Form 4506-T lets you request IRS transcripts of tax records without ordering a full copy of your filed return. The April 2025 form sets out period entries, signature authority and delivery instructions. Check the record type, requested periods and signing authority before submitting the form.
Definition: Form 4506-T is the IRS transcript-request form that taxpayers and authorized representatives use to obtain return transcripts, account transcripts, records of account, wage-and-income transcripts or verification of non-filing letters.
Choose the correct transcript type
Line 6 requires one tax-form number per request—for example, 1040—and offers three checkbox options. Box 6a delivers a return transcript showing line items as originally filed. Box 6b delivers an account transcript reflecting IRS adjustments, payments and notices. Box 6c delivers a record of account that combines both return and account details, so you do not need two separate requests to see filing data alongside payment history.
Line 7 requests verification of non-filing when you must prove you did not file a return for a given year; the form instructions warn that this letter does not establish whether you had a filing obligation. Line 8 requests a wage-and-income transcript showing third-party information returns such as Forms W-2 and 1099; state and local W-2 boxes are absent from that transcript.
Availability differs by record type and request channel, and the form does not extend IRS retention schedules beyond existing windows. For record-specific availability and details, see the tax return transcript guide.
Complete taxpayer and period information
Line 3 asks for your current name and address. This field is distinct from the IRS address-of-record rule for transcript delivery. Line 4 asks for the previous address shown on your last return if it differs from line 3; leaving line 4 blank when addresses match is correct. Line 5 offers an optional customer file number field limited to ten numeric characters; the instructions explicitly prohibit entering a Social Security number in this field.
Line 9 provides four period-end date boxes in mm/dd/yyyy format. You may request multiple annual periods for the same tax-form number, and no rule requires consecutive years. For quarterly filers—such as employment-tax returns—specify each requested quarter separately. Requesting 12/31/2022, 12/31/2023 and 12/31/2024 on one form is acceptable; omit any box you do not need.
| Line | Field | Task |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Current name and address | Enter your current details |
| 4 | Previous address | Complete only if address changed since last return |
| 5 | Customer file number | Optional; numeric only; never an SSN |
| 6 | Tax-form number and transcript type | One tax-form number; select the appropriate product boxes |
| 9 | Period-end dates | Up to four mm/dd/yyyy entries; nonconsecutive allowed |
Sign with proper authority
Complete applicable lines, check the authority-attestation box, and sign and date the signature area. The IRS must receive the signed form within 120 days of your signature date; mailing it within that window does not satisfy the rule. A transcript request for a joint return generally requires only one spouse’s signature under the form instructions.
A representative may sign only when Form 2848 line 5 specifically delegates authority to sign Form 4506-T, and a copy of that executed 2848 must accompany the 4506-T. Form 8821 disclosure authorization does not permit a third party to sign on your behalf. For entities and estates, follow the signer and supporting-evidence rules for the applicable role in the instructions.
The IRS mails requested transcripts only to the taxpayer’s address of record. Entering a new address on line 3 should not be treated as proof that the IRS has updated its record. Lines 3 and 4 do not authorize delivery to a lender, accountant or other third party. If you need records sent elsewhere, coordinate directly with the receiving party after you obtain the transcript.
Submit through the correct channel
Use the current mailing address or fax number chart in the form instructions; use the chart for the appropriate transcript type and the state where you lived, or where the business was located, when the return was filed. If you request multiple products and the charts show different addresses, the instructions direct you to the address based on your most recent return. Online and telephone channels exist for some transcript types but are outside the scope of preparing a paper 4506-T. When an IRS Letter 12C requests specific documentation, check whether a transcript satisfies that request before mailing a separate 4506-T; follow the letter’s own response instructions and timing; a pending transcript request is not a reason to miss them.
For a missing or incorrect Form W-2 or Form 1099-R, follow the separate Form 4852 instructions, including contacting the employer or payer first. The two forms serve distinct purposes: 4506-T retrieves existing IRS data, while 4852 creates a substitute record for your return.
Transcript-request checklist
- [ ] Enter your current name and address on line 3
- [ ] Complete line 4 only if address changed since last return
- [ ] Enter optional numeric customer file number in line 5; never use SSN
- [ ] Select the appropriate product boxes; specify only one tax-form number on line 6
- [ ] Fill up to four period-end dates in line 9; nonconsecutive years allowed
- [ ] Check the authority-attestation box and sign/date the signature area; IRS must receive within 120 days of signature
- [ ] Attach Form 2848 if representative signs; confirm line 5 delegation
- [ ] Mail or fax to correct address from instructions chart
Frequently asked questions
Can I request more than one year on Form 4506-T?
Yes. Line 9 offers four period-end boxes for the same tax-form number, and no rule requires consecutive periods.
Can my accountant sign the form for me?
Only if Form 2848 line 5 specifically delegates authority to sign Form 4506-T and you attach that executed power of attorney. Form 8821 does not permit signing.
Does verification of non-filing mean I had no filing obligation?
No. It confirms only that the IRS has no record of a filed return for the period you specified.
Next steps
Review the April 2025 instructions and state-routing chart before mailing. If you need account or return details for multiple years, use the four line-9 boxes rather than submitting separate forms. Check whether your organization's intake workflow captures the correct transcript type and period to avoid rework.
For tax firms
Discuss your firm's authorization, transcript and CRM workflow in a 26T1 demo.