When the IRS temporarily shut down online transcript access years ago due to identity theft risks, millions of taxpayers were left without a quick way to verify their refund status, view their tax records, or prove income.
In 2017, the IRS announced the official restoration of the Get Transcript feature, rebuilt with new identity-verification screening and stronger authentication tools.
Fast-forward to today: this tool is now one of the most important refund-tracking resources taxpayers have.
Originally, online transcripts could be accessed with minimal identity verification. That led to criminals requesting transcripts to steal refunds and claim fraudulent tax credits.
The shutdown forced the IRS to redesign the entire system to include stronger identity verification and security controls.
When the tool came back online in 2017, major upgrades were added, including:
Those improvements continue to evolve and now integrate with IRS Online Account access.
For refund tracking in 2026, the Get Transcript feature is more important than ever because it allows taxpayers to:
Many taxpayers rely on transcripts because the Where’s My Refund tool is often delayed or incomplete.
Both serve different purposes.
Best for detailed refund codes, posting dates, and account-level activity.
Best for balances, notices, digital responses, and direct deposit updates.
Most taxpayers should use both.
Common refund tracking items include:
These details are not shown inside Where’s My Refund.
This tool is especially important for people who:
If you want real refund answers, transcripts tell the truth.
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Have you used it to track a delayed refund before?
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