How can I obtain a TRANSCRIPT of my 2016 Tax Return while the IRS is closed during Government Shutdown? I need one ASAP for my child’s financial aid to be approved.

[jcbgator90]

IRS Website links on the “Get Your Transcript” page are all “temporarily unavailable” since shutdown began. HELP!!

[JOEBROJOHNSON]

Please let me know any updates! I’m in the EXACT same situation with my 2016 taxes

[macuser_22]

When the shutdown ends it will be all over the news.  

[xmasbaby0]

This is why you need to SAVE your tax return every year for your own records.  Before mid-October you have the opportunity to save it as a tax file, a pdf, and to print it.  Now you know why you should have been doing that.  When you are finished with your 2018 return, SAVE it in all of those ways.

[christineendy]

Contact your school's financial aid office. The Department of Education has issued a notice that FA Offices can take signed 1040s and signed letters regarding non-filing. However, this provision is at the discretion of each college.

[macuser_22 · Accepted solution]

Sorry, but the IRS is part of the Gov. shutdown - nothing you can do until they go back to work if the transcript website is locked down.   Nobody here has any power to end the shutdown.

[jcbgator90]

JOEBROJOHNSON - Unfortunately my daughter’s University refused to accept anything other than the Transcript (even though I’m a 20-yr public school teacher and my tax returns are nearly identical every year, +/- minor changes).  Her loan approval was delayed and ultimately time ran out; she was unable to pay for her courses.  :/. NOT good.

Government is up and running now however, so you should be fine.  Just follow the directions on IRS website.  Good luck!

[jcbgator90]

xmasbaby0 - Thanks for your response and I agree! 🙂  I realize the importance and have every year’s tax return saved, in both paper and digital form.  I had already submitted a full copy of my 2016 Returns to the University, as requested - the issue was that the school required an additional form of documentation, and would only accept a Transcript, transmitted directly from the IRS at the time the loan was being processed....which was, of course, impossible.  Beyond frustrating...