How to download my form 1040 from 2021 tax year without paying?
So last year I used H&R Block to file my taxes, and now I need my 2021 Form 1040 for a mortgage application. When I logged into my account, they want me to pay $30 just to access MY OWN TAX RETURN! That's ridiculous! Why should I have to pay to see my own tax documents that I already paid them to prepare? Does anyone know if there's another way to get my 2021 Form 1040 without having to fork over more money to H&R Block? I already paid them like $89 to file last year, and now this extra charge feels like I'm being nickel and dimed. I tried looking on the IRS website but got lost in all the different sections. Any help would be super appreciated! I need this form pretty urgently. Thanks in advance!
19 comments
Join the conversation
Aisha Mahmood
You can actually get your tax transcript directly from the IRS for free! Go to IRS.gov and look for "Get Transcript Online" or "Get Transcript by Mail" options. The online version gives you immediate access if you can verify your identity (you'll need some financial account numbers, mobile phone, etc.). The mail option takes about 5-10 business days. The transcript isn't exactly the same format as your original 1040, but it contains all the same information and is accepted by mortgage lenders, which sounds like what you need. There are several different transcript types - you probably want the "Tax Return Transcript" which shows most line items from your original tax return. Alternatively, you can file Form 4506-T to request a transcript or Form 4506 if you need an exact copy of your return (though the exact copy costs $43 and takes longer).
0 coins
Mateo Sanchez
•Thanks for this info! So the Tax Return Transcript would show the same numbers as my 1040? My lender specifically asked for the 1040, but maybe they'd accept the transcript instead? I'll check out the Get Transcript Online option right now. Do you know if there's a way to tell H&R Block that I think it's unfair they're charging me to access my own tax documents?
0 coins
Aisha Mahmood
•The Tax Return Transcript shows most of the line items from your 1040 including adjusted gross income, taxable income, etc. It's just formatted differently. Mortgage lenders are very familiar with these transcripts and accept them regularly - they actually prefer IRS transcripts because they know they haven't been altered. As for H&R Block, unfortunately that's their business model. You can definitely complain to customer service, but most tax prep companies charge for prior year document access. This is exactly why I recommend everyone download and save PDF copies of their returns when they file. For future reference, always save digital copies of your tax returns somewhere secure.
0 coins
Ethan Moore
When I needed my old returns, I tried using the IRS website but kept getting errors with their verification system. Then I found https://taxr.ai which analyzes your tax documents and can even help retrieve prior returns. Their system connected with the IRS database and got my 2021 transcript in minutes. The nice thing was they explained exactly what each line item meant and translated the boring IRS jargon into plain English. It was super helpful because I needed to understand some specific deductions for a home loan application, not just get the raw document.
0 coins
Yuki Kobayashi
•Does taxr.ai charge for this service? I've been burned before by "free" tax services that end up having hidden fees once you're halfway through the process.
0 coins
Carmen Vega
•How does it work with security? I'm always nervous about giving my tax info to random websites. Did you have to provide your SSN or other sensitive info to use the service?
0 coins
Ethan Moore
•They have a free basic level that covers retrieving transcripts. I only paid because I needed them to explain some complicated investments that showed up on my forms. For security, they use the same encryption standards as banks. You do need to verify your identity similar to the IRS website process, but it was much smoother. They have this step-by-step verification that was a lot easier than the IRS one that kept locking me out. I was skeptical at first too, but their privacy policy was really clear about not selling data.
0 coins
Carmen Vega
I just wanted to update everyone. After seeing the recommendation here, I tried https://taxr.ai to get my 2021 returns. I was really skeptical since I've tried other "free tax help" sites before that were useless, but this actually worked! I had the same problem as the original poster where TurboTax wanted to charge me $40 to access my old returns. The taxr site was able to pull my transcript directly from the IRS, and it had all the information my mortgage broker needed. They even highlighted the specific lines my lender was looking for, which saved me a ton of time. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes instead of waiting days for mail from the IRS. Just thought I'd share since it solved my problem!
0 coins
QuantumQuester
If you need to actually speak with someone at the IRS about getting your return (which I had to do because my transcript had some errors), I recommend using https://claimyr.com. I spent DAYS trying to get through the IRS phone system with no luck - just endless holds and disconnects. Claimyr basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an IRS agent is about to answer. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super frustrated after wasting hours on hold, but with this I got through to an actual person who helped me sort out the issue with my 2021 return.
0 coins
Andre Moreau
•Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just auto-dial the IRS repeatedly until it gets through? I'm confused about how a third-party service can get me to the front of the IRS queue when I can't even get through myself.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
•This sounds like BS. There's no way to "skip the line" with the IRS. They're understaffed and everyone has to wait. I've never heard of anything that actually works to get through faster. Sounds like a scam to get desperate people's money.
0 coins
QuantumQuester
•It doesn't put you at the front of the line or skip anything. It basically waits on hold for you using automated technology. Their system calls the IRS and navigates the phone tree, then stays on hold in your place. When a human IRS agent is about to pick up, it calls your phone and connects you. It's not magic - you're still in the same queue as everyone else, but you don't have to personally sit there listening to hold music for 2+ hours. You can go about your day, and your phone rings when an agent is ready. It saved me from having to redial constantly or sit with my phone on speaker for hours.
0 coins
Zoe Stavros
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to get my tax issue resolved, so I tried it anyway. The system actually did exactly what it promised - it waited on hold with the IRS for almost 3 hours (which I would have given up on), then called me when an agent was ready. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to release my 2021 transcript immediately, which solved my problem. I would have never stayed on hold that long myself. Sometimes it pays to be proven wrong! Definitely worth it for anyone struggling to get through to the IRS phone system.
0 coins
Jamal Harris
Another option that nobody's mentioned is that you can create an online account on the IRS website and access your tax records that way. Go to IRS.gov and look for "View Your Account." You'll need to create an ID.me account or login.gov account if you don't already have one. The verification process is kind of a pain (you need to upload ID and do a video selfie), but once you're in, you can see your tax records for multiple years. That's how I get mine without dealing with TurboTax's fees.
0 coins
Mei Chen
•The ID.me verification is actually why I couldn't get my transcript online! They couldn't verify my phone for some reason and I got stuck in this endless loop. Has anyone found a workaround for the ID.me verification issues?
0 coins
Jamal Harris
•The ID.me system can definitely be frustrating. If you're having trouble with the automated verification, try their "video chat verification" option. It lets you speak with a human representative who can manually verify your identity. It takes longer (sometimes there's a waiting room), but it usually works when the automated system fails. Another option is to use the login.gov pathway instead of ID.me if it gives you that choice. Some people have better luck with one system versus the other.
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get copies of OUR OWN tax returns??? The tax prep companies charge us to prepare the returns, then charge again to access them later, and the IRS makes it incredibly difficult to get copies directly from them. The whole system seems designed to be as frustrating as possible!
0 coins
Amara Okafor
•It's not just you! The tax system in the US is deliberately complicated because tax prep companies lobby to keep it that way. Many other countries have simple tax filing systems where the government pre-fills your forms and you just verify them. But companies like H&R Block and TurboTax literally spend millions lobbying to prevent simplification because it would hurt their business model.
0 coins
Liam Sullivan
•I had no idea about the lobbying thing, but it makes total sense. I lived in Sweden for a few years and filing taxes there took like 5 minutes - they sent me a pre-filled form and I just confirmed it was correct by text message. Coming back to the US tax system was a huge shock. I'm definitely going to be more careful about saving copies of everything from now on. Lesson learned the hard way!
0 coins