Requesting an IRS Tax Transcript

If you did not use the IRS Data Retrieval option when you filed your FAFSA (or were not able to), and you've been selected for Verification, you will need to order an IRS Tax Return Transcript for the 2011 tax year, using one of the three methods below. The federal regulations no longer allow us to accept a copy of your tax return as supporting documentation of the information you supplied on your FAFSA. For a dependent student by FAFSA rules, we will need IRS Tax Return Transcripts for both the student and parent(s).

Please note that the IRS will allow taxpayers to order just one tax transcript for each year. When you receive your transcript, make copies to submit to us, and retain the original for your records.

Some reasons you may not have been able to use IRS Data Retrieval include:

Timing (12-13 FAFSA completed too close to date of income tax filing)
Your 2011 tax filing information changed
Married student and spouse filed separate tax returns for 2011
Parents of dependent student filed separate tax returns for 2011
Student or parents of dependent student had a change in marital status after 12/31/11.
Student or parents of dependent student filed an amended tax return for 2011.

After you receive your IRS Tax Return Transcript(s), please forward a copy to the Financial Aid Office via mail or by fax (276-326-4356) as quickly as possible to avoid delay in processing your aid. As an option, you may wish to request your transcript(s) using the paper form, where you can specify they be sent directly to us.

If you were unable to use IRS Data Retrieval simply due to timing, you may go in and make a correction to the FAFSA after sufficient time has passed (2 weeks for electronic filing, 6 weeks for paper filing). Likely, no IRS Tax Transcripts will be needed.

If you requested a filing extension or have filed an amended tax return for 2011, you will need to order both an IRS Tax Return Transcript as well as an IRS Tax Account Transcript.

How to Order IRS Tax Transcripts

Tax filers can request a transcript, free of charge, of their 2011 tax return from the IRS in one of three ways.

Online Request

Available on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov
In the Online Services section of the homepage click “Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript”
Click “Order a Transcript”
Enter the tax filer’s Social Security Number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal 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”
In the Type of Transcript field, select “Return Transcript” and in the Tax Year field, select “2011”.
If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the on-line request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.
IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Telephone Request

Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946
Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their social security number and the numbers in their street address. Generally this will be numbers of the street 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 an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter “2011”.
If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Paper Request Form – IRS Form 4506T-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 or from our financial aid forms page.
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. For your convenience and speedier processing, we encourage you to take advantage of this option. On line 5, please ask that your tax transcripts be sent to: Financial Aid Office - Bluefield College - 3000 College Drive - Bluefield, Virginia 24605.
On line 6, enter “2011” to receive IRS tax information for the 2011 tax year that is required 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.
Tax filers can expect to receive their transcript within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives and processes their 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.