---
title: IRS Form 4506 — request an exact copy of a filed tax return
description: Prepare an unsigned Form 4506 print kit for exact return copies, then add the handwritten signature and $30-per-return IRS payment yourself.
seotitle: IRS Form 4506 — request an exact copy of a filed tax return
seo-description: Prepare an unsigned Form 4506 print kit for exact return copies, then add the handwritten signature and $30-per-return IRS payment yourself.
group: resources
indexable: true
llms: false
schema: webpage
og-image: /forms/4506/thumbnail
og-image-alt: IRS Form 4506 — Request for Copy of Tax Return generated form preview
published: 2026-07-12
updated: 2026-07-12
tags:
  - irs
  - tax
  - tax records
  - tax return copies
path: /forms/4506
---
# IRS Form 4506 — request an exact copy of a filed tax return

Prepare an unsigned Form 4506 print kit for exact return copies, then add the handwritten signature and $30-per-return IRS payment yourself.

## How it works
1. **Prepare the form** - Complete the guided customer fields online.
2. **Review the kit** - Preview the unsigned form and customer-assembly instructions.
3. **Receive it** - We print and mail the single-sided preparation kit only to you.
4. **Finish and submit** - Remove the PostalForm cover, add signatures and physical items, verify the current rules, and complete final submission yourself.


## Form summary
Form 4506 requests an exact photocopy of a filed return and its attachments. This preparation-only workflow fills the current form and sends the unsigned kit to the customer, not the IRS. After delivery, the customer reviews it, hand-signs and dates it, adds the required check or money order, verifies the current destination, and personally submits the final packet.

## What you need
- Return type (one per Form 4506) and the end date of each year requested — up to eight
- Name and SSN/ITIN (or EIN) exactly as shown on the return
- Current mailing address, and previous address if you recently moved
- A check or money order for $30 per return, payable to "United States Treasury", enclosed with the form
- Signature, printed name, date, and the checked attestation box
- Hand-sign the printed form after the preparation kit is delivered
- Filing fee ($30 per return, by check or money order payable to "United States Treasury", enclosed with the form)
- Authorization document (businesses, estates, and trusts only) (optional) — For entities other than individuals, attach the document that authorizes you to act — for example, a letter from a principal officer or letters testamentary. Use copies, not originals.
- Form 2848 (only if a representative signs for the taxpayer) (optional) — A representative may sign Form 4506 only if the taxpayer delegated that authority on Form 2848, line 5a — attach the Form 2848 showing the delegation.

## Data collected
- Return type and up to eight year/period end dates
- Taxpayer name and SSN/ITIN (or EIN); spouse details for joint returns
- Current mailing address and previous address if recently moved
- Optional third-party recipient for the copies
- Fee calculation: $30 per return requested
- Printed name and title for entity requests; handwritten signature and date are added after delivery

## Where it gets mailed
PostalForm mails the unsigned preparation kit only to the customer or authorized signer at the verified delivery address entered during checkout.

Final submission: PostalForm sends this unsigned kit only to you. It is not an IRS submission. Hand-sign and date it, add the full IRS payment and any authority documents, verify the current RAIVS address, and personally mail the final packet.

## Packet order
- Customer assembly instruction cover (remove and keep before final submission)
- Prepared unsigned form (signature and reserved third-party fields blank)
- Printed reference attachments

## Common mistakes
- Paying for a copy when a free transcript would do — lenders, FAFSA, and immigration almost always accept transcripts.
- Mailing the form without the payment enclosed — the IRS rejects the request.
- Forgetting to write your SSN/ITIN/EIN and "Form 4506 request" on the check or money order.
- Requesting more than one return TYPE on a single Form 4506 (one type per form; up to eight periods of that type).
- Leaving the attestation checkbox unchecked — the IRS returns the form unprocessed.
- Expecting fast turnaround — copy requests can take up to 75 calendar days, versus about 10 business days for transcripts.
- Requesting a 1040 copy older than about 7 years — they are generally destroyed by law after that.

## Agent summary
Customer-assembly workflow for Form 4506. Collects return type and periods, taxpayer identity, addresses, optional third-party delivery, fee math, printed names, and authority details. PostalForm leaves signature dates and signatures blank and sends the kit only to the customer; the customer adds the IRS payment and performs final submission.

## For assistants
This is a human-only customer-assembly workflow and is not available for automated or machine ordering.

- PostalForm delivers an unsigned preparation kit only to the customer or authorized signer.
- The customer must remove and keep the PostalForm cover, complete every physical signature, enclosure, certification, and final-submission step, and verify the current deadline and destination.

