Request a Copy of Your Return
Overview
If you need to obtain a copy of your return, copies of tax returns from some prior years are available through your TaxAct Online Account under My Returns and Details. You can access pdfs and print copies of returns that are saved in TaxAct Online as far back as 2019. See Printing Your Return and Individual Forms for print instructions.
To locate a previous year’s tax return, see Access Current or Prior Year Return.
If you cannot find your return in the program, or you also need a transcript, you must contact your state tax agency or the IRS.
State Tax Return
You will need to contact your state tax agency to request a copy.
Federal Tax Return
You must request a federal copy by contacting the IRS at1(800) 829-1040. See IRS How to get a transcript or copy of your tax return for more information.
Transcript vs. Copy
- A copy of your return is your return plus all attachments.
- A transcript is a printout of your tax return form only.
- Tax return transcript– will show most line items contained on the return as it was originally filed.
- Tax account transcript– shows changes that you or the IRS made after the original return was filed.
Most of the time you can meet a need for tax return information with a transcript. For example, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or lending agencies for student loans and mortgages may accept a transcript of a return rather than a copy of a return.
Both transcripts are generally available for the current and past three years for free. You should receive the transcript within 10 to 30 business days from the time the IRS gets your request.
Special Circumstances
If you’ve been impacted by a federally declared disaster, the IRS will waive the usual fees and expedite requests for copies of tax returns so you can apply for benefits or file amended returns claiming disaster-related losses (for help, call the IRS Disaster Assistance Hotline at 1-866-562-5227).
Related Links
- Create and File Prior Year Tax Returns
- Access Current or Prior Year Return
- Printing Your Return and Individual Forms – Individual
- Topic No. 156 Copy or Transcript of Your Tax Return – How to Get One
- Topic No. 107 Tax Relief in Disaster Situations
Note that any link in the information above is updated each year automatically and will take you to the most recent version of the webpage or document at the time it is accessed.