Can't download my 2019 tax returns from H&R Block website

I'm having the worst time trying to access our 2019 tax returns from H&R Block's website. I can see all our other years we filed with them (we've been using them since 2017), but for some reason the 2019 returns won't download or even display properly. We need these documents for a mortgage application and now I'm panicking! I've checked my account multiple times and all our other tax years show up fine - I can download 2018, 2020, 2021, etc. with no issues. But 2019 just shows as "processed" with no download option. My husband has a small construction business so we really rely on having these records accessible. I've tried calling their customer service line three times but just get stuck in an endless hold loop. Has anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions on how to actually reach a human at H&R Block or get these documents another way? Starting to worry our records are just lost forever!

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21 comments

Sienna Gomez

•8M

This is actually a pretty common issue with H&R Block's online portal, especially for tax years older than 3 years. The system is designed to archive older returns after a certain period, but they should still be accessible. First, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then log in again. Sometimes it's just a display issue. If that doesn't work, try using a different browser entirely. If you still can't access them, you have a few options. H&R Block keeps copies of all returns they've prepared for 6 years, so your 2019 return is definitely still in their system. You can request a copy directly from the H&R Block office where you filed (even if you filed online, they can still help). There's usually a small fee for this service. Alternatively, you can request a tax transcript directly from the IRS through their website (irs.gov) or by submitting Form 4506-T. This will show most of the information from your original return and is free.

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Sienna Gomez

•8M

Requesting a tax transcript online through the IRS website is actually pretty quick - you can often get it immediately as a PDF if you can verify your identity through their system. If you need to mail in Form 4506-T, it typically takes about 10 business days to receive it. The transcript will show most of the information from your return including Schedule C information, though it won't look exactly like your original return. It shows line items and the amounts reported, which should be sufficient for most purposes like mortgage applications.

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Abigail bergen

•8M

I had this exact same problem last year! After trying everything with H&R Block's website and getting nowhere, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much hassle. I uploaded my basic info and they were able to retrieve my old returns that I couldn't access anymore. What's cool is they have this technology that can track down and retrieve your tax documents even when the tax prep companies claim they're "archived" or inaccessible. The system basically interfaces with both the tax prep services and IRS databases to pull your information together.

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Abigail bergen

•8M

They use the same security protocols as major banks, so your information is encrypted and protected. They do need identifying information like your SSN, but that's because they're accessing official tax records - there's no way around that requirement for any legitimate tax document retrieval service. For my situation, I had my documents within about 12 hours. They have some expedited options too, but in most cases, they can retrieve everything within 24 hours, which should work for your mortgage timeline if you start right away.

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Anderson Prospero

•8M

Just wanted to update everyone - I ended up trying taxr.ai after posting here and it actually worked! I was super skeptical but desperate because of my mortgage deadline. Their system found my missing 2019 and 2020 returns that H&R Block claimed were "archived" and inaccessible without a special request. The whole process took about 9 hours from when I submitted my info to when I got the complete returns with all schedules. My loan officer accepted them without any issues. Definitely beats waiting on hold with H&R Block for hours or waiting weeks for the IRS to mail something!

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Tyrone Hill

•8M

I had a similar issue with TurboTax last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to their customer service. If you're still struggling to reach someone at H&R Block, try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - they got me through to an actual human at the IRS in under 15 minutes when I was trying to sort out a similar document issue. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c but basically they navigate the phone systems and wait on hold for you, then call you when they've got a real person on the line. Saved me from pulling my hair out after being disconnected for the 5th time trying to get through myself.

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Tyrone Hill

•8M

They use technology that keeps your place in multiple phone queues simultaneously and has algorithms to predict wait times for different IRS departments. They're essentially calling and waiting on your behalf. When they reach a human representative, they connect the call to your phone instantly. I was skeptical too, but after waiting on hold for 3+ hours myself multiple times and getting disconnected, I was desperate. The difference is they have systems that can stay in the queue 24/7 which individual callers can't do. It's not magic - just smart technology that navigates the phone systems more efficiently than a human can.

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Lena Kowalski

•8M

I want to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier and give credit where it's due. After my frustration boiled over trying to get my tax documents, I reluctantly tried Claimyr and I'm shocked to say it actually worked. I was connected to an IRS representative in about 37 minutes (compared to my previous attempts where I waited 2+ hours before giving up). The agent was able to verify that my 2019 return was processed and helped me request a transcript that arrived by mail 4 days later. For anyone else struggling with this issue, don't waste days like I did - just use one of these services. The stress reduction alone was worth it.

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Mei-Ling Chen

•8M

You're right that the transcript doesn't include absolutely everything, but for most mortgage applications, you can request what's called a "tax return transcript" rather than just the "account transcript." The return transcript shows most line items from your original 1040 including all schedules. For self-employment, it will show the Schedule C information including business income and expenses, which is usually what mortgage lenders are looking for. It's worth checking if this would meet your lender's requirements before going through more complicated steps.

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Landon Flounder

•4M

I went through this exact same nightmare with H&R Block earlier this year! What finally worked for me was filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I know it sounds dramatic, but within 48 hours of filing the complaint, I got a call from H&R Block's executive customer service team who immediately helped me access my missing returns. The regular customer service line is absolutely useless - I spent probably 6 hours total on hold over multiple days. But once I escalated it through the BBB, they took it seriously. The executive team member was able to access my archived returns right away and emailed them to me as PDFs within an hour of our call. It's ridiculous that it takes a formal complaint to get basic customer service, but if you're desperate and need those documents quickly, this route actually works. The BBB complaint is free to file online and you'll get a response much faster than waiting for their regular support.

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