Form 4506-T – How Long Does It Take?

IRS Form 4506-T
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides Form 4506-T for those who seek past records of W2, 1099 and tax returns filed in previous years. Since many individuals file taxes online, these tax records may be kept in PDF files online and are not printed out in hard copy form.

Problems may occur when individuals need to present past tax records in transcript form for business and real estate purposes. These issues are resolved by the use of Form 4506-T. When past tax records are needed, file Form 4506-T with the IRS to activate a request for all past tax transcripts needed.

How Long Does It Take?
The question of how long it takes the IRS to respond to a request for Form 4506-T depends largely on the time of year the form is filed. The IRS response time may be slow during the months when income tax filings cause delays.

Normally, the IRS will provide Form 4506-T by mail within three to six weeks of the original request. This time frame should be factored into contractual issues to avoid further delays.

Once the IRS responds to the initial request, however, lenders and others requiring tax transcripts find the average time for response from the IRS to be three to five business days.

Other Issues to Consider Regarding How Long it Takes
In certain cases, the length of time it takes depends on how far in the past tax records are required to submit in transcript form. For example, when prior year’s taxes are filed promptly, the time it takes may be as few as three days. It’s important to make sure the Form 4506-T is completed properly with the signature of the taxpayer. Incomplete forms will be returned, causing unnecessary delays.

Note that Form 4506-T can be faxed. However, the fastest way to process a request from the IRS is to go to the nearest IRS office in person.