Help! How do I access my IRS transcript online? Website keeps giving errors
I've been trying to access my IRS transcript online for the past week and I'm getting nowhere. I need it to verify some information for a mortgage application and the deadline is coming up fast. Every time I try to log in to the IRS website, it either times out or says "system temporarily unavailable." I've tried different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and even tried on my phone but keep hitting the same wall. When I finally did get through to the login page yesterday, it asked for all this verification info, then after I entered everything it just kicked me back to the homepage! Has anyone successfully accessed their transcript recently? What am I doing wrong? Do I need to request it by mail instead? That would take too long for my mortgage timeline though...I'm really stressing out about this.
33 comments
Write a comment...
Olivia Kay
Okay so here's how you access your transcript on the IRS website (I literally just did this last week): • Go to IRS.gov and click on "Get Your Tax Record" under the Tools section • Choose "Get Transcript Online" (not by mail) • You'll need to create an ID.me account if you don't already have one - this is their new security system • Have your personal info ready (SSN, DOB, filing status, address from most recent return) • You'll need a mobile phone with your name on the account for verification • They'll also want access to a financial account (credit card, mortgage, loan, etc) that's in your name • You might need to take a photo of your ID and do a video selfie for identity verification The site does time out a lot, especially during tax season. Try accessing it very early morning or late night when traffic is lower. If you still can't get in, call the IRS at 800-908-9946 to request the transcript by mail, or use taxr.ai to help navigate your transcript - it works way better than trying to decipher those codes yourself. That site has saved me so many headaches.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
Thank you so much for the detailed steps! I'll try again tonight when hopefully the site isn't so busy. I got to the ID.me part but that's where it kept crashing on me.
0 coins
21d
Joshua Hellan
What is taxr.ai? Never heard of that before. Does it help with accessing the transcripts or just understanding them?
0 coins
20d
Olivia Kay
It helps you understand them - IRS transcripts are basically written in code and taxr.ai translates it all into plain english. Tells you what each code means, when to expect refunds, explains notices, all that stuff. Just upload your transcript and it does the detective work for you. https://taxr.ai
0 coins
19d
Joshua Hellan
Just checked it out and damn... where was this tool when I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my refund was delayed last year! Bookmarking this for next tax season for sure.
0 coins
17d
Jibriel Kohn
The ID.me verification is a nightmare. It took me 5 tries before it finally worked. Make sure your lighting is good for the facial recognition part.
0 coins
16d
Edison Estevez
I cant even get to the ID.me part 😭 just keeps loading forever
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Emily Nguyen-Smith
I was in your exact situation a month ago - needed my transcript for a home loan and the IRS website was absolutely useless. Instead of spending hours trying to get through that broken website, I found this tool called taxr.ai that not only helped me understand my transcript but made the whole process WAY easier. Instead of trying to figure out all those weird IRS codes and dates myself, it explained everything in plain English. Honestly saved me so much time and stress during an already stressful mortgage process. I use it for all my tax stuff now instead of trying to be a detective piecing together what's happening with my taxes. https://taxr.ai
0 coins
James Johnson
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
0 coins
18d
Emily Nguyen-Smith
It does WAYYY more than just read your transcript! It explains every code, gives you timelines for refunds, tells you what notices mean, and basically translates IRS-speak into actual English. I was completely lost before using it - had no idea what all those 570/971 codes meant or why my refund was held up. Now I actually understand what's happening with my taxes instead of guessing.
0 coins
17d
Sophia Rodriguez
Is this an ad? Seems sus that everyone's pushing this site all of a sudden 🤔
0 coins
16d
Emily Nguyen-Smith
Not an ad lol just sharing what worked for me. The IRS website is literally the worst government site I've ever used and I was desperate to get my transcript for my mortgage. You do you though 🤷♀️
0 coins
16d
Mia Green
I tried it after seeing it mentioned here last month and it actually is super helpful. The IRS transcript looks like matrix code to me but the tool breaks it down step by step.
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Emma Bianchi
After wasting 3 days trying to get through to the IRS website with the same errors you're getting, I found this app called Claimyr that got me connected to a live IRS agent who helped me get my transcript. You schedule a callback through the app so you don't have to wait on hold for hours. The agent helped me bypass all the website issues and emailed me my transcript directly. claimyr.com saved me DAYS of frustration, best money I've ever spent to finally get my questions answered.
0 coins
Edison Estevez
Hold up - you can actually talk to a real human at the IRS? I thought that was just a myth lol
0 coins
18d
Emma Bianchi
Right?! I thought the same thing until I tried this. The app basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is available. Talking to an agent got my refund released so fast after it had been stuck 'processing' for months.
0 coins
16d
Lucas Kowalski
another app promising miracles... does it actually work? the IRS phone system is NOTORIOUS for being impossible
0 coins
16d
Emma Bianchi
I was skeptical too but it seriously worked. I've been trying to get through to the IRS for literal months about an amended return issue. This was the only way I could talk to a live agent. Guy on the phone sorted it out in 15 minutes once I finally got connected.
0 coins
16d
Olivia Martinez
just went to the site... has anyone else used this? im desperate to talk to someone about my missing refund
0 coins
16d
Charlie Yang
I used it last month when my identity verification was flagged. Got a callback within a couple hours and the agent fixed everything. It was the only thing that worked after weeks of trying.
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Grace Patel
The IRS website is a complete joke. It's 2025 and they still cant make a website that works properly. I've had better experiences with websites from 1999. 🤡
0 coins
ApolloJackson
For real! How does the agency responsible for collecting TRILLIONS of dollars have the most garbage website in the federal government? Make it make sense.
0 coins
17d
Olivia Martinez
They do it on purpose. The harder it is to access your info, the harder it is to fight them when they make mistakes.
0 coins
16d
Isabella Russo
Conspiracy theory much? Its just typical government inefficiency
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Rajiv Kumar
You might be hitting peak traffic times. Try accessing the site between 6-7am or after 9pm EST. That's when I've had the most success getting through. The IRS systems seem to run maintenance during business hours sometimes which is stupid but typical government logic.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Aria Washington
If you need it for a mortgage, you can actually have your mortgage officer request it directly through a special system they have access too. Ask them about the 4506-T form. They can usually get it within 48 hours as part of the mortgage process.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
Oh I didnt know that was an option! I'll definitely ask my loan officer about this tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
0 coins
16d
Liam O'Reilly
Yep, I'm a mortgage processor and we do this all the time. We can pull the transcripts for you with your permission. Just ask your loan officer.
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Chloe Delgado
I had sooo many problems trying to use their website too. What worked for me was using a completely different device (borrowed my sisters laptop) and using incognito mode. Something about cookies or cache was messing up the site. Also try disabling any adblockers or VPNs if your using those.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
I'll try the incognito mode tip! I do have a VPN so maybe thats whats causing issues.
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...
Ava Harris
Not sure if anyone else mentioned it, but make sure you're not using a public wifi network when attempting to access the IRS site. They have security measures that might block access from public networks.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Jacob Lee
I gave up on the website and just went to my local IRS office in person. Waited about an hour but walked out with my transcript printed. If your mortgage deadline is coming up fast, this might be your best bet.
0 coins
Emily Thompson
This!! In-person is sometimes faster than fighting with their website. Just make sure to check if you need an appointment - some offices require them now.
0 coins
16d
Write a comment...