How to Access Your Old Tax Returns
How long you should keep old tax returns is a matter of debate , but one universal inconvenience remains: there may come a time when you need documentation for a tax year that you ruined, lost, or otherwise cannot obtain.
You have several options for obtaining information from your old declarations.
If you just need a summary of a previous filing, tax return transcripts are provided free of charge and can be ordered for the current year and for the past three years. You can request a transcript online and receive it immediately, or order it by phone or mail for a physical copy in about two weeks. The IRS notes that the transcript “generally meets the needs of lending institutions offering mortgage and student loans.”
If you need an actual duplicate of your old report, or need a return beyond the deadline for the transcript, it will cost you $ 50 to get it from the IRS. The government keeps them for the current year and the previous six years and forces you to mail a form to submit your request. It can take up to two and a half months to receive copies by mail.
One exception to this rule: If you are in a federal disaster area , there are no fees and the IRS will expedite your request.
You may have to do a little digging to find the collection method and service fee you used to file your tax return. Here are a few to get you started:
- If you applied to H&R Block online or in a store, the company offers access to refunds from the past three years through your MyBlock account.
- Jackson Hewitt customers can access their old returns online if they have been electronically signed. Otherwise, you can show ID at any Jackson Hewitt office to receive a copy.
- Credit Karma offers free access to previous refunds. Tax Slayer also allows you to log in to retrieve old tax returns.
- If you have used TaxAct , you can log into your account to see previous returns. You will not be able to get copies from TaxAct if you were using the Desktop or Professional version.
- And finally, if you’ve used the problematic TurboTax subsidiary and want copies of what you’ve filed, you’ll have to pay for the current year’s version (which starts at $ 59.99) or upgrade to “PLUS” if you’re using the free version. … TurboTax only keeps your current annual income available until October 31st, before it puts it on pay for the next seven years.