IRS Data Retrieval Process

• Go to www.studentaid.gov
• Login and enter your FSA ID and password.  If you have not created an FSA ID and password, click "Enter the Student's Information".  If you are a dependent student, your parent will need to create an FSA ID and password.  Once your ID has been confirmed (and parent, if dependent), follow the remaining steps:

For Dependent Students (student and/or parent filed taxes):

• Click on Make FAFSA Corrections
• Click on "Financial Information"
• Parent Financial Information section will display
• Answer series of questions, if all answers are "No", screen will say "Link to IRS", click on that and then click OK
• You are now in the IRS website - choose filing status
• Complete address lines EXACTLY the way the tax return was typed
• Bottom of screen, check box "Transfer My Tax Information" and click box that says "Transfer Now"
• You will now be back into the FAFSA - go to bottom of screen click Next
• You will be at the Student financial information section of the FAFSA. Follow steps above.
• At the "Sign and Submit" page, check agree for both student and parent
• Click "Submit My FAFSA Now"

For Independent Students that filed taxes:

• Click on Make FAFSA Corrections
• Click on "Financial Information"
• Answer series of questions, if all answers are "No", screen will say "Link to IRS", click on that and then click OK
• You are now in the IRS website - choose filing status
• Complete address lines EXACTLY the way the tax return was typed
• Bottom of screen, check box "Transfer My Tax Information" and click box that says "Transfer Now"
• You will now be back into the FAFSA - go to bottom of screen click Next
• At the "Sign and Submit" page, check agree
• Click "Submit My FAFSA Now"

OR

• Get Transcript
• Phone Number: 1-800-908-9946

Definition

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is a process that helps simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by allowing online FAFSA filers to retrieve tax return data directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We no longer can accept copies of your federal tax return. The retrieval tool is a secure process that saves time and increases accuracy of your FAFSA data.

Am I eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

Most students and parents who filed a U.S tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) if they have already filed their taxes.

However, there are a few scenarios in which students and parents are ineligible to use the IRS DRT, such as:

• The student/parent is married, and either the student/parent or his/her spouse filed as Married Filing Separately.
• The student/parent is married, and either the student/parent or his/her spouse filed as Head of Household.
• The parents’ marital status is "Unmarried and both legal parents living together."
• The student/parent filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return.

Any students or parents who meet the above criteria will need to enter their tax return information manually.

Additionally, students or parents who filed their tax returns electronically within the last three weeks, or through the mail within the last 11 weeks, might need to enter their tax return information manually or return at a later date to transfer their tax return information into the FAFSA, as their tax return information might not be available for transfer from the IRS.