{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tax-return","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/tax-return","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"tax-return","term":"Tax return","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A tax return is a report filed with the government detailing income, expenses, and other tax-related information. Lenders require both personal and business tax returns to verify financial data.","what_it_means":"For an SBA 7(a) loan, you'll provide several years of personal and business tax returns. The lender uses these to verify income, expenses, and overall financial performance, often cross-referencing with your Personal Financial Statement and business financial statements.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tax-return","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"irs-transcripts","term":"IRS transcripts (4506-T)","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/irs-transcripts"},{"slug":"personal-financial-statement","term":"Personal financial statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-financial-statement"},{"slug":"profit-and-loss-statement","term":"Profit and Loss Statement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/profit-and-loss-statement"},{"slug":"balance-sheet","term":"Balance Sheet","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/balance-sheet"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Do unfiled tax returns or overdue taxes prevent SBA approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/do-unfiled-tax-returns-or-overdue-taxes-prevent-sba-approval"},{"question":"Can tax returns of the business be used to support a partner buyout?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-tax-returns-of-the-business-be-used-to-support-a-partner-buyout"},{"question":"What if my personal tax returns show inconsistent income or losses from other ventures?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-personal-tax-returns-show-inconsistent-income-or-losses-from-other-ventures"},{"question":"What if the business I am buying has unfiled tax returns or overdue payroll taxes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-business-i-am-buying-has-unfiled-tax-returns-or-overdue-payroll-taxes"},{"question":"What if the business I'm buying has unfiled tax returns or overdue payroll taxes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-the-business-i-m-buying-has-unfiled-tax-returns-or-overdue-payroll-taxes"},{"question":"Does the SBA look at my personal tax returns when I apply for a business loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-look-at-my-personal-tax-returns-when-i-apply-for-a-business-loan"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Tax return","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tax-return","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}