Glossary · Reading the business
In short
The seller's tax records, pulled straight from the IRS. Lenders match them against the books they were shown. Mismatches kill deals.
The 4506-T form authorizes the lender to pull the seller's tax returns directly from the IRS, bypassing the seller entirely. Lenders then line up those transcripts against the profit-and-loss statements and bank statements you were shown in the listing. If the numbers don't match — which happens more often than sellers expect — the deal is in trouble. As a buyer, you can ask to see the transcripts directly during due diligence; a seller who resists is worth scrutinizing.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-14 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Pressure-test the numbers before you make an offer
Send us the asking price and the seller's cash flow — we'll show whether the deal services SBA debt and where the add-backs are likely to hold up.
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