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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

The FAFSA and the IRS Data Retrieval Tool


The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows students and parents to transfer the IRS tax return information needed to complete the FAFSA directly into their FAFSA from the IRS Web site.

Why should you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

We highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:

1. It’s the easiest way to provide your tax data.

2. It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.

3. You won’t need to provide a copy of your or your parents’ tax return transcripts to your college.

Who are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

Students or parents who:

1.    are married and filed as Married Filing Separately,

2.    are married and filed as Head of Household,

3.    filed an amended tax return, or

4.    filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return

All of the above are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and will need to enter their tax return information manually.

If you filed the tax returns electronically within the last three weeks or through the mail within the last eight weeks:

Additionally, students or parents who filed their tax returns electronically within the last three weeks, or through the mail within the last eight weeks, might need to either:

1.    enter their tax return information manually or

2.    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.

If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:

If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, then click Link To IRS on the FAFSA to transfer your tax return information from the IRS Web site into your FAFSA.

Note: If you previously transferred your tax return information from the IRS, or you indicate that you filed your tax return electronically within the last three weeks or through the mail within the last eight weeks, then the Link To IRS button displays once you click the “View option to link to the IRS” hyperlink.

IRS Tax Return Transcript

To request tax transcript direct click on the following link:  https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

Ramon L. Rodriguez
Financial Aid
03/06/2014