Your financial information is verified through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or through an IRS Tax Return Transcript. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is a feature of FAFSA on the web, which links your FAFSA with your already filed federal tax information through the IRS. You may update your FAFSA by linking to your federal taxes and pulling your tax data directly from the IRS. When you utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, the tax portion of your FAFSA is auto-filled. If you filed electronically, you must wait 2-3 weeks before the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will be available. If they were submitted by paper, your wait time will be up to 8-11 weeks. If you do not wish to complete the IRS Data Retrieval and are required for verification, you must contact the IRS to request a copy of student and/or parent’s IRS tax return transcript to provide to The Office of Financial Aid (See below, “What if I Cannot Complete the IRS Data Retrieval”).

See our IRS Data Retrieval Step by Step Guide. NOTE: The student and parent must complete the IRS Data Retrieval separately. Please ensure that you have a valid Social Security Number and have already filed taxes for the previous year.

If you cannot (or will not) complete the IRS Data Retrieval, you may request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid. (See our guide on How to Request an IRS Tax Return Transcript). You must request an IRS transcript if:

• You (or your parent) did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Process either at initial FAFSA filing or through subsequent corrections.
• You changed information after using the IRS Data retrieval process.
• Your tax status is ‘Married, filing separately.’
• Your parents filed separate tax returns.
• You (or your parent) had a change in marital status after the end of the tax year on December 31.
• You (or your parent) filed an amended tax return.
• You filed taxes outside the U.S.

If you filed an extension, filed an amended return, were a victim of tax-related identity theft, or filed non-IRS income tax return, please click this LINK for more information.