I hear you—last year, I thought I was being efficient by scanning every doc for my cash-out refi. Then the underwriter wanted a physical copy of a tax return from three years ago... had to dig through storage boxes in the garage. Digital is convenient, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it.
Digital is convenient, but sometimes it just doesn’t cut it.
Totally get that. Lenders are getting better with digital docs, but some still want originals for certain things—tax returns being a big one. Pro tip: IRS transcripts can sometimes be used instead of physical copies. Worth checking before you go digging through boxes.
I’ve run into the “we need originals” thing more times than I can count, especially with tax returns. Even when you send over a clean PDF, some underwriters just won’t budge. Had a client last month who scanned everything in high-res, but the lender still wanted the actual IRS transcript—took an extra few days, but it saved her from tearing apart her attic for old files.
Here’s what I usually suggest:
1. Check with the lender upfront about what’s actually required. Some are fine with digital copies, others are sticklers for originals or transcripts.
2. If they want transcripts, you can get them pretty quick online from the IRS, but you’ll need to verify your identity—sometimes that’s the hardest part.
3. Don’t toss your paper docs just yet. Even if things are “digital,” there’s always that one document someone wants in hard copy.
It’s getting better, but yeah...there’s still a lot of old-school thinking out there.
Yeah, I’ve seen that too—sometimes it feels like we’re in a weird limbo between digital and paper. Even with all the tech upgrades, underwriters can be pretty rigid about what they’ll accept. I always tell folks to expect at least one curveball with documentation. One thing I’d add: if you’re thinking about refinancing, double-check if your lender uses third-party verification services. Some can pull transcripts directly from the IRS with your consent, which can save a lot of hassle. Still, I wouldn’t shred anything until the ink’s dry... just in case.
Still, I wouldn’t shred anything until the ink’s dry... just in case.
That’s the truth. I once boxed up all my tax docs thinking I was done, then got a frantic email asking for “just one more thing.” My garage still looks like a paper fort. Digital age, huh?