filing-the-fafsa-2015-2016-edition

Filing the FAFSA 72
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool may be used to complete
the initial FAFSA or to update the information on
the FAFSA after the student and/or parent’s federal
income tax returns have been filed. Since many
states and colleges have early financial aid deadlines,
many families will submit the FAFSA with estimated
income and tax information and later use the IRS Data
Retrieval Tool to update the information after their
federal income tax returns have been filed.
Students and parents must use the IRS Data Retrieval
Tool separately for their respective federal income tax
returns.
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool typically becomes available
the first Sunday in February and may be used 3 weeks
after filing the federal income tax return electronically
and 6-8 weeks after filing a paper federal income tax
Who Can Use the IRS
Data Retrieval Tool
• Must have a valid Social Security
Number
• Must have a FAFSA PIN
• Cannot file as married filing separately
• Cannot have a change in marital status
after the end of the tax year
• Cannot have filed an amended federal
income tax return (IRS Form 1040X)
• Cannot list a different home address on
the FAFSA and federal income tax return
• Cannot file a foreign income tax return
instead of or in addition to the U.S.
federal income tax return
return. If a balance is owed on the federal income tax return, there may be a delay in the availability of the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
To use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, the taxpayer must have a valid Social Security Number and FSA PIN
or FSA ID. Taxpayers who file a federal income tax return with a Tax ID Number (TIN) or use 000-00-0000
instead of a Social Security Number may not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
Taxpayers who are married but file separate federal income tax returns (e.g., married filing separately or
head of household) may not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Likewise, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will
not be an option if the student’s parents are unmarried but living together or if the student’s parents have
an informal separation but continue to file a joint federal income tax return (e.g., married filing jointly).
Taxpayers who have experienced a change in marital status after the end of the tax year may not use the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
Taxpayers who have filed an amended federal income tax return (IRS Form 1040X) may not use the IRS
Data Retrieval Tool, since the tool can transfer data only from the original federal income tax return.
Taxpayers who have filed foreign income tax returns instead of or in addition to a U.S. federal income
tax return may not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This includes taxpayers from the Freely Associated
States (the Republic of Palau (PW), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (MH), or the Federated States
of Micronesia (FM)), whose Social Security Numbers begin with 666, as well as taxpayers who file a
Puerto Rican tax return.
Taxpayers who list a different home address on their federal income tax returns than the home address
listed on the FAFSA may not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The two addresses must match for the IRS to
confirm the taxpayer’s identity.