This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Follow the evidence request for your own immigration case.
Quick summary: IRS transcript types listed below are available at no charge. If you cannot use an Individual Online Account, the IRS offers tax return and tax account transcripts by mail or at 800-908-9946, with 5 to 10 calendar days allowed for delivery; Form 4506-T can request any of the listed transcript types.
For a Guatemalan relative’s case, start with the document requested in the case instructions. This guide helps you retrieve that record. See the I-864 sponsorship guide for the financial-sponsorship task.
Choose the transcript before ordering
The IRS transcript-types page distinguishes these records:
| Record | What the IRS says it contains | Limit to check before using it |
|---|---|---|
| Tax return transcript | Most line items from the original Form 1040-series return as filed, with forms and schedules | Does not show changes made after filing; available for the current and three prior tax years |
| Tax account transcript | Basic information including filing status, taxable income and payment types, plus changes after filing | The IRS says generally the current and nine prior tax years in the online account, or the current and three prior years by mail or phone; Form 4506-T for these and older years; availability may be limited when certain conditions apply |
| Record of account transcript | Tax return and tax account transcripts combined | Available for the current and three prior tax years |
| Wage and income transcript | Information returns the IRS received, such as Forms W-2, 1098, 1099 and 5498 | May not include every information document issued to you |
| Verification of non-filing letter | No processed Form 1040-series return on record as of the request date | Does not establish whether you were required to file |
Use the requested record name and tax year when comparing the download with your case checklist. Do not treat the different transcript names as interchangeable.
Request it online, by mail or by phone
The IRS says an Individual Online Account lets you view, print or download all the transcript types on its list. If you cannot register, or prefer another channel, its mail service and automated telephone service offer tax return and tax account transcripts.
For a different transcript type, the IRS also lists Form 4506-T as a mail-request option. Form 4506-T-EZ offers only the tax return transcript by mail. A transcript is not a photocopy: the IRS directs requests for a copy of the original return to Form 4506 and says to refer to that form for the processing time and fee.
Check the record you receive
The IRS says transcripts partially mask personally identifiable information while leaving financial data visible. Its tax return transcript does not show changes made after you filed the original return; the tax account transcript does show those changes.
If you are requesting proof of non-filing, keep the limitation attached to that document: it reports the IRS processing record, not a legal conclusion that you had no filing duty.
For other tasks, see US tax obligations after returning to Guatemala and the diaspora hub.
Sources
- IRS: Get your tax records and transcripts, read 31 October 2026
- IRS: Transcript types and ways to order, read 31 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the IRS charge for these transcripts?
The IRS says it offers the transcript types listed on its transcript-types page at no charge. A photocopy of a return is a separate request using Form 4506.
What if I cannot use an IRS online account?
The IRS offers tax return and tax account transcripts through Get transcript by mail or its automated service at 800-908-9946. It says to allow 5 to 10 calendar days for delivery.
Does a tax return transcript include later changes?
No. The IRS says it reflects the original return. A tax account transcript shows later changes; a record of account combines both transcript types.
Does a non-filing letter prove I did not have to file?
No. The IRS says the letter establishes that it has no record of a processed Form 1040-series return as of the request date, not whether a return was required.
