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DictionaryIdentity and taxes

IRS tax transcript: what it means

An IRS tax transcript is a free official summary of the information on your tax returns and tax account. It is not a photocopy of your return.

In Spanish it is

Transcripción de impuestos

Also written as: tax return transcript · IRS transcript · wage and income transcript

The full explanation

There are several types: the tax return transcript shows most line items from your Form 1040 as filed and usually meets the needs of mortgage lenders; the tax account transcript shows changes made after you filed; the wage and income transcript shows what your W-2s and 1099s reported. You can get one through your IRS online account, by mail, by phone or with Form 4506-T.

An example

The lender asks Ramón for proof of income. Ramón signs in to his IRS online account, downloads his tax return transcript for free and sends it over.

You will see it in…

  • Your IRS Individual Online Account
  • A mortgage lender's document list
  • Form 4506-T, to request one by mail

Words that go with it

You will rarely see this word alone. These are the ones that show up with it on the same papers.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

Still confused by a paper?

A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through it. Agencies usually charge little or nothing, many work in Spanish, and they do not sell you anything.

Official sources

We sum up what these official sources say, in plain words. We add no rules they do not state; when a rule changes, the definition and its date change.

  1. 1. IRS · Transcript types for individuals and ways to order them (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026
  2. 2. IRS · Get your tax records and transcripts (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026
  3. 3. IRS · Tipos de transcripciones para personas físicas y cómo pedirlas (external site) · in Spanish · Verified on October 17, 2026