<p>I've been not wanting to post this for a bit now, but I figured some of y'all might have some good advice.</p>
<p>My parent's taxes were filed sometime the week of Feb. 18th-- so it's been a month, and we are still not able to use the data retrieval tool on FAFSA, despite my checking about twice a day. (Our 2012 return tax transcripts are also not order-able). My own 1040 taxes were filed at the same time and I was able to use the tool about two weeks after filed/two weeks since today.</p>
<p>My parents taxes used forms 1040 (and the Schedule C/SE Tax), form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit), 2441 (Child/Dependent Care Expenses), and 8863 (Education Credits). I understand that the IRS has been accepting all forms for just under two weeks now (since the 4th) and was not processing 8863s until mid-Feb.</p>
<p>Our tax payment has been withdrawn (on Feb. 28). We use a tax preparer (who is not familiar with this), and though he has told us that the tax return was 'accepted/processed,' he claims he cannot get a date (my father is going to see him later tonight).</p>
<p>Is the date the IRS cashes the check the time it is 'processed' (which means I should start panicking in another three days)? Does anybody have any helpful pieces of advice? Thanks!</p>
<p>When you go from the FAFSA website to the IRS database to do the data retrieval, it says that taxes filed electronically take at least 3 weeks from date of receipt, and taxes via mail take 6-8 weeks to show up on the data retrieval tool. There may not be a problem, depending on how your parents filed.</p>
<p>Same issue. 3 returns 2 of 3 No problem. The one that is hung up was one where taxes were due. Taxes paid by Turbo Tax service provider on Feb. 4th. Still not able to link or order transcripts. I am way past 3 weeks. I am going to call IRS will report progress here.</p>
<p>So my dad called the IRS twice today-- apparently, two different reps told him that the IRS is not processing any returns that involve payments until 4/15, only returns with refunds. Not sure if that’s true, but will keep trying the process (in blind hope, I suppose) anyways.</p>
<p>NJSue-- the taxes were efiled, so I know I’m working with a 2-3 week timeframe, but now it looks like I’ll be waiting for another month.</p>
<p>That appears to be the standard line the IRS reps give, yet others on CC report owing and making payment and using the tool before that, including my son last year. My son could use it about 2 weeks after he mailed in the payment. He mailed the payment late February and could use the tool mid-March.</p>
<p>I checked today and was still not able to use the data tool. I posted the info below on 2 other threads:</p>
<p>New at this and originally posted this on the wrong thread, any advice or help will be greatly appreciated. E-filed on 2/6 without tax payment. Sent payment check on 2/26 which was cashed on 3/4. Called IRS yesterday and spoke to several people who told me tax return will be processed after 4/15 and possibly not until May. This means I will not be able to use the DRT until May or June. Extremely concerned at this point, does anyone else have a similar problem?</p>
<p>I scheduled my tax payment to be withdrawn on 4/15 then cancelled and paid by check when I learned that I need to pay taxes before I could use the tool. I checked again today and couldn’t use the tool. My S financial aid priority deadline was 3/15 so I am starting to get worried.</p>
<p>Well that’s interesting. We sent in checks this year (no refund) so I guess I won’t be able to use data retrieval by the April 1 deadline for unsub Stafford at my D’s school. What a pain. I hate typing in all those numbers.</p>
<p>I called IRS last week and was told by several reps that tax returns with refunds are processed first and then returns with payments due are processed afterward. Some returns may not be processed until the end of April or the beginning of May. If this is true in my case, I won’t be able to use the data tool until May and possibly June which would make my S miss all his financial aid deadlines so I am panicked at this point.</p>
<p>I’m in the same situation. I e-filed on 2/1 and paid on 2/4. I’m still unable to use the DRT. I called the IRS a few weeks ago and one woman told me that my return would be processed on 3/11, but that didn’t happen. Another man gave me the generic 4/15 date. It’s quite frustrating as my financial aid application will not be processed until I use the DRT or have a tax transcript in hand.</p>
<p>momqueen, if you have typed the numbers in by hand, your son should not miss financial aid deadlines just because you can’t use the DRT. </p>
<p>HOWEVER, several posters here have been reporting that their school will not release a financial aid offer or even estimate for students who have been unable to use the DRT, and that certainly is problematic if the IRS is systematically not processing returns where money is owed. If it’s true that families who owe won’t be able to use the DRT until after April 15th, that’s a change since last year, but schools probably made their policies based on the way things worked last year. So… best of luck to all the families that need to work with schools to get packages released so they can make an informed decision about where their child will attend!</p>
<p>mathmomvt, I have the same problem as the other posters.</p>
<p>I called the school several times and was told S financial aid is frozen and nothing is going to be done until we use the DRT which means school is not even estimating his financial aid. I emailed the school yesterday to see if he will be penalized if I cannot use DRT until May or June because I want a response in writing. It seems the IRS is processing some returns with payment owed and not others like mine this year .</p>
<p>My school accepted 2012 tax transcripts if you are unable to use the data retrieval tool. It only took a week to come in the mail. Check with your schools to see if they will accept it. If they do accept them then I would go for this option if the fafsa deadline is coming at your school.</p>
<p>E2S-- Wait, I hadn’t realized that… that may be the case (a foreign tax return), but our transcripts aren’t ready yet either. I suppose I’ll keep on doing both and seeing if one is ever ready. This is the first year they’ve filed the 1116 (for a tax credit of…three.dollars), though my father has just been paying the double taxes for a while now.</p>
<p>Just one thing to check - the address on the one that isn’t going through. The presence or lack of a period (like “St.” vs “St” or “N” vs N." or “Avenue” vs “Ave” vs “Ave.”) can make it not work. Just something to double check - make sure you type in EXACTLY what you put on the actual return. I had trouble with one of our 2 until I checked and realized I’d dropped a period on the actual return.</p>
<p>I am having the same problem with my son’s retrieval. We e-filed (with a refund) and two weeks later we were able to use the retrieval. My son (owed money) e-filed on 02/15 with the money to be deducted on 02/22. As of today, we still cannot get the retrieval to work. It irks me as we had the problem last year and I was told by the IRS that the return would not be processed until payment was made so I purposely paid the return so that we could get the information before April. :(</p>
<p>How many who owed money were able to use the DRT? I called the IRS as it’s been almost 6 weeks and I still can’t use it to retrieve my son’s return (he owed money). They also told me that LEGALLY they can’t process returns with balance owed as the money is technically not DUE until April 15th. Starting on the 16th they will process the returns with money due on a FIFO basis. </p>
<p>I don’t understand how some of you are able to use the DRT if that is true. I know returns with refunds are able to as we were getting a refund and I could download our info within two weeks of filing. I am curious as to why there is inconsistency with this.</p>