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Help for Clients NeedingPast Year TranscriptsFrom the Michigan Department of TreasuryThe Michigan Department of Treasury does not have any option to obtain a “transcript” of a previously filed return, however a taxpayer can request a copy of a return on Treasury’s website. They will need the social security number, and AGI and filing status of that return.? They can also call the main contact phone number?517-636-4486?or submit a request by mail (see below).? In most, if not all instances, the return copies will be mailed to the taxpayer, unless the requesting party is an authorized representative (named on Form 151) who is requesting the copies be mailed to them.?Here is an FAQ on the subject.?How can I obtain copies of previously filed returns?To obtain copies of previously filed returns, you may use the?Check My Income Tax Info?option on this Web site. For privacy and security reasons you will be asked for your social security number, name, tax year, adjusted gross income or total household resources/household income and filing status.Click on the above link and follow these steps:1.??????Select the option "Ask an Account Specific Question".2.??????To verify your identity, log in using the filer's social security number and name, then choose the?option "Ask Treasury a Question".3.??????You will be asked to enter the tax year, your adjusted gross income/total household resources/ household income and filing status. Follow the directions given on the next page to request copies of previously filed returns.You may also submit your request in writing to:Michigan Department of TreasuryCustomer Contact DivisionP O Box 30058Lansing, MI 48909Please include your complete name, address, daytime phone number, social security number and tax year. There is no charge for this service, but please allow at least 30 days for delivery.If you request copies of prior year returns filed four years ago or more, tax information may be sent to you in a microfiche version for that year.From the IRS (Information provided by CFED’s Taxpayer Opportunity Network)HOW TO GET TRANSCRIPTS?There are several ways to request transcripts from the IRS. The estimated time for most requests is 5-10 days.?Order transcripts online to be mailed to you. Go to??and click on “Get a transcript” under the “Tools” heading and then follow the prompts. You need to enter the taxpayer’s name, SSN or ITIN, date of birth and the address listed on the most recently filed tax return.?I tried this method to order my own transcripts, but it didn’t work. I was told that the address that I entered didn’t match IRS records. I can’t explain why the address I entered didn’t work. I did move a couple of years ago, but the address I entered was anexact match?(I am, after all, a tax geek.) to the address on my 2014 and 2015 1040s.??Complete?Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request of Transcript of Tax Return, and mail or fax it to IRS.?The form, which is limited to transcripts related to tax returns in the 1040 series, is pretty straightforward, and the mailing addresses and fax numbers are included in the form instructions. There is also a?Form 4506-T?which can be used to request transcripts related to any kind of federal tax return. The IRS website says that transcripts will arrive in five to ten calendar days.?I completed a Form 4506-T and mailed it to IRS on May 27, 2016. As of today (June 27, 2016) I have not yet received any transcripts or any other reply.??Order a transcript by phone?800-908-9946. The website says that it takes 5-10 business days. I did not try this method.???Go to a?Taxpayer Assistance Center. This is not mentioned in any of the online information or instructions that I’ve seen recently, but it happens. I have encountered many taxpayers at sites during the off-season who have been given income transcripts by IRS walk-in offices to use to file prior year returns. Most offices require the taxpayer to make an appointment.?New!?Do it all online and get transcripts right away.?The taxpayer establishes an?online account with IRS?by creating a username and password and gets immediate access to transcripts. When it works, this method is pretty slick. But the security checks are?formidable. You need the taxpayer’s SSN,?date of birth, and the filing status and mailing address from the most recently filed tax return just to get started. Then you also must have:Access to an email account that IRS will use to send you access codes.The taxpayer’s credit card number or an account number from an auto loan, mortgage, home equity loan?or?home equity line of credit.The taxpayer’s mobile phone that has the taxpayer’s name on the phone account. This is needed to get a second access code and will be required every time the taxpayer’s account is accessed.I tried to register myself and was unsuccessful—although this time it didn’t seem to be an address problem. It appeared that the IRS system didn’t recognize my auto loan as valid. Another mystery, because as far as I can tell there is nothing hinky about that loan. I tell you, I was very careful, but somehow I didn’t pass muster. I also tried registering my son with similar disappointing results. Finally, a friend let me use his information and it worked.?Once you’re in?(whew!), you’re asked why you need a transcript and there is a drop-down box that provides many possible reasons. I wouldn’t fret about how to answer this. From what I could tell, you get access to all kinds of transcripts no matter what the answer.?The upshot is that the system is great when one can get through the gate, but the security is extremely sensitive and often a taxpayer will not be able to get past all of the security checks. So, wonderful when it works, but don’t mislead a taxpayer into thinking it’s a sure thing.?Note: If the taxpayer really needs an exact?copy of a tax return, there is only one way. Complete?Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, and mail it to the IRS. The addresses are included in the Form 4506 instructions. A return copy?costs $50?and receipt takes up to?75 calendar days. Make sure that a taxpayer really needs the actual return and that a transcript won’t do before pursuing this kind of request. VITA may be encountering more of these situations. After?November 9, 2016, VITA will no longer have access to TaxWise Online and will not be able to retrieve and print VITA returns prepared on that system.?WHAT YOU GET IN TRANSCRIPTS?There are basically four kinds of transcripts.?Note: None of these transcripts contains state income tax return information.?Return Transcript. This is basically a line-by-line summary of what was on the tax return. It shows things like total wage income, unemployment income, student loan interest adjustment, income tax, child care credit, shared responsibility payment, education credits, EITC, withholding—pretty much all the figures from pages 1 and 2 of Form 1040. It does not include any adjustments made after the original return was filed, whether made by IRS or by an amended return.This kind of transcript is generally accepted by lending institutions when they ask for a copy of a tax return.When a taxpayer needs to file an amended return and a copy of the original is not available, the Return Transcript can in most cases be used to recreate the original return in sufficient detail to then prepare an amended return.Account Transcript.?This transcript reflects only basic tax return information, such as filing status, AGI and taxable income. There is no line-by-line data. But it does reflect any adjustments made after the original return was processed and any payments the taxpayer made to IRS and refunds issued to the taxpayer.This information could be useful to a taxpayer who has received lots of mail from IRS and it is unclear if IRS has made any changes to the tax or offset any refunds to the account.This could also be used to sort out situations where a taxpayer has a balance due and is unclear what has so far been paid and how much is still due.?Record of Account Transcript.?This transcript is a combination of Return Transcript and Account Transcript.?Wage and Income Transcript.?This lists all the data from information return documents that has been reported to IRS:?W-2s?and?1099s, as well as?1098sand?5498s. Be careful: the most recent year’s information may not be complete until July. For example, tax year 2015 information on a transcript may not be complete until at least July of 2016.This transcript is useful when preparing prior year returns when the taxpayer does not have income documents.This transcript might also be helpful when a taxpayer has received an IRS notice about underreporting income. Looking at this transcript, one can tell what IRS is expecting and might reveal why IRS thinks some income was not reported.?SUMMARY?There are many different ways to get transcripts. All methods lead to the same transcripts and once ordered, the main difference is how long the taxpayer has to wait. My advice to someone in a hurry is to try setting up an online account first and if that doesn’t work, try one of the other methods to have the transcript mailed.?The kind of transcript to request basically falls into two situations:If the taxpayer has already filed, I suggest requesting the Record of Account Transcript, which shows both details from the return and up-to-date account information.For a taxpayer who has not yet filed, order the Wage and Account Transcript to get information that is sufficient to file most returns.Good luck in dealing with the IRS security system and, once you get a transcript, good luck in using it to assist your taxpayer. ................
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