diff --git a/parser/transaction.go b/parser/transaction.go
index 33aead4c..5821eaf8 100644
--- a/parser/transaction.go
+++ b/parser/transaction.go
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ func (tx *Transaction) ParseTransparent(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not read tx_in_count")
 	}
 	var err error
+	// TODO: Duplicate/otherwise-too-many transactions are a possible DoS
+	// TODO: vector. At the moment we're assuming trusted input.
+	// See https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-17144 for an example.
 	tx.transparentInputs = make([]*txIn, txInCount)
 	for i := 0; i < txInCount; i++ {
 		ti := &txIn{}
@@ -174,7 +177,7 @@ func (p *spend) ToCompact() *walletrpc.CompactSpend {
 }
 
 // output is a Sapling Output Description as described in section 7.4 of the
-// Zcash protocol spec. Total size is 948.
+// Zcash protocol spec.
 type output struct {
 	cv            []byte // 32
 	cmu           []byte // 32
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ func (p *output) ToCompact() *walletrpc.CompactOutput {
 
 // joinSplit is a JoinSplit description as described in 7.2 of the Zcash
 // protocol spec. Its exact contents differ by transaction version and network
-// upgrade level.
+// upgrade level. Only version 4 is supported, no need for proofPHGR13.
 type joinSplit struct {
 	vpubOld        uint64
 	vpubNew        uint64
@@ -234,12 +237,8 @@ type joinSplit struct {
 	ephemeralKey   []byte    // 32
 	randomSeed     []byte    // 32
 	vmacs          [2][]byte // 64 [N_old][32]byte
-	proofPHGR13    []byte    // 296
-	proofGroth16   []byte    // 192
+	proofGroth16   []byte    // 192 (version 4 only)
 	encCiphertexts [2][]byte // 1202 [N_new][601]byte
-
-	// not actually in the format, but needed for parsing
-	version uint32
 }
 
 func (p *joinSplit) ParseFromSlice(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
@@ -283,16 +282,8 @@ func (p *joinSplit) ParseFromSlice(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if p.version == 2 || p.version == 3 {
-		if !s.ReadBytes(&p.proofPHGR13, 296) {
-			return nil, errors.New("could not read PHGR13 proof")
-		}
-	} else if p.version >= 4 {
-		if !s.ReadBytes(&p.proofGroth16, 192) {
-			return nil, errors.New("could not read Groth16 proof")
-		}
-	} else {
-		return nil, errors.New("unexpected transaction version")
+	if !s.ReadBytes(&p.proofGroth16, 192) {
+		return nil, errors.New("could not read Groth16 proof")
 	}
 
 	for i := 0; i < 2; i++ {
@@ -388,40 +379,36 @@ func (tx *Transaction) parseV4(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	if !s.ReadCompactSize(&spendCount) {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not read nShieldedSpend")
 	}
-	if spendCount > 0 {
-		tx.shieldedSpends = make([]*spend, spendCount)
-		for i := 0; i < spendCount; i++ {
-			newSpend := &spend{}
-			s, err = newSpend.ParseFromSlice([]byte(s), 4)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "while parsing shielded Spend")
-			}
-			tx.shieldedSpends[i] = newSpend
+	tx.shieldedSpends = make([]*spend, spendCount)
+	for i := 0; i < spendCount; i++ {
+		newSpend := &spend{}
+		s, err = newSpend.ParseFromSlice([]byte(s), 4)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "while parsing shielded Spend")
 		}
+		tx.shieldedSpends[i] = newSpend
 	}
 	if !s.ReadCompactSize(&outputCount) {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not read nShieldedOutput")
 	}
-	if outputCount > 0 {
-		tx.shieldedOutputs = make([]*output, outputCount)
-		for i := 0; i < outputCount; i++ {
-			newOutput := &output{}
-			s, err = newOutput.ParseFromSlice([]byte(s), 4)
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "while parsing shielded Output")
-			}
-			tx.shieldedOutputs[i] = newOutput
+	tx.shieldedOutputs = make([]*output, outputCount)
+	for i := 0; i < outputCount; i++ {
+		newOutput := &output{}
+		s, err = newOutput.ParseFromSlice([]byte(s), 4)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "while parsing shielded Output")
 		}
+		tx.shieldedOutputs[i] = newOutput
 	}
 	var joinSplitCount int
 	if !s.ReadCompactSize(&joinSplitCount) {
 		return nil, errors.New("could not read nJoinSplit")
 	}
 
+	tx.joinSplits = make([]*joinSplit, joinSplitCount)
 	if joinSplitCount > 0 {
-		tx.joinSplits = make([]*joinSplit, joinSplitCount)
 		for i := 0; i < joinSplitCount; i++ {
-			js := &joinSplit{version: 4}
+			js := &joinSplit{}
 			s, err = js.ParseFromSlice([]byte(s))
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "while parsing JoinSplit")