transcript or photo copy of tax return the difference?

Question

my income tax return was off like 7 cents,no joke..anyway..the state i live in wanted copy of my income tax return which is fine..so i sent them one
realizing i no longer have a personal copy..so i call the irs and request a transcript which is free..instead of a 39 dollar photo copy...anyway where is the difference between most transcripts and a photo copy?

Answer 1

A transcript just has the numbers that are pertinent to the return and your identification information. A copy is a copy if you sent them a paper copy otherwise it is the electronic recap of your return as received by the IRS.

Answer 2

Transcript will have the line items and the dollar amount but not a breakdown so if you want to know how much state tax you paid It isn't provided. That $39 buck is a rip off but if you don't have a copy.... You could always wait until you have to have it as the IRS will alway keep the record. Most years I have kept a copy but after three years I end up destroying it without ever looking at it.

Answer 3

The biggest difference is in the format, plus you don't get a copy of the attachments like the W-2 with the transcript, or the breakdown of amounts from each job if you had more than one. But the numbers from the return will be there, so it should meet your needs.

Answer 4

A transcript has all the information from your return and is accepted for nearly any purpose your return would be needed. The only real difference if the format.