I need to
See what was on the return as originally filed
Choose
Tax return transcriptThis shows most line items from the original return. It does not show changes made after filing.
Record chooser
Which IRS Tax Transcript Do You Need?
Choose by what you need to see. The transcript names sound similar, but each one answers a different records question.
Match your task to the transcript
I need to
Check payments, adjustments, balances, or account activity
Choose
Tax account transcriptThis shows account transactions after filing, including assessments, payments, and adjustments.
I need to
Get the filed return and later account activity together
Choose
Record of account transcriptThis combines the tax return transcript and tax account transcript into one record.
I need to
Reconstruct income for a return you have not filed
Choose
Wage and income transcriptThis shows information returns the IRS received from employers and payers, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, and 5498.
I need to
Show that the IRS has no processed return for a year
Choose
Verification of non-filing letterThis states that the IRS has no record of a processed return for the requested year. It does not say whether you were required to file.
How to get the transcript
Online account
The IRS says an Individual Online Account can view, print, or download all transcript types.
Mail or automated phone
These routes are limited to tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts.
Two limits worth knowing
- A transcript is not a photocopy of a filed return.
- A verification of non-filing letter does not determine whether a return was legally required.
Related situation
Unfiled tax returnsFrequently asked questions
Which IRS transcript shows my balance and payments?
A tax account transcript shows account activity such as assessments, payments, and adjustments. A tax return transcript instead shows most line items from the return as originally filed.
Which IRS transcript helps with unfiled tax returns?
A wage and income transcript shows information returns the IRS received from employers and payers, including Forms W-2, 1098, 1099, and 5498. It does not replace records the IRS did not receive.
How can I request an IRS transcript?
The IRS says an Individual Online Account can provide all transcript types. Its mail and automated phone routes provide tax return and tax account transcripts. Form 4506-T can request any transcript type.
Sources
- Transcript types and ways to order them — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-27
- Get your tax records and transcripts — Internal Revenue Service, retrieved 2026-08-27
Educational record chooser, not tax advice. The IRS determines which records are available for a given year.