Is it possible to recover tax returns from 50 years ago (1974/1975)?

Unfortunately, the IRS only keeps tax returns for about 7 years. For returns older than that, especially ones from the 1970s, you won't be able to get actual copies of the returns. However, you can request something called a "Tax Account Transcript" that might show that your father filed taxes for those years. You'll need to fill out Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) and check box 8 for "Record of Account." This will show basic account information like filing status and adjusted gross income if they still have records going that far back. Another approach would be to look for other documentation from that time period - old pay stubs, property tax records, utility bills, school records, or Social Security earnings statements which might show work history going back to those years.

I went through something similar trying to find proof of residency from the 80s for my mom's pension application. After struggling with the IRS and getting nowhere, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was incredibly helpful. They have this tool that can search for archival tax records and documentation that most people don't know how to access. I uploaded the information we had (her name, SSN, approximate years) and they were able to find evidence of her tax filings from 1982-1989 through some database they have access to. It saved us tons of time digging through old boxes in the attic looking for paperwork that probably didn't exist anymore. Might be worth checking out since the regular IRS channels aren't great for stuff this old.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question and I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. I was super skeptical about giving my dad's info, so I called them first and felt comfortable after talking to them. They found proof of his employment at Boeing from 1971-1976 including tax withholding records that we had no idea still existed somewhere in the system. They explained that while the actual tax returns are gone, there are multiple databases with partial records that can be pieced together. We just got the documentation yesterday and it's exactly what we needed for his veterans benefits application. Definitely worth checking out if you're trying to prove historical residency or employment.

If you're struggling to get through to the IRS about these old records (which is likely), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was on hold with the IRS for HOURS trying to find out about some old records, and this service actually got me connected to a real person at the IRS in about 15 minutes. They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back once they've got a live agent on the line. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Even though the IRS might not have 50-year-old returns, they might have some other record or suggestion about where to look. At least with Claimyr you can actually talk to someone instead of hitting dead ends with the automated system. The IRS agent I spoke with pointed me toward some archived records department I never would have found otherwise.

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After yet another failed 2-hour hold attempt with the IRS this morning, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. IT ACTUALLY WORKED. I got a call back about 45 minutes later with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent was able to tell me that while they don't have the actual returns from the 70s, they could see indicators in their system that returns were filed for 1973-1976 for the person I was inquiring about. They sent me a letter confirming this that will work for our citizenship application. Honestly, I'm still not sure exactly how their service works, but I don't even care. It saved me countless hours of frustration and solved our problem. Sometimes you just have to admit when you're wrong!

Another option to consider is checking with state tax agencies. Sometimes state tax records are kept longer or in different systems than federal records. If you know which state your father lived in during 1974-75, try contacting that state's tax authority directly. Also, property records at county clerk offices often go back many decades. If your father owned a home during that time, those records could help establish residency.

Has anyone suggested checking with Social Security? They keep earnings records going back to your first job, and those records show which years someone paid into Social Security. I requested my father's earnings record when helping with his retirement application and was surprised to see it had information going all the way back to his teenage years in the 1960s.

I work at a local library and we often help people with genealogy research that involves finding old records. A few additional resources that might help: 1. The National Archives (NARA) sometimes has employment records from federal agencies or contractors that worked on government projects in the 1970s. If your father worked for any federal agency or major defense contractor, they might have personnel records. 2. Many universities keep alumni records going back decades. If your father attended any college or university during that time period, their registrar's office might have enrollment records showing his address. 3. Old phone directories are often archived at local libraries and historical societies. These can show residence addresses by year and are sometimes available online through sites like Ancestry.com. 4. If your father served in the military at any point, his DD-214 discharge papers or military personnel records might reference his civilian address during the 1970s. The combination of Social Security earnings records plus one of these other sources usually provides sufficient proof of residency for most applications. Good luck with your search!

Just wanted to add another resource that helped me in a similar situation - old bank records! If your father had a checking or savings account during that time period, some banks (especially credit unions) keep customer records going back decades. I was able to get statements from a credit union that showed my mother's address and regular deposits from 1976-1978, which proved both residency and employment. You'll need to contact the bank directly and may need to provide a death certificate or power of attorney if you're requesting records for someone else. Some banks charge a fee for historical records research, but it's usually much less expensive than some of the specialized services mentioned here. Also, don't overlook old insurance records - homeowner's, renter's, or auto insurance policies from that era would definitely establish residency. If you know what insurance company your dad used, their records department might be able to help.