Can my parents request my college transcript for filing their taxes?

Tax preparer here. Your parents don't need your full academic transcript for their tax filing. What they need is the 1098-T form that shows qualified education expenses paid to your university. This form is usually available in your student portal or is mailed directly to whoever paid the tuition. For education credits like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit, the IRS requires proof of payment of qualified expenses, enrollment status (at least half-time for some credits), and that you're pursuing a degree. The 1098-T satisfies most of these requirements. In some cases, they might need a statement showing the courses were required for your degree program, but even then, a full transcript with grades isn't necessary. Your parents might be confusing the requirements or thinking they need extra documentation in case of an audit, but a transcript showing your grades isn't required by the IRS for claiming education tax credits.

I had a similar situation with my parents last year and found an amazing tool that helped clear everything up! I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my education tax documents and it gave me a complete breakdown of exactly what my parents needed (and what they didn't need) for claiming education credits. It confirmed that transcripts weren't necessary and helped me understand what the 1098-T was actually showing. The tool explained all the education credits my parents could claim and generated a simple report I could share with them instead of my private academic records. It really helped when my dad was insisting he needed more documentation than was actually required.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was skeptical at first. After trying it out, I'm actually really impressed. I uploaded my 1098-T and answered a few questions about my student status. The tool generated a detailed report explaining that transcripts aren't required for education credits but explained exactly what is needed. I sent the report to my parents and it resolved our whole argument. They were able to claim the American Opportunity Credit without needing my transcript. The tool even explained how the 529 plan withdrawals factor into the calculations. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with confused parents during tax season!

This sounds like a communication issue more than a tax issue. My parents tried pulling the same thing last year, and after weeks of arguing, I finally called the IRS myself. Spent FOREVER trying to reach a human (like 2+ hours on hold). The IRS agent confirmed transcripts aren't required but couldn't talk specifics about my parents' return. If you want to save yourself that headache, try https://claimyr.com - they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of hours. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with clarified exactly what documents are needed for education credits, and I recorded the call (with permission) so I could play it back for my parents.

I need to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After dismissing it as a potential scam, I tried it myself out of desperation when dealing with my own tax issue. Within about 15 minutes, I was connected to an actual IRS agent who verified my identity through their standard protocol. The agent confirmed that for education credits, the IRS only requires the 1098-T and possibly proof of enrollment status - definitely not full transcripts with grades. They explained parents sometimes request additional documentation because they're confused or overly cautious. Having this confirmation directly from an IRS representative saved me a lot of family drama. Never thought I'd say this, but the service was actually worth it.

Former university financial aid counselor here. This is actually a common confusion! Your parents might be thinking about verification for the 529 plan, not federal tax credits. Some 529 plans require proof that withdrawals were used for qualified education expenses, which can include verification of enrollment. However, even for 529 plans, they typically need an enrollment verification letter and receipts for qualified expenses, NOT your full transcript with grades. Your registrar's office can provide an enrollment verification letter that confirms your student status without revealing your grades.

Is it possible your parents are trying to claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit? That one requires the student to be pursuing a degree and enrolled at least half-time. But even for that, they don't need your transcript - just the 1098-T and maybe an enrollment verification.

I went through this exact situation last year! My parents were convinced they needed my transcript for tax purposes, and it caused a lot of unnecessary stress. After doing some research and speaking with a tax professional, I learned that for education tax credits (American Opportunity Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit), the IRS only requires: 1. Form 1098-T (which shows tuition and fees paid) 2. Proof of enrollment status (available from your registrar) 3. Receipts for qualified expenses like textbooks Your transcript with grades is NOT required for any federal tax credit or deduction. If your parents are using a 529 plan, they might need to verify that withdrawals were used for qualified education expenses, but again, this doesn't require your grades - just proof of enrollment and expense receipts. I'd suggest offering to provide them with an enrollment verification letter from your school's registrar office instead. This shows your enrollment status without revealing your personal academic performance. Most schools can provide this online or you can request it in person. This should satisfy any legitimate documentation needs they have while protecting your privacy.