When you file bankruptcy, your bankruptcy attorney will request to have a copy of the last 4 years of tax returns.  Why?  It is among the documents required by the federal bankruptcy courts.  Your tax returns reveal a good bit of information about transactions and assets that would be pertinent to the preparation of a bankruptcy petition.  Plus, before you file bankruptcy, you are usually required to have all taxes filed.  Many of us file our taxes electronically and don’t think to print them out.  After so much time has gone by you may not have easy access to your returns anymore.  Or if you go through a tax service, they may charge certain fees to provide duplicates.  So if you fall into one of these categories or perhaps your records aren’t exactly impeccable, all is not lost.  You may request transcripts from the IRS for taxes as far back as 10 years ago.  These transcripts are free, but they are also only recaps and not full returns. The transcripts are okay for our purposes. However, the Trustee will not accept a recap transcript for the most recently filed year.  There is a fee to get a copy of the full return.

There are 4 ways to obtain transcripts from the IRS: mail, fax, call, or automated.

Fax and Mail:  You may fill out a simple form: 4506-T Request for Transcript of Tax Return or 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return.  For 1040 series, W-2s, and 1099 forms, if you decide to manually fill out the form, you may then fax it to 859-669-3592 or mail it out to: RAIVS Team, P.O. Box 145500, Stop 2800 F, Cincinnati, OH 45250.  All other requests for transcripts may be faxed to 816-292-6102 or mailed to: RAIVS Team. Stop 6705 P-6, Kansas City, MO 64999.

If calling is more up your alley, you may contact someone at: 1-800-908-9946.

The easiest, most efficient way is using the automated self-help tools at IRS.gov.  Click on “Order a Return or Account Transcript.” Be prepared to answer some personal information questions.  Then just follow the directions!