Tax forms

Form 4506

Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, is the form a taxpayer files with the IRS to receive a copy of a previously filed return. The IRS charges a fee for each return requested.

Reviewed November 3, 2026

Why it matters

A client who cannot find a prior return may need a copy for a loan, an immigration filing or a new preparer. Form 4506 is the formal request; a transcript is often faster for the income figures.

Example

A client needs a copy of a 2023 return for a mortgage application. The firm files Form 4506 with the client's signature and the fee.

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Sources

Checked November 3, 2026. Public pages and tax rules change; confirm them before relying on them.

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