How To Link Your Tax Income Information To Your FAFSA

If you are completing the FAFSA, we highly recommend you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer in your tax income information.  If you manually enter your tax information you may need to provide a copy of your Tax Return Transcript from the IRS (See Verification Process).

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is available for online FAFSA submittals and is accessible thought the FAFSA web site www.fafsa.gov. The retrieval tool allows FAFSA applications and parents to ability to transfer their income information from the IRS to the FAFSA.

Step 1

Log into your FAFSA application and proceed to the tab titled Financial Information tab.  Click "Link To IRS". 

 

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Step 2

You will need your FSA ID to continue. If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can create an FSA ID.

 

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Step 3

Enter personal information exactly how it appears on your tax return. 

 

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Step 4

Once information is retrieved, check the Transfer my Tax Information into the FAFSA box and then click Transfer Now. 

 

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Unable to Use IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

Enter all income information manually onto the FAFSA application.  If you are selected for verification, you will need to provide additional proof of income information to the Financial Aid Office. 

How to Obtain a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS

Tax filers can request a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS in one of three ways. Please Note: There is no charge for a Tax Return Transcript.

2022-2023 use 2020 Income Information

Online Request
  • Visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov
  • In the TOOLS section of the homepage, click "Get Your Tax Record"
  • Click "Get Transcript by MAIL"
  • Enter the information requested as prompted
  • On the next page, Type of Transcript should be "Return Transcript" for Tax Year "20xx". Click continue
  • If you are successful in requesting the Tax Return Transcript by mail, you will receive the following message:
    "We have accepted your request for a 20xx Return Transcript. Please allow 5-10 days to receive it. The transcript will be sent to the address we have on file for you."
Telephone Request
  • Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946
  • Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their social security number and the numbers in their street address. Generally this will be numbers of the street address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
  • Select "Option 2" to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter "20xx".
  • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
  • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.
Paper Request Form – IRS Form 4506T-EZ
  • IRS Form 4506T-EZ should be used instead of IRS Form 4506-T because it is sufficient to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
  • Download at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf
  • Complete lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form. Note that line 3 should be the most current address as filed with the IRS. It is the address where the IRS Tax Return Transcript will be sent. If the address has recently changed, include the address listed on the latest tax return filed on Line 4. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
  • Line 5 provides tax filers with the option to have their IRS Tax Return Transcript mailed directly to a third party by the IRS.
  • On line 6, enter "20xx" to receive IRS tax information
  • The tax filers (or spouse if requesting information from a joint tax return) must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required to request a transcript for a joint return.
  • Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506T-EZ to the appropriate address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506T-EZ.
  • Tax filers can expect to receive their transcript within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives and processes their signed request. NOTE: Processing form 4506T-EZ means verifying/validating the information provided on the form. If any information does not match the IRS records, the IRS will notify the tax filer that it was not able to provide the transcript.