About tax transcripts

A transcript displays your tax information specific to the type of tax transcript you request.

The IRS is responsible for protecting and securing taxpayer information. Because of data thefts outside the tax system, cybercriminals often attempt to impersonate taxpayers and tax professionals. Thieves attempt to gain access to transcript data which can help them file fraudulent tax returns or steal additional data of other individuals and businesses listed on transcripts.

The IRS better protects your information from identity theft by partially masking the personally identifiable information of everyone listed on transcripts. All financial entries remain fully visible to assist with tax preparation, tax representation and income verification. Anyone with a need to know will be able to identify the taxpayer associated with the transcript based on the data that still displays.

Here is what's visible on transcripts:

• Last four digits of any SSN: XXX-XX-1234
• Last four digits of any EIN: XX-XXX4321
• Last four digits of any account or telephone number
• First four characters of the first and last name for any individual (first three characters if the name has only four letters)
• First four characters of any name on the business name line (first three characters if the name has only four letters)
• First six characters of the street address, including spaces
• All money amounts, including wage and income, balance due, interest and penalties

The IRS will provide unmasked Wage and Income transcripts when needed for preparing and filing tax returns. Unmasked Wage and Income transcripts fully display personally identifiable information such as the taxpayer's name, address, and Social Security number along with the employer's name, address, and Employer Identification number.

Customer file number

Because the full Taxpayer Identification number is no longer visible on most transcripts, the IRS created an optional field where a Customer File Number can be entered and will display on the transcript. This number can be up to 10 digits but cannot be a taxpayer identification number, such as a Social Security number. The number is usually provided by third parties to assist with matching a transcript to a taxpayer.

The various self-service methods to obtain transcripts (Individual Online Account, Business tax account, Get transcript by mail, the automated phone transcript service at 800-908-9946, Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return) all include a field where a Customer File Number can be entered to display on the transcript. Tax professionals, with proper authorization to access the Transcript Delivery System, can also enter a Customer File Number to display on the transcript.

Here's how it would work for a taxpayer seeking to verify income for a lender: The lender will assign a number, for example, a loan number, and it will be entered on Form 4506-T. When the form is processed by the IRS, that number will display on the transcript. The lender will use that number to match the transcript to the taxpayer's loan number.

Faxing and third-party mailings

For security reasons, the IRS does not fax transcripts.

The IRS also does not mail transcripts to third parties when Form 4506-T is submitted.

More information

• Transcript types and ways to order them – for Individual taxpayers
• Business tax account – for business taxpayers
• e-Services – for tax professionals to access the Transcript Delivery System and obtain transcripts
• Forms, Instructions and Publications – for viewing and downloading forms such as the 4506-T