To get a copy of your Georgia state tax return, submit Form RET-001 (Taxpayer Return Request Form) to the Georgia Department of Revenue by mail or in person. The fee is $4.00 or $5.00 per copy depending on the return type, and mail requests take about 15 business days to process. Georgia does not issue a separate “tax transcript” product the way the IRS does; the Department of Revenue provides copies of the filed return itself through this one process.
What to Gather Before You Fill Out the Form
The Department needs enough detail to pull the exact return from its records. Have the following ready before you start on Form RET-001:
- Your Social Security Number for an individual return, or your Federal Employer Identification Number for a business return.
- Your name and mailing address as they appeared on the original return. A mismatch here, including a name change you haven’t updated, can hold up processing.
- The tax type: individual, corporate, partnership, withholding, sales and use, fiduciary, or composite.
- The tax period or years you need.
- Whether the return was paper-filed or electronically filed.
Form RET-001 is a downloadable PDF on the Department of Revenue’s website.1Department of Revenue. RET-001 Taxpayer Return Request Form Use a separate form for each type of return. Requesting one individual return and one partnership return means filling out two forms.
Requesting a Copy by Mail
Mail is the standard method. Complete Form RET-001, sign the perjury declaration at the bottom, and send it with payment to the address printed on the form.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Taxpayer Return Request Form RET-001 Pay by check, money order, or cashier’s check made out to the Georgia Department of Revenue. Do not send cash.
The current form (revised June 2025) sets per-copy fees of $5.00 and $4.00 depending on the return type. Multiply the number of returns by the number of copies at the applicable rate, and send full payment with the form. If the math is off, expect the request back.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Taxpayer Return Request Form RET-001 Certified mail or another trackable option gives you proof of delivery, which is useful given the volume the Department processes.
Requesting a Copy In Person
Individual taxpayers go to the Century Center office in Atlanta, at 2595 Century Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30345.3Department of Revenue. Department of Revenue – Century Center Scheduling an appointment ahead of time avoids a wasted trip. For individuals, Century Center is the only in-person location the Department directs you to.4Department of Revenue. How to Request a Copy of a Tax Return
Business taxpayers have more options. Any of the Department’s regional offices across Georgia can help with a return copy request.5Department of Revenue. Find a Regional Office Walking in with the completed form and payment is generally quicker than mailing it, though same-day turnaround isn’t guaranteed.
Can You Download It From the Georgia Tax Center?
The Georgia Tax Center at gtc.dor.ga.gov is the Department’s online portal, and if you already have an account it’s worth logging in to check what’s visible under your account history. Some return information and correspondence may be available there without going through the formal request process. For getting an actual copy of a filed return, however, the Department’s official guidance lists only mail and in-person as the available methods.4Department of Revenue. How to Request a Copy of a Tax Return If you’re not sure what the portal shows for your account, call 1-877-423-6711.
Having an Accountant or Attorney Request It for You
A representative can’t just sign your name to the RET-001. Georgia requires a formal authorization on file, and you have two options depending on the scope you want to grant:
- Form RD-1061 (Power of Attorney) lets an attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, or other authorized person represent you before the Department, receive confidential tax information, and act on your behalf for specified tax matters and periods. It can be submitted through the Georgia Tax Center or directly to the Department employee handling the matter.6Department of Revenue. Power of Attorney and Third Party Authorization – Tax
- Form RD-1062 (Disclosure Authorization) is a narrower, one-time authorization. It lets a third party receive specific information you designate and expires once the Department has disclosed it. Good fit for a single document pickup.7Georgia Department of Revenue. Third Party Authorizations for Resolving a Tax Issue
The Department will also accept IRS Form 2848 in place of the Georgia power of attorney form, though the Georgia version is preferred.6Department of Revenue. Power of Attorney and Third Party Authorization – Tax Include the authorization with the RET-001 submission. Representatives access records through their own portal accounts, not by using a client’s login.
Update Your Address Before You Submit
Copies get mailed to the address on file. If you’ve moved and haven’t told the Department, your return copy could land at your old address. Fix this first.
The quickest way is through the Georgia Tax Center: log in, open the “More…” tab, select “Manage Names & Addresses,” then click the “Addresses” tab to add or edit an address.8Department of Revenue. Change Address on Tax Forms If you file electronically, your address updates automatically with your next return. On a paper return, check the box indicating an address change.
How Long It Takes
Form RET-001 instructs you to allow 15 business days for processing, or roughly three calendar weeks.2Georgia Department of Revenue. Taxpayer Return Request Form RET-001 High-volume periods during tax season can run longer. If you need the copy for a mortgage closing, loan application, or other hard deadline, build in a buffer. To check on a pending request, call 1-877-423-6711.