IRS letter help
Getting and reading your IRS transcript
You want to see exactly what the IRS has on file for one tax year.
Every transcript is free, and a mailed one arrives in 5 to 10 calendar days.
Start with your IRS online account, and treat anyone who charges for a transcript as a scam.
Which numbers matter?
5 to 10 calendar days
A mailed transcript takes that long to reach the address on your latest return.
Order online instead if you need it sooner, or order by mail early.
85 documents
The wage and income transcript stops at about 85 income forms.
Use Form 4506-T if you have more income forms than that.
Code 570
The IRS is holding any refund for that year while it checks for more tax.
Watch for a 571 on a later transcript, since that means the hold came off.
What changed recently?
Since April 30, 2025, you can get transcripts in Spanish through your IRS online account. The same IRS answer also says transcripts come only in English.
Source: Transcript services for individuals FAQs.
Which transcript do I need?
| Transcript | What it shows | Years you can get |
|---|---|---|
| Tax return | Most lines from your return as filed | Current and three prior |
| Tax account | Filing status, payments, and changes made after you filed | Current and nine prior online |
| Record of account | The two above in one | Current and three prior |
| Wage and income | W-2, 1099, 1098 and 5498 forms the IRS received | Current and nine prior |
All of them are free. A transcript is not a photocopy of your return. The IRS transcript types page has the details.
How do I get it online?
Sign in to your IRS online account and you can view, print or download every type. Online is the fastest way. If you cannot register, order by mail on the IRS Get transcript page or call 800-908-9946. Mail goes to the address on your latest return.
What is on a wage and income transcript?
This one lists the income forms payers sent the IRS. It is the transcript to pull when a notice says you left income off your return. It only shows forms that were filed with the IRS, and it stops at about 85 documents. Past that, you have to use Form 4506-T.
If it says "No record of return filed" for this year, the forms have not been loaded yet. Check back later.
What do the transcript codes mean?
Your account transcript lists three-digit transaction codes. The four people ask about most, from the IRS code manual (Document 6209):
| Code | Plain words |
|---|---|
| 150 | Your return was filed and the tax on it was recorded |
| 570 | More tax may be coming, so any refund is on hold |
| 971 | A catch-all action; the line beside it says what, such as a notice sent |
| 846 | Your refund was issued |
A 570 followed later by a 571 means the hold came off.
How do I use it to check a notice?
Desmond got a CP2000 about a 1099 he did not recognize. He pulled his wage and income transcript for that year, found the payer's name, and called them for a corrected form. Compare the notice line by line with the transcript before you agree or disagree.
What should you read next?
Questions people ask
How do I get my IRS transcript online?
Sign in to your IRS online account. You can view, print or download every transcript type there.
How long does an IRS transcript take by mail?
The IRS says 5 to 10 calendar days, sent to the address on your latest return.
What does code 846 mean on my transcript?
Refund issued. The date beside it is when the IRS sent it.
What does code 570 mean?
The IRS put a hold on the account because more tax may be due. A 571 later means the hold came off.
Is an IRS transcript free?
Yes. Every transcript type is free.
Sources
- Get your tax records and transcripts. Published by irs.gov.
- Transcript types for individuals and ways to order them. Published by irs.gov.
- Document 6209, Section 8A, Master File Codes. Published by irs.gov.
- Transcript services for individuals FAQs. Published by irs.gov.
Last checked October 2026
What to do now
- Sign in to your IRS online account and open Tax Records.
- Pick the transcript type and tax year, then download or print it.
- If you cannot register, call 800-908-9946 to order it by mail.
- Refuse anyone who charges for a transcript, because every type is free.
Still not sure the letter is real? Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and use that number, not one printed on the letter you doubt.