IRS Tax Transcripts No Longer Available Online

[Jon York 156]

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Jon York

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to General Immigration-Related Discussion Forum~

~Commentary applicable to several immigration processes~

[Mr&MrsJenkins 11]

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

Why don't you just go to your local IRS office and have your Transcripts printed out?

That's what my husband did, took him 5 minutes, they did it right then and there and were super kind.

[HK12 273]

Why don't you just go to your local IRS office and have your Transcripts printed out?

That's what my husband did, took him 5 minutes, they did it right then and there and were super kind.

Keep in mind not everyone has convenient access to an IRS office. Mine is a 40-minute drive away and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 - 4:30. Both me and my husband work, so ordering the transcripts online or having them mailed to us is the only way we can go.

Anyway, thanks for the update, Jon York!

Edited June 3, 2015 by HK12

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I was a victim of identity fraud, someone filed under my SSN and the IRS told me that I can't even get them mailed to me and that it may take

up to a year to straighten it all out. I noticed they want $50 for the form to request a tax return copy. Just wow !

[Jon York 156]

I noticed they want $50 for the form to request a tax return copy. Just wow !

Where are you seeing $50? I just requested mine to see if they were charging and it didn't say anything about charging $50.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Where are you seeing $50? I just requested mine to see if they were charging and it didn't say anything about charging $50.

The link you provided has the mail request instructions in Form 4506. In section 8 and 8a I see $50 dollars.

What I find bizarre is that when I access the Form 4506 link on my laptop it even shows $50 on line 8a but not on my Iphone, there it only shows

the $50 fee under section 8.

How in the heck can they charge that much for a copy ?! Am I misreading something ?

[Jon York 156]

Oh, I see what you're talking about. That link though says if you want to get a "photocopy" of your return. I guess that's for people who need a copy of the actual return they filed - with their signature and everything. Apparently that's $50. Crazy!

But if you click on the "Get Transcript by Mail" button - that's free.

[Amhara 460]

Thanks for the post Jon York! I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for my 2014 tax transcripts! I sent my 2010-2013 with my petition and received those rather timely. I used the Form 4506-T to get the transcripts, but when I sent the request for my 2014 transcripts, they have not yet arrived! I submitted another request last week for my transcripts and I'm still waiting "any day now..." This is one of the last things I'm waiting on - thanks for the heads up!

The Taxpayer Assistance Center often has long lines, so even though I work in the same building as the TAC office, I would need to take time off work and wait, but doing that may be better than scanning them to him. He would need to print off the documents at a local Internet cafe, and who knows what is taken off their hard drives?? Plus, since I'm sending a glucose monitor, lancets and test strips for his dad, I'm sending a package that will be at least $75 if not more to mail. I want to fit everything in it!

[CowBoE 429]

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

Good info to share!

[Jon York 156]

but doing that may be better than scanning them to him. He would need to print off the documents at a local Internet cafe, and who knows what is taken off their hard drives?? Plus, since I'm sending a glucose monitor, lancets and test strips for his dad, I'm sending a package that will be at least $75 if not more to mail. I want to fit everything in it!

Yes, I understand. My wife was in Pakistan and she too was worried what they might take off the hard drive at the internet "cafés". So, that's definitely a concern. What you could do is send a scanned copy to him on a password-protected usb drive, that he could stick into their computer and print it off directly without saving it to their hard drive. That would also allow you to mail it to him without worrying that somebody in the post office or delivery center, or wherever the package comes into, will see it.

[Amhara 460]

Yes, I understand. My wife was in Pakistan and she too was worried what they might take off the hard drive at the internet "cafés". So, that's definitely a concern. What you could do is send a scanned copy to him on a password-protected usb drive, that he could stick into their computer and print it off directly without saving it to their hard drive. That would also allow you to mail it to him without worrying that somebody in the post office or delivery center, or wherever the package comes into, will see it.

It can save on the hard drive of the printer too, can't it? I know it saves on photo copy machines.

My fiance attends a university in Pakistan, and while the letters that I have mailed him have so far reached him, they have been delivered by fellow students that knew him (unopened, thankfully!) and they've asked him to tell them everything that is on the letter later!

That's good advice too! Thanks!

[Shauneg 762]

It can save on the hard drive of the printer too, can't it? I know it saves on photo copy machines.

My fiance attends a university in Pakistan, and while the letters that I have mailed him have so far reached him, they have been delivered by fellow students that knew him (unopened, thankfully!) and they've asked him to tell them everything that is on the letter later!

That's good advice too! Thanks!

Yes things printed are stored on that printers memory......as well as in the computer's cached memory. There's risk in anything you do at an internet cafe, or over the internet at all really.

Edited June 4, 2015 by Shauneg

[twin810s 23]

I had to request mine by mail last year (for some reason it wouldn't let me do it electronically) and it took about a month or so to get them. So if you need them soon, request them as soon as possible.

[TabeaK 517]

Is there a difference between a "tax transcript" and a "tax return"?

I intended to use my fiances 2014 tax return, the one (pdf version) he got instantaneously from filing online, for I-134 - is that correct?

Edited June 4, 2015 by TabeaK