Form 4506 — Request for Copy of Tax Return

What is Form 4506?

Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, asks the Internal Revenue Service for a photocopy of a return exactly as you filed it — including the Forms W-2, schedules and amended returns that went with it. The copies can be certified for court or administrative proceedings, and you can have them mailed to a third party such as a mortgage company. The current edition is Rev. April 2025.

It isn't free: the fee is $30 for each return requested, paid in full by check or money order sent with the form. The IRS says processing may take up to 75 calendar days. For many purposes a transcript is enough — it's free, faster, and available online through Get Transcript or with Form 4506-T.

VergeHR walks you through each line in plain language, splits each year into the month, day and year boxes, works out the fee on line 8, and prints everything into the IRS's own PDF, saved in Files. You print, sign and mail it yourself — VergeHR never submits anything to the IRS.

Who needs to fill out Form 4506?

• People who need an exact copy of a past return with its attachments — for example the W-2s they filed with it.
• People involved in a court or administrative proceeding who need certified copies.
• Borrowers whose lender asks for a copy of the return itself rather than a transcript.
• Executors, trustees and other fiduciaries who need a decedent's or estate's returns (with their authorization document).
• Businesses, partnerships, estates and trusts that need copies of their own returns.

When to Use Form 4506

• When a transcript isn't enough and you need the full return as filed.
• When copies must be certified — check the box on line 6.
• When a lender or other third party should receive the copy directly (line 5).
• For returns still on file: copies of Forms 1040 are generally available for 7 years from filing before they are destroyed by law.
• Only after every applicable line is complete — the IRS must receive the signed form within 120 days.

What You Need Before You Start

• The name(s) and SSN, ITIN or EIN exactly as shown on the return.
• Your current address, and the address on the last return you filed if it's different.
• The return's form number (1040, 1120, 941, etc.) — one form number per request.
• The end date of each tax year or period you want (for example 12/31/2024).
• A check or money order for $30 per return, payable to "United States Treasury", with your SSN, ITIN or EIN and "Form 4506 request" written on it.
• If a third party should receive the copy: their name, address and phone number.
• For an entity or representative: the authorization document, or Form 2848 delegating this authority on line 5a.

What’s On Form 4506

The 2025 edition has 2 pages. VergeHR asks for it in 6 parts, and it is signed by Taxpayer and Spouse (joint return):

1. Lines 1–2: Taxpayer on the returnTaxpayer
2. Lines 3–4: Your current and previous addressTaxpayer
3. Line 5: Send the copy to a third partyTaxpayer
4. Lines 6–7: Which return and which yearsTaxpayer
5. Line 8: FeeTaxpayer
6. SignatureTaxpayer

How to fill out Form 4506, step by step

1 Lines 1a–2b: Names and numbers

Line 1a is the name shown on the return (for a joint return, the name shown first) and line 1b the first SSN or ITIN — or the EIN for a business return. For a Form 1040 with Schedule C, use your SSN. For a joint return, add your spouse's name and number on lines 2a and 2b.

2 Line 3: Current name and address

Include any apartment, room or suite number. If you use a P.O. box, include it; if you're incarcerated, include your inmate identification number.

3 Line 4: Previous address

Only if the address on the last return you filed differs from line 3. If you haven't told the IRS about the move, the instructions say to file Form 8822 (or 8822-B for a business) with Form 4506.

4 Line 5: Third party

If the copy should be mailed to someone else, such as a mortgage company, give their name, address and phone number. Make sure lines 5 through 7 are complete before you sign.

5 Line 6: Tax return requested

Enter one return form number. The copy includes all attachments as originally submitted. For a different type of return, use another Form 4506. Check the box if the copies must be certified for court or administrative proceedings.

6 Line 7: Years or periods

Enter the ending date of each tax year or period in mm/dd/yyyy format — calendar year, fiscal year or quarter (each quarter separately). Up to eight fit on the form.

7 Line 8: Fee

Line 8a is the $30 cost per return, 8b the number of returns you listed on line 7, and 8c the total. VergeHR fills all three. Full payment must be included or the request is rejected.

8 Line 9 and signature

Check line 9 if a refund of the fee (when the IRS can't find the return) should go to the third party. Check the attestation box — the form isn't processed without it — add a phone number, and sign and date. One spouse's signature is enough for a joint return. Sign as your name appeared on the original return, and also your current name if it changed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Sending the form without the full fee — the request is rejected.
• Asking for more than one type of return on one form.
• Entering "2024" instead of the period's end date, 12/31/2024.
• Leaving the attestation box unchecked.
• Signing before lines 5 through 7 are filled in, or mailing it more than 120 days after signing.
• Ordering a paid copy when a free transcript (Get Transcript or Form 4506-T) would do.
• A representative signing without attaching a Form 2848 that delegates this authority on line 5a.

After You Fill It Out

Print the PDF, check the attestation box if you haven't, sign and date it, and mail it with your check or money order. Page 2 has two charts — one for individual (Form 1040 series) returns and one for all others — giving the RAIVS team address for the state you (or your business) were in when the return was filed. If you ask for several years and the chart gives different addresses, use the one for your most recent return.

The form says processing may take up to 75 calendar days. If the IRS can't find the return, it refunds the fee.

VergeHR keeps a copy of the completed form in the person's folder in Files. When the copy arrives, add it to Files beside that year's records.

Form 4506: frequently asked questions

Official Sources

• Blank form (PDF), published by Internal Revenue Service (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf
• Official instructions and guidance: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506
• Edition shown on this page: Rev. April 2025 (checked 2026-09-28).

VergeHR is not affiliated with or endorsed by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any government. This page explains the form in general terms and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Always read the official instructions, and check that you are using the edition the recipient accepts. Page last reviewed 2026-09-28.

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