## LLM field schema
```json
[
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    "label": "What kind of return do you need copies of?",
    "type": "select",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
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  },
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  },
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  },
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    "id": "period_3_year",
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  {
    "id": "period_4_month",
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    "id": "period_5_month",
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    "id": "period_6_month",
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    "id": "period_7_month",
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  },
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    "id": "taxpayer_name",
    "label": "Name shown on the tax return",
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  {
    "id": "taxpayer_tin",
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  },
  {
    "id": "joint_return",
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    "id": "spouse_name",
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    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "spouse_ssn",
    "label": "Spouse's Social Security number (or ITIN)",
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    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "current_address",
    "label": "Your current mailing address",
    "type": "compound",
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        "label": "Street address",
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      },
      {
        "id": "unit",
        "label": "Apt/Suite",
        "required": false,
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      },
      {
        "id": "city",
        "label": "City",
        "metaClass": "city",
        "required": true,
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      },
      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
        "metaClass": "state",
        "required": true,
        "uiWidth": "quarter"
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP code",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": true,
        "uiWidth": "quarter"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "moved_since_last_return",
    "label": "I've moved since I filed that return",
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  },
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        "id": "city",
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        "metaClass": "city",
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        "uiWidth": "quarter"
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      {
        "id": "state",
        "label": "State",
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        "uiWidth": "quarter"
      },
      {
        "id": "zip",
        "label": "ZIP code",
        "metaClass": "zip",
        "required": false,
        "uiWidth": "quarter"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "id": "send_to_third_party",
    "label": "Mail the copies to someone else (mortgage company, attorney, etc.)",
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  {
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  },
  {
    "id": "fee_per_return",
    "label": "IRS fee per return (line 8a)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "currency",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-4-fee",
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  },
  {
    "id": "number_of_returns",
    "label": "Number of returns requested (line 8b)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "number",
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    "group_id": "step-4-fee",
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  },
  {
    "id": "total_cost",
    "label": "Total cost (line 8c)",
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    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "currency",
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    "group_id": "step-4-fee",
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  },
  {
    "id": "refund_to_third_party",
    "label": "If the IRS can't find a return, send the fee refund to the third party instead of me",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "plain_checkbox",
    "ui_width": null,
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  },
  {
    "id": "attestation",
    "label": "I have read the attestation clause and have the authority to sign Form 4506",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": true,
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  },
  {
    "id": "phone_number",
    "label": "Daytime phone (optional)",
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    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "phone",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "taxpayer_signature",
    "label": "Your signature",
    "type": "signature",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "signature_date",
    "label": "Date signed",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "taxpayer_signature",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "print_name",
    "label": "Print your name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": true,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": null,
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "signer_title",
    "label": "Your title (business, estate, or trust requests)",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "request_scope",
      "operator": "equals",
      "value": "A business, estate, or trust return (1120, 1065, 941, etc.)"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "spouse_will_sign",
    "label": "Add my spouse's signature too (optional)",
    "type": "checkbox",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "plain_checkbox",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "joint_return",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "spouse_signature",
    "label": "Spouse's signature",
    "type": "signature",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": null,
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "spouse_will_sign",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "spouse_signature_date",
    "label": "Spouse's signature date",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "date",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "spouse_signature",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  },
  {
    "id": "spouse_print_name",
    "label": "Print spouse's name",
    "type": "text",
    "required": false,
    "meta_class": "name",
    "ui_width": null,
    "group_id": "step-5-signature",
    "choice_group": null,
    "choice_label": null,
    "visibility": {
      "fieldId": "spouse_will_sign",
      "operator": "truthy"
    },
    "compound_subfields": null
  }
]
```

## Sources
- [IRS — Where to file Form 4506](https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-addresses-for-filing-form-4506)
- [IRS — Get your tax records and transcripts](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript)
- [Official instructions](https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506)
- [Official PDF](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf)

## Last verified
2026-07-12


## FAQs
- **Do I need a copy, or is a free transcript enough?** Usually a transcript is enough — mortgage lenders, FAFSA, and USCIS almost always accept transcripts, which are free and much faster. Order a copy only when someone insists on the actual filed return with attachments, or you need certified copies for court.
- **How much does Form 4506 cost?** $30 per return requested (Form 4506 Rev. 4-2025). Payment must be included with the mailed form — a check or money order payable to "United States Treasury" with your SSN/ITIN/EIN and "Form 4506 request" written on it. The IRS refunds the fee for returns it cannot find.
- **How long does it take?** The IRS says up to 75 calendar days from receipt.
- **How far back can I request?** Form 1040-series copies are generally available for 7 years from filing before they are destroyed by law; some other returns are kept longer.
- **Can the copies go straight to my mortgage company or attorney?** Yes — unlike transcripts, Form 4506 line 5 lets you designate a third party to receive the copies. The IRS cautions that it has no control over the copies once delivered.
- **Can I get certified copies for court?** Yes — Form 4506 has a checkbox to certify the copies for court or administrative proceedings, at the same $30 fee.


## Related
- [IRS Form 4506-T — Request for Transcript of Tax Return](/forms/4506-t)
- [IRS Form 4506T-EZ — Short Form 1040 Transcript Request](/forms/4506-t-ez)
- [IRS Form 4868 — Automatic Tax-Filing Extension](/forms/4868)
- [IRS Form 8821 — Tax Information Authorization](/forms/8821)
- [IRS Form 8822](/forms/8822)
- [IRS Form 8822-B Business Change of Address Packet](/forms/8822-b)