Understanding "TP Tax Figures (Reduced By IRAF per Computer)" on IRS transcript - what does this mean?

Thank you for explaining that! I was completely misinterpreting what I was seeing. So those large figures are just our regular tax liability and not hidden retirement accounts? Is there any other way I can find out if my ex had retirement accounts that I wasn't aware of during our marriage? The divorce is final but I'm worried I might have missed something important during the financial disclosure process.

Those figures are indeed just your regular tax liability that the IRS system has processed, not retirement accounts. They're simply how the IRS tracks and calculates your tax obligations internally. For discovering potential retirement accounts after a divorce, you have several options. First, review all financial documents from the marriage including past tax returns looking for IRA deductions or 401(k) contributions. Second, if you suspect non-disclosure during divorce proceedings, you might need to consult with your divorce attorney about filing a motion related to incomplete financial disclosure. Also consider requesting wage and income transcripts from the IRS which would show Forms 5498 (for IRAs) or retirement plan indicators on W-2s. These transcripts can reveal retirement accounts that may not have been disclosed.

Does it work for older transcripts too? I have some from like 3 years ago with weird codes that I never understood. Also, is it secure? I'm always nervous about uploading financial docs online.

I'm skeptical about these services - how does it know the meaning of ALL possible IRS codes? The IRS systems are ancient and complicated. Do they have some kind of special access to the IRS systems or something?

It definitely works for older transcripts! I actually used it for transcripts going back about 5 years and it handled all of them perfectly, explaining codes that I'd been confused about for years. Regarding security, they use bank-level encryption for all document uploads and don't store your documents after analysis. They're pretty serious about privacy and data protection - that was actually my first concern too before using it. They don't have special IRS access, but they've built a comprehensive database of IRS codes and their meanings by working with tax professionals and analyzing thousands of real transcripts. Their system recognizes patterns in how the IRS formats different types of transactions and can decode even some of the more obscure codes that show up. It's basically a specialized AI that's been trained specifically on IRS documentation.

How does this even work? The IRS phone lines are totally jammed and they just hang up on you. Are you saying this somehow puts you ahead in the queue or something?

This sounds like a scam tbh. Nobody can get through to the IRS these days - even tax professionals struggle. I highly doubt some service can magically get you through when millions of people can't get through.

It's actually a pretty clever system - they use technology that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until they secure a place in line, then they call you to connect when they've got an agent on the line. It basically does the waiting for you instead of you having to sit on hold for hours. They don't put you ahead in the queue. What they do is handle all the frustrating parts of the process - the constant busy signals, the disconnects, the menu navigation - and then they only bring you in when they've successfully connected with a real person. I was definitely skeptical too until I watched their video demo showing how it works.

Thanks for the detailed advice! I don't think I still have access to our old W-2s, but I'll definitely request those Form 5498s and the wage/income transcripts. Do you know if I can get those documents online through the IRS website or do I need to mail a request?

You can request wage and income transcripts directly through the IRS website if you create an account at irs.gov/account. The online system gives you immediate access to several types of transcripts, though they typically only show the last 3-4 years. For older records beyond what's available online, you'll need to submit Form 4506-T by mail. Make sure to check box 8 for the Form W-2 information and specify all the tax years you want to investigate during your marriage. For Form 5498 information specifically, you might need to call the IRS and make a special request, as those sometimes don't appear on the standard wage and income transcript.

Wait, so with divorced parents, only one parent's income counts for FAFSA now? Is that different from previous years? My daughter is starting college next fall and I'm trying to figure out all this financial aid stuff.

Yes, that's correct - with divorced parents, the FAFSA only requires information from one parent - specifically the parent who provided more financial support during the past 12 months. If support is equal, then it's the parent the student lived with more. If that's also equal, then it's the parent with the higher income. This has actually been the rule for a while, but the new FAFSA for 2025-2026 (which opens December 2024) simplifies the process further. The new system also reduces the number of questions and should make the process easier overall. Just remember that the parent who completes the FAFSA should include their current spouse's information if they've remarried, even though the other biological parent's information isn't included.

This is really helpful, thank you! The divorce was finalized last year but we'd been separated for about 2 years prior. We did file jointly in some of those earlier years though. I never really questioned our tax returns when we were married - he just had me sign them. I'll definitely look into innocent spouse relief as an option. Is there a time limit for when I can request that?

Yes, there are time limits for innocent spouse relief, but you may still have options. Generally, you have 2 years from the date the IRS first tried to collect the tax from you to request innocent spouse relief. However, there are three types of relief available: 1. **Innocent Spouse Relief** - Must be requested within 2 years of IRS collection activity 2. **Separation of Liability** - Also has a 2-year deadline but starts from when the IRS first tried to collect from you individually 3. **Equitable Relief** - Can be requested at any time, even after the 2-year deadline, if you meet certain conditions Since your divorce was finalized last year and you mentioned being separated for 2 years prior, you might still be within the timeframe. File Form 8857 to request relief. Given that your ex handled the tax returns and you just signed them, that could strengthen your case for showing you had no reason to know about any underreported income. I'd definitely recommend consulting with a tax attorney or enrolled agent who specializes in innocent spouse cases - they can review your specific timeline and circumstances to determine your best options.

Great question about the timeline! When I submitted my Form 4506-T request online through the IRS website, I received my wage and income transcripts within about 5-10 business days. If you mail the form instead, it can take 2-3 weeks or longer depending on IRS processing delays. The online method through irs.gov/account is definitely faster if you can verify your identity online. You'll need to create an account and go through their verification process, but once that's set up, you can access transcripts immediately for recent years and request older ones electronically. One tip - when you're filling out Form 4506-T, make sure to check box 8 for "Form W-2 series" and specify all the tax years you want to investigate. This will give you the most comprehensive view of what was filed during your marriage years. The waiting is definitely the hardest part when you're eager to get answers, but having realistic expectations helps. In the meantime, you could start gathering any old tax returns or W-2s you might still have access to, just to get a head start on your review process. You're taking all the right steps - this systematic approach really does work much better than trying to decode those mysterious transcript codes!