Tax returns are asked for apostilled in residence and digital nomad visa applications, foreign mortgage and bank applications, and divorce or support cases with an international side. The consulate wants to see what you earned, from a source it can trust.
The IRS documents most people hold are not apostillable as they stand. A tax transcript downloaded from your IRS account, a copy of the return you filed, or an EIN confirmation letter has no official signature or seal for the U.S. Department of State to authenticate.
The federal route is a certified copy of your return from the IRS, requested on Form 4506 with the certification box ticked. It carries an IRS official’s signature and seal, and takes a federal apostille. It is also slow: the IRS commonly takes two months or more. The notarized copy route has us prepare a notarized copy of your transcript or return for a state apostille, usually within days, if the destination accepts it.
Looking for proof of U.S. tax residency for a treaty claim? That is Form 6166, a different letter. See IRS Form 6166 apostille.
At a glance
Which IRS documents can be apostilled
| Document | Federal apostille? | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of return (Form 4506) | Yes | U.S. Department of State, $119 |
| Form 6166 residency certificate | Yes | See Form 6166 |
| Tax return or wage transcript | No | Notarized copy, state apostille, $124 |
| Copy of the return you filed | No | Notarized copy, state apostille, $124 |
| EIN letter (CP 575 or 147C) | No | Notarized copy, state apostille, $124 |
Which route the destination accepts is the question to settle first. Send it through the free review with the country, and we check before you pay.
Things worth knowing
- Form 4506 is not Form 4506-T. The “T” version orders transcripts, which cannot take a federal apostille. You need Form 4506 with the certification requested.
- The IRS charges its own fee for each certified return, separate from ours.
- One certified copy per tax year. If the consulate wants three years, that is three copies and three apostilles.
- Start early. The IRS stage is the bottleneck, often well over the time the apostille itself takes.
How it works
Step 1
Tell us the destination
It decides whether a notarized copy is enough or a certified return is needed.
Step 2
Get the document
Your transcript or return now, or a Form 4506 certified copy if required.
Step 3
Apostille
Federal for a certified return; state for a notarized copy.
Step 4
Back to you
Tracked and insured, or scanned for your appointment.
IRS Tax Return Apostille: common questions
Can a tax transcript be apostilled?
Not with a federal apostille, because it has no official signature. A notarized copy can take a state apostille, if your destination accepts that.
How do I get a certified copy of my tax return?
File Form 4506 with the IRS and request certification. The IRS charges a fee per return and often takes two months or longer.
Is Form 6166 the same thing?
No. Form 6166 certifies tax residency for treaty purposes. It has its own page: IRS Form 6166 apostille.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
IRS, Form 4506
Ready to get started?
Tell us which IRS documents you have and where they are going, and we will quote the route that will be accepted.
Related: IRS Form 6166 · Social Security letter · Federal apostille