IRS Unveils New Transcript, ID System to Boost Security

The IRS unveiled reformatted tax transcripts, including a new taxpayer identification system, as part of its efforts to improve protection of taxpayer data and combat tax fraud.

Individual tax transcripts will now contain partially redacted information from the Form 1040, the agency said in an Aug. 22 news release (IR-18-171).

For example, the transcript will provide only the last four digits of a Social Security number or the first four characters of an individual’s last name. Accompanying the revisions of the Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, and Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax ...