Confused about transcript posting rules - seeing inconsistency in what's allowed

I understand your confusion about the transcript posting rules. According to the community guidelines (which you can find in the About section), transcripts are allowed but must have all personal information completely redacted. This includes: SSN, full name, address, phone number, and account numbers. Some moderators are stricter than others about enforcing this. The IRS website has a good guide on how to properly redact tax documents at irs.gov/privacy. Hope this helps clarify things!

I'm in the same boat! My post got removed too. So frustrating. I needed answers quickly. I ended up using Claimyr instead. Got through to an actual IRS agent in 15 minutes. They explained everything about my transcript. Worth every penny when you're on a deadline. Here's their link: https://www.claimyr.com

I had a similar experience on March 15th. My transcript post was initially rejected, but when I resubmitted on March 18th with proper redactions (black boxes covering all personal info), it was approved within hours. The moderators sent me a helpful message explaining exactly what needed to be covered. I appreciate how they took the time to explain rather than just rejecting without details.

Be extremely cautious with transcript sharing anywhere online. I've seen instances where people thought they properly redacted PDFs but the metadata still contained PII (Personally Identifiable Information). Even with the redaction tool in Adobe, the underlying text can sometimes be extracted. Better to screenshot, then redact, then screenshot again to create a truly flattened image.

Looking at tax transcripts is like trying to read a foreign language if you don't know the codes. It's like having a menu in a restaurant where you don't speak the language - you might recognize a few words but miss the important details. That's why I started using taxr.ai to help decode mine. It's like having a translator who not only tells you what each code means but also explains what it means for YOUR specific situation. Check it out at https://taxr.ai if you're still trying to make sense of those transcripts.

I moderate another tax help forum. We require all transcripts to be completely anonymized. No exceptions. Names, SSNs, addresses, account numbers - all must be covered. Screenshots are preferred over PDFs. Some people get rejected because they miss something small like the account number at the top or the SSN that appears in multiple places. Check your image carefully before posting next time.

Thank you for bringing this up, Nia. Inconsistent moderation can be really frustrating when you're just trying to get help with tax issues. From what I've seen in this community, the key seems to be thorough redaction - covering ALL personal info including SSN (which can appear multiple times), names, addresses, phone numbers, and account numbers. I'd suggest following Aisha's advice about the screenshot method to avoid any metadata issues. Also, maybe try messaging the moderators directly before posting to confirm your redaction meets their standards? That way you can avoid the back-and-forth of rejections. Hope you get the help you need for your mom's taxes!

As someone who's been helping family members with tax issues for years, I completely understand your frustration with the inconsistent moderation. It sounds like the community has some great members who've shared really helpful advice here! Based on what others have mentioned, it seems like the key is being extra thorough with redaction - I didn't realize there were so many places where personal info could appear on transcripts. The screenshot method that Aisha described sounds like the safest approach to avoid any metadata issues. I'm also curious about those IRS codes everyone mentions - they really can be confusing to interpret. Thanks for starting this discussion, it's been educational for those of us who are newer to navigating tax transcript questions!