Tax compliance report

A tax compliance report (Letter 6201) shows whether you have filed tax returns and paid taxes on time. Employers, federal agencies, banks and other authorities sometimes request a tax check to see if you’ve met all your tax obligations.

Find out how to get one and what the report shows.

On this page

Get a tax compliance report

You can download a copy of your tax compliance report from your individual online account.

If you have resident alien status and are leaving the U.S., see how to get a tax clearance document.

Tax compliance report vs. transcript

If someone requests a tax compliance check, it’s better to give them a tax compliance report than a transcript.

• A tax compliance report shows less of your personal information and covers a longer period.
• A tax transcript shows the full details of your tax return (including income, dependents and filing status) and covers only 1 year.

What the report shows

The report doesn’t show your income, dependents or filing status.

Here’s what it shows.

Your compliance status

Summarizes your compliance status as: compliant, non-compliant or compliance issue.

Compliant

You’ve met all your tax obligations. You filed all returns and paid all taxes on time. You don’t have any overdue tax return or unpaid tax debt.

Noncompliant

You have an overdue tax return or unpaid tax debt. The data is current as of the date of the report. If you recently submitted a return or payment, it takes 7 to 10 days to post to your account.

Compliance issue

You have one or more of these issues:

• Are paying a balance due through an installment agreement
• Have a history of filing or paying taxes late
• Received a civil fraud penalty, even if it’s fully paid
• Have a balance due that’s under administrative or judicial review

Filing information

Lists your tax filing history. If you’re a sole proprietor required to file excise or employment tax returns, it shows any delinquent business tax returns. It doesn’t show corporate or partnership tax information.

Amount you owe

Lists any federal taxes owed or says no taxes are due.

Additional information

Lists any of these that apply to you:

• Late payments of federal income, employment or excise taxes for the past 4 tax years
• Tax returns not filed or filed late in the past 6 years
• Fraudulent failure to file or civil tax fraud penalties assessed within 5 years

Business tax compliance report

Business tax compliance is reported on Letter 6575. The only exception is for sole proprietorships, which are reported with personal tax compliance on Letter 6201. You can download a copy of your business tax compliance report from your business tax account.

The business tax report uses the same statuses (compliant, non-compliant, compliance issue) to show whether your business has filed returns, made federal tax deposits and paid all taxes as required.

Tax certificate for federal procurement contract awards

The tax certificate for award use (Letter 6575) shows whether your business has a seriously delinquent tax debt as defined by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019. A business may download the letter if needed for federal contracting purposes.