Tax Return Translation
Certified translation of foreign tax returns, assessments and certificates for the IRS foreign tax credit, EB-5 source of funds, mortgages and visa files.
The short answer
Foreign tax returns and assessments are translated for three main uses. The IRS may ask for proof of foreign taxes claimed as a credit, and a return or receipt in a foreign language must come with a certified translation (26 CFR 1.905-2). EB-5 investors use tax returns to prove lawful funds (8 CFR 204.6(j)(3)), and lenders need them translated for foreign income.
Tax documents are dense: forms with numbered boxes, codes, assessments, stamps from the tax office. Every country's system is different, and the reader (an IRS examiner, an immigration officer, an underwriter) needs to find the income and the tax in it quickly. The translation keeps the form's structure so they can.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| To support a foreign tax credit, the taxpayer may need the foreign return or receipt; if it is in a foreign language, a certified translation must be furnished. | 26 CFR 1.905-2 |
| US taxpayers may claim a credit for income taxes paid to foreign countries. | 26 U.S.C. 901 |
| EB-5 petitioners show the lawful source of funds with evidence including foreign tax returns. | 8 CFR 204.6(j)(3) |
| Mortgage-file documents must be in English or translated by the originator or an unaffiliated translation service. | Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide, 1201.9 |
| Foreign-language documents filed with USCIS need certified English translations. | 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) |
Typical length and price
Typical length: about 500–2,500 words per return (about 2–10 pages of 250 words).
Estimated price into English at that length: $68.00–$300.00 per file, certificate of accuracy included.
These figures are our estimates for a typical document of this type, not averages of past orders. Upload yours for an exact word count and price.
Three common uses
IRS foreign tax credit. US citizens and residents who paid income tax abroad claim a credit on their US return. If the IRS asks for proof, the regulations say a foreign return or receipt in another language must be accompanied by a certified translation. Keep the foreign assessment or receipt and its translation with your records.
EB-5 and other immigration files. Investors prove that their funds came from lawful sources, and several years of tax returns, personal and company, are standard evidence. Every page filed needs a certified translation.
Mortgages. Borrowers with income abroad document it with tax returns or assessments, translated by an unaffiliated service for loans sold to Freddie Mac.
Returns versus assessments
In some countries the taxpayer files a return; in others the tax office issues an assessment (Steuerbescheid in Germany, avis d'imposition in France) that is the key proof of income and tax. Some countries withhold tax at source and issue annual certificates instead of returns. We translate the document that exists and explain in a translator's note what kind of document it is, so the reader knows whether it is a filing or an official assessment.
How we translate tax forms
- Box numbers and line codes are kept, with the label translated next to each.
- Amounts stay in the original currency, with separators converted to US style and noted.
- Tax terms are translated with their usual English equivalents and the original in brackets where the concept differs from US tax.
- Stamps, e-filing receipts and certification pages are translated, since they show the return was actually filed.
Tax certificates and residency letters
Certificates of tax residence, tax clearance letters and certificates of taxes paid are short but often decisive, for treaty benefits, visa files or property sales. They usually fit within the first-page price.
Company tax returns
For business owners, company returns and financial statements are often filed together. Company returns follow the same approach: form structure kept, box numbers and codes preserved, amounts as printed. Where the return attaches financial statements, see our financial statement page for how accounting terms are handled.
Several years at once
EB-5 and some visa files need five or more years of returns. Sending all years together lets us translate recurring labels identically every year, which makes the set easy to compare. If the form changed between years, the translation follows each year's form rather than forcing them into one layout.
Amended returns and corrections
Amended returns, corrected assessments and appeals change the figures. Translate the final version and, where the recipient needs the history, the original and the amendment, so the reader can see what changed and when.
Tax identification numbers are copied exactly. If a recipient prefers them partly masked, ask; we only mask on request, because the original shows them in full.
Tax year and filing dates are given with the month in words.
What we need from you
- The full return or assessment, every page, with receipts or filing confirmations.
- Which years and who will read them (IRS, USCIS, lender).
- Earlier translations of prior years, so terms match.
How it works
- Upload the document. The quote tool counts the words and prices the job before you commit to anything.
- Translation. The whole document - every page, stamp, seal and annotation - with the layout kept close enough to the original that a reviewer can read the two side by side.
- Certification. A State Court Certified Translator signs the certificate of accuracy.
- Delivery. A print-ready PDF by email, typically within 24 hours. Notarization, an apostille or mailed hard copies are added here if you need them.
Turnaround
Standard turnaround is 24 hours. Expedited service is +50% for 6-8 hours and +100% for 1-3 hours. Tell us your deadline when you order.
Pricing Information
$39 for the first 250 words into English ($49 into any other language), then $0.116 per word. Each file is priced on its own, and the signed certificate of accuracy is included. Notarization, if a body asks for it, is $19.
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