Tax Verification Resources & IRS Forms

If your college is asking for verification of your tax information in order to complete your financial aid requirements for federal student aid eligibility (FAFSA), you have the option of using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or obtaining your IRS Tax Return Transcripts. Use the information below to obtain your tax information.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on your FAFSA is the fastest and easiest way for you to provide your tax information to your college.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool links directly to IRS records to transfer tax and income information for students and parents directly to the FAFSA.  Using the IRS Match makes the FAFSA easier to complete, and simplifies follow up steps with your college.  Once you use the IRS Match to transfer information to your FAFSA, do not change the information that was transferred to your FAFSA from the IRS.

To increase the likelihood that a match will be found when using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:

• Enter name and address information EXACTLY as it is shown on the tax return
• If married, filing jointly, use the primary filer’s information
• Wait at least 2 weeks after e-filing your federal income tax return, or 4-8 weeks after submitting taxes by mail

If you could not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when you first completed your FAFSA because taxes were recently filed, log into your online FAFSA account after your Student Aid Report is available and use the tool to update the tax information for yourself and/or your parents.

1. Log into your FAFSA account at fafsa.gov.
2. Click on the link “Make FAFSA Corrections” if you previously completed a FAFSA.
3. Then click on a tab on the top of your FAFSA that says “Financial Information.”
4. On the “Financial Information” page, click on “Link to IRS.”
5. This will take you away from your FAFSA account and link you directly to an IRS page where you will enter personal information (and you will need to do all of this a second time if you are doing both student and parent retrieval). Make sure you spell your name and street address exactly as they appear on your 1040 federal tax return.
6. After you enter your personal information, follow the directions to “Submit” and then “Transfer” your IRS tax data to your FAFSA.
7. Make sure to go to the last page of your FAFSA to sign and re-submit the FAFSA.

Students and parents are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool if any of the following apply:

• A married independent applicant and spouse filed separate tax returns
• Parents of a dependent student filed separate tax returns
• The parents are married and filed as Head of Household
• Parents enter all zeroes for Social Security Number (SSN) on FAFSA
• Any student or parent with a change in marital status since filing 2019 taxes
• Any student or parent who indicates they have not already filed a tax return or will not file a tax return

Note: If you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, see “IRS Tax Return Transcript.”

Ordering Your IRS Tax Return Transcript, IRS Verification of Non-Filing, or Other IRS Documents

If you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you may need to request your IRS Tax Return Transcript. Please allow plenty of time for the IRS to fulfill your request! Processing times have been slow due to the Covid pandemic.

Request Online

This is the FASTEST way to request & receive your tax transcript. Students and parents can submit an online request to receive a tax transcript by mail by following the steps below.

1. Visit www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.
2. Click on the Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript By Mail button.
3. To use Get Transcript by Mail, you need your Social Security number (SSN) or your Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), date of birth, and address from your latest tax return.  To use Get Transcript Online, you must have the taxpayer’s SSN and additional information, including access to an email account.  This option often doesn’t work, so don’t worry – you can request to have your transcript sent by mail.
4. Click “OK” on the “This U.S. government system is for authorized use only” pop up.
5. Enter your personal information requested (SSN or ITIN, date of birth, street address, and zip code).  Your information must match your most recently filed tax return.  Note that if you or your parents filed jointly as married, tax account information is requested using the SSN or ITIN of the primary taxpayer shown on your return.
6. Select “Return Transcript” for 2017 tax year.
7. If the IRS was able to match your information, you will see a screen that confirms that your request was accepted.  If you selected Get Transcript by Mail, your tax transcript will be mailed to you in 5-10 days.  The IRS will mail the transcript to the address on file for you; unfortunately, you’re not able to ask that it be mailed to a different address.

Request by mail using Form 4506T-EZ

The English and Spanish forms linked above can be used to request IRS tax return transcripts for those whose address or name have changed.

What if your parent(s) did not file taxes?

If you are selected for verification, but your parent(s) did not file taxes, you will need to order a “Verification of Non-Filing” statement from the IRS.

To order the verification of non-filing, start by completing this form and mailing to the IRS:  IRS Form 4506T – Select Option 7

• If you provide your parent(s) information on the FAFSA (you’re considered a dependent student for FAFSA purposes), you don’t have provide verification of non-filing for yourself.
• If you are an independent student for FAFSA purposes (you don’t provide parental information), then you must provide verification of non-filing if you did not file taxes.

What if your college asks for your W2, but you can’t get it from your employer?

You can use the same form (Form 4506-T) to order a copy of your W2 from the IRS. Check the box for Option 8.