IRS Data Retrieval Tool
and Tax Return Transcripts Instructions
How to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA
o Go to www.studentaid.gov
o Login to using the students' FSA ID (https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm)
o From the Dashboard, select ‘Apply for Aid’, click ‘Go to the FAFSA Form’, click ‘Log In’, select ‘I am the student’ or ‘I am a parent, preparer,
or student from a Freely Associated State, login with FSA ID and password, click ‘Next’, click to ‘Accept’ the disclaimer
o Select Make FAFSA Corrections and then create a temporary Save Key, click ‘Next’, click ‘Ok’
o Navigate to the Financial Information section of the application
o Follow the on-screen instructions. Based on your answers FAFSA will determine if the student or parent(s) can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
to transfer
2018 IRS income tax information into the FAFSA. If eligible to use the tool you will see a button that says Link to IRS
o Click the Link to IRS button which will redirect you to the Internal Revenue Service web site. A message will display explaining you are
‘leaving FAFSA on the web’. To continue with transferring your information, click Proceed to IRS site. Notice: for parent’s, you must enter the
parent’s FSA ID before clicking the Link to IRS button.
o Enter your address (m ust match your 2018 Federal Income Tax Return), city, state and zip code. Click Submit in the bottom right corner of the page.
o To transfer the data, click the box to place a checkmark under Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA section and then click the
Transfer Now button.
o Once you’ve transferred the data into FAFSA you will see Transferred from the IRS next to each question where the information was
transferred.
Notice: do not click ‘save’ and exit the application as you still need to finish the rest of the application. At the end of the application you need to
make sure you, and your parent (if applicable), sign your FAFSA using your FSA ID.
How to request your 2018 Tax Return Transcript or Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS
From the IRS website, you can request a tax return transcript through their Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript by Mail options by clicking on the
‘Get Your Tax Record’. You can also contact the IRS by phone to request your tax return transcript. Note: the method you used to file your return and
whether you have a refund or balance due, affects your current year transcript availability.
To register and use this service, you need:
• Full Name;
• Access to your email account;
• Date of birth;
• Your Social Security Number or Individual Tax
Identification Number (ITIN);
• Tax Filing Status and mailing address from latest
tax return;
• Current address;
• Personal account number from a credit card,
mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of
credit or car loan and,
• Mobile phone with your name on the account.
Note: if account setup is successful you will be able
to download and/or print your tax return transcript.
To use this service you need:
• Your Social Security Number or Individual
Tax Identification Number (ITIN);
• Date of birth and,
• Mailing address from your latest tax return
Note: transcripts generally arrive in 5-10
calendar days to the address the IRS has on file
for you. The IRS will never send an email
requesting that you obtain or access your
transcripts. If you receive such a notice, please
forward to the IRS fraud group at
phishing@irs.gov
.
Call (800) 908-9946 and follow the
telephone prompts.
Notice: Be sure to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript – not an IRS Tax Account Transcript. 2018 IRS Verification of Non-
Filing Letters must be dated on or after October 1, 2018.
