Obtain a Tax Transcript from the IRS

Copies of tax returns are no longer an acceptable form of income documentation.  Please do not submit copies of your 2012 federal tax returns unless specifically asked to do so. Documentation of items found on a tax return will need to be completed either by using the ‘Link to IRS’ feature found on the FAFSA website (preferred method) or requesting a tax return transcript from the IRS. There are three ways to request your tax return transcript: online, by phone, or by mail/fax. Please review the chart found lower on this page for a timeframe of when either of these features should be available to you.

Please make sure you request a Tax Return Transcript. Do not request a Tax Account Transcript or Record of Account because they cannot be used for financial aid verification purposes. To order a Tax Return Transcript--

Online Request:

• Go to www.irs.gov
• Click “Order a Return or Account Transcript” located under the Tools heading
• Click “Order a Transcript” under Step 3
• Enter your SSN, Date of Birth, Street Address, and Zip Code

• Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.

• Click “Continue”
• Select “Return Transcript”
• Enter “2012” for the 2013-2014 FAFSA; “2011” for the 2012-2013 FAFSA.
• Click Continue
• If successfully validated, you can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in your online request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the on-line request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.

Telephone Request:

• Call the IRS Transcript Order Line at 1-800-908-9946 (7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
• Enter and verify Social Security number.
• Enter and verify numbers in street address.

• Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.

• Select option “2” to request a Tax Return Transcript.
• Enter “2012” for the 2013-2014 FAFSA; “2011” for the 2012-2013 FAFSA.
• If successfully validated, you can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in your telephone request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
  

By Mail-Paper Request Form - IRS Form 4560T-EZ

• IRS Form 4506T-EZ should be used instead of IRS Form 4506-T because it is sufficient to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
• Download at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf.
• Complete lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.Note that line 3 should be the most current address as filed with the IRS. It is the address where the IRS Tax Return Transcript will be sent. If the address has recently changed, include the address listed on the latest tax return filed on Line 4. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
• Line 5 provides tax filers with the option to have their IRS Tax Return Transcript mailed directly to a third party by the IRS.UWM prefers you have the transcript mailed to you and that you then submit it to our office. You will need to make sure the student’s name and student ID # are on the transcript.
• On line 6, enter “2012” for the 2013-2014 FAFSA; “2011” for the 2012-2013 FAFSA.
• The tax filers (or spouse if requesting information from a joint tax return) must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required to request a transcript for a joint return.
• Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506T-EZ to the appropriate address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506T-EZ.
• You can expect to receive your transcript within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives and processes your signed request. NOTE: Processing form 4506T-EZ means verifying/validating the information provided on the form. If any information does not match the IRS records, the IRS will notify the tax filer that it was not able to provide the transcript.

Timeline for Availability of IRS Data Retrieval Tool and Tax Return Transcript