Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when applying for student financial aid

It is that time of the year when many parents and students are working on obtaining financial aid to pursue higher education.  Tax On Wheels, LLC does not prepare FAFSA forms but we may be able to assist you by making sure you have the necessary tax forms to complete your FAFSA quickly and efficiently.  Even better, the IRS offers a Data Retrieval Tool to securely transfer your tax information to your institution of higher learning.

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal student aid is easier than ever! Submitting the FAFSA is free, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career schools. If you are a student or parent, you can now access your IRS tax return information using the 2013-2014 IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This is an easy and secure way to access and transfer your tax return information directly into your FAFSA application.
If you are eligible to 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 return data.
  2. It’s the best way to ensure that your FAFSA has accurate tax information.
  3. You will not need to provide a copy of your or your parents’ tax returns to your college.

Students or parents who filed tax returns with certain filing statuses, filed an amended tax return, or filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return, are not eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and will need to enter their tax return information manually.

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 enter their tax return information manually or 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 ineligible, or otherwise choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to retrieve tax return information, your college may require a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript (or your parents’ IRS Tax Return Transcript, if you are a dependent student). To order an IRS Tax Return Transcript, call 1.800.908.9946, go to Order a Return or Account Transcript at www.IRS.gov or use the IRS2Go mobile application.

The 2013-2014 IRS Data Retrieval Tool, for obtaining tax return information, will be available on the FAFSA website at www.FAFSA.gov beginning early February 2013.

 

Call Tax On Wheels, LLC 803 732-4288 if we may be of assistance to you.