The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows applicants who have already filed their federal income tax returns to prefill the answers to some questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by transferring data from their federal income tax returns. This can save the family some time in completing the FAFSA. It may also reduce the likelihood that your FAFSA will be selected for verification. Read the full article by FinAid.com for more information about the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
However, certain tax filers cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool including:
- Did not indicate on FAFSA a tax return was completed.
- Marriage date is January 2020 or later.
- First three digits of the SSN are 666.
- Filed a non-U.S. tax return.
- Married and filed as head of household, or filed separate returns.
- Neither married parent entered a valid SSN.
- Non-married parent or both married parents entered all zeroes for the SSN.
Information from a presentation by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).