tool. This method requires identity verification, which may involve providing personal account numbers from financial products like credit cards or mortgages, along with a mobile phone and email account for authentication. Once verified, you can view, print, or download your transcript immediately.

If online access is not feasible, you can request a transcript by mail using Form 4506-T or Form 4506T-EZ. These forms allow you to specify the type of transcript and tax year needed, and the IRS typically processes mail requests within 5 to 10 days. Alternatively, you can call the IRS automated phone transcript service at 800-908-9946 to request a transcript be mailed to your address, with delivery usually taking 5 to 10 days.

Requesting Copies from the IRS

While transcripts summarize your tax information, a full copy of your original tax return, including all schedules and attachments, may be necessary for specific legal proceedings or complex financial transactions. Unlike free transcripts, obtaining a full copy from the IRS involves a fee. To request a complete copy, submit Form 4506. This form requires you to specify the tax year(s) needed. There is a $43 fee for each return requested. Mail the completed Form 4506 to the appropriate IRS address, which is listed in the form’s instructions. Processing times for full copies are significantly longer than for transcripts, typically taking up to 75 days to receive.

Other Avenues for Retrieval

Beyond direct IRS requests, other sources might hold copies of your past tax returns. If you used a professional tax preparer or accountant, they typically retain copies of their clients’ returns. Contacting your former tax professional is a simple way to obtain a duplicate. If you used commercial tax preparation software, such as TurboTax or H&R Block, you can often access your past returns by logging into your account on their platform. Many software providers store digital copies of filed returns, allowing you to download them at your convenience.

Federal and state tax returns are separate documents. The IRS only handles federal tax information. If you need a copy of your state tax return, you will need to contact your specific state’s tax authority or department of revenue. Most state tax agencies have their own procedures and forms for requesting copies of past returns, which can usually be found on their official websites.