Revised January 2021
C. Independent Student’s Income Information to Be Verified
1. TAX RETURN FILERS—Important Note: If you (or your spouse, if married) filed, or will file, an amended
2019 IRS tax return, you must contact your financial aid administrator before completing this section.
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete this section if you, the student, filed or will file a 2019 income tax return with the IRS.
The best way to verify income is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool that is part of FAFSA on the Web. If you have
not already used the tool, go to FAFSA.gov, log in to your FAFSA record, select “Make FAFSA Corrections,” and
navigate to the Financial Information section of the form. From there, follow the instructions to determine if you
are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer 2019 IRS income tax information into your FAFSA. It takes
up to two weeks for IRS income information to be available for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for electronic IRS tax
return filers, and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers. If you need more information about when, or
how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool see your financial aid administrator.
Check the box that applies:
I, the student, have used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA on the Web to transfer my (and, if married, my
spouse’s) 2019 IRS income information into my FAFSA, either on the initial FAFSA or when making a correction
to the FAFSA. Your school will use the IRS information that was transferred in the verification process.
I, the student, have not yet used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA on the Web, but I will use the tool to transfer
my (and, if married, my spouse’s) 2019 IRS income information into my FAFSA once I have filed my 2019 IRS tax
return. See instructions above for information on how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The school cannot complete
the verification process until the IRS information has been transferred into the FAFSA.
I, the student, am unable or choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA on the Web, and I will submit
to the school 2019 IRS Tax Return Transcript(s)—not photocopies of the income tax return(s).
To obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the “Order a Return or Account Transcript”
link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Then Click on “Order a Transcript” under Item 3. Clicking on “Tax Return Transcript”
under Item 1 will not take you to the correct link. Make sure to request the “IRS Tax Return Transcript” and not the
“IRS Tax Account Transcript.” Please use the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when
your 2054 IRS tax return was filed).
Check here if your (and, if married, your spouse) IRS Tax Return Transcript(s) is attached to this
worksheet.
Check here if your (and, if married, your spouse) IRS Tax Return Transcript(s) will be submitted to the
school later. Verification cannot be completed until the IRS Tax Return Transcript(s) has been submitted
to your school.
2. TAX RETURN NONFILERS—Complete this section if you, the student (and, if married, your spouse), will not file and
is not required to file a 2019 income tax return with the IRS.
Check the box that applies:
The student (and, if married, your spouse) was not employed and had no income earned from work in 2019.
The student (and/or the student’s spouse, if married) was employed in 2019 and has listed, on the next page,
the names of all employers, the amount earned from each employer in 2019, and whether an IRS W-2 form is
attached. Attach copies of all 2019 W-2 forms issued to you (and, if married, to your spouse) by employers. List
every employer even if the employer did not issue an IRS W-2 form. If more space is needed, attach a separate page
with student’s name and student ID number at the top.