Tax Transcripts - which one is required?

[txres]

Per the USCIS site: "On the day of your interview, bring certified tax returns for the last 5 years (3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen). Certified tax transcripts may be ordered by using Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 4506-T available."

Question: On Form 4506-T there are 3 options, which one should be requested?:

a Return Transcript, which includes most of the line items of a tax return as filed with the IRS. A tax return transcript does not reflect
changes made to the account after the return is processed. Transcripts are only available for the following returns: Form 1040 series,
Form 1065, Form 1120, Form 1120A, Form 1120H, Form 1120L, and Form 1120S. Return transcripts are available for the current year
and returns processed during the prior 3 processing years. Most requests will be processed within 10 business days . . . . . .

b Account Transcript, which contains information on the financial status of the account, such as payments made on the account, penalty
assessments, and adjustments made by you or the IRS after the return was filed. Return information is limited to items such as tax liability
and estimated tax payments. Account transcripts are available for most returns. Most requests will be processed within 30 calendar days .

c Record of Account, which provides the most detailed information as it is a combination of the Return Transcript and the Account
Transcript. Available for current year and 3 prior tax years. Most requests will be processed within 30 calendar days . . . . . . .
7 Verification of Nonfiling, which is proof from the IRS that you did not file a return for the year. Current year requests are only available
after June 15th. There are no availability restrictions on prior year requests. Most requests will be processed within 10 business days .

 

[GreenCardNotYet]

b

b

 

[txres]

Still confused!

b

I am getting different answers. Above response is "b" Account Transcript while the response below from osheth is "a" Return Transcript.

Select Return Transcript. If you try to order it through phone line, it would give you option to go few years farther compared to what it show online.

I think, IRS transcript option has become more popular because 1) It is issued by IRS, 2) total no of pages are not more than 3-4 so overall volume is smaller. Also for most part, interviewer don't ask for it unless it is marriage based naturalization.

Can some one respond to this with confidence? Would appreciate a CLEAR answer to this.

Also did anyone use Form 4506-T? You can order up to 4 years or more with that form vs. irs web site which I think goes back 2008 only. Which only gives you 3 years esp if you have not files 2011 taxes yet. (If you are requesting more than four years or periods, you must attach another Form 4506-T - per the form).

 

[baikal3]

I am getting different answers. Above response is "b" Account Transcript while the response below from osheth is "a" Return Transcript.




Can some one respond to this with confidence? Would appreciate a CLEAR answer to this.

Also did anyone use Form 4506-T? You can order up to 4 years or more with that form vs. irs web site which I think goes back 2008 only. Which only gives you 3 years esp if you have not files 2011 taxes yet. (If you are requesting more than four years or periods, you must attach another Form 4506-T - per the form).

First, are you sure that you even need to provide tax return transcripts?
Generally, they are only required in the following situations:
1) if your N-400 application is based on 3 years of marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse
or
2) if you had extended foreign trips that may call into question your continuous residency requirement.

If neither 1) nor 2) applies to you, you don't need to bother with tax transcripts.

If it turns out that 1) or 2) applies to you, generally (a), tax return transcripts for the relevant years should be sufficient.
If you want to be super-cautious, you can also order (b), tax account transcripts for the relevant years.
A tax account transcript will show the record of payments for a given tax year and it will show the amount owed if any (hopefully zero). Thus a tax account transcript can serve as proof that you don't owe any taxes to IRS for a given year. [A tax return transcript only serves as proof that you filed a tax return for that year].

Don't bother with form 4506-T, as it takes too long.
Instead, do a google search and find the nearest local IRS office - most towns have them. Then go there in person. They can give you both tax return transcripts and tax account transcripts right there on the spot, for free, for at least the last 5-6 years.

 

[talas]

I went to the local IRS office and got the Return Transcripts for the last 3 years. Wasn't asked for them during the interview though.