Hello, I submitted my FAFSA around the end of Jan, and I thought I was done but my counselor told me that I have to use the IRS retrieval tool to make sure that I and my parents have not made any mistakes. However, I logged in to make corrections ( to use the tool) and it says that I have to wait around 2-3 weeks to use the tool. I have waited about a month now and still I can’t use it. Now the question is, do I have to use it?
Also, if I decide to wait for it ( if it allows me to use the tool) I think I might miss the due date of March 2nd (CA resident)
so… should I just not use it? or do they look at the date that I first submitted it?
Thank you .
The March 2nd deadline is for the date you submit the FAFSA - you can go back and make corrections of any kind after that. For the Cal-grant, the submission date is the only thing that matters regardless of whether the figures are accurate.
Do your parents owe the IRS for their taxes? If so, they won’t be able to use the retrieval tool (DRT) until they have paid the IRS and the payment has been processed.
If your parents are receiving a tax refund, the DRT should be able to be used sometimes just a few days after the IRS has processed the return and issued the refund.
I need to submit my FAFSA but since I can’t use the tool yet, I have no changes to make and it doesn’t allow me to submit it.
Yes I think I’m still waiting for it to be processed.( Although I’m sure it’s already processed) But that would take awhile I’m guessing and my counselor told me that using the IRS retrieval tool will take around 3 weeks.
So it’s ok to go back to FAFSA to use the tool?
thank you so much!
If you are getting a refund, you may be able to do DRT two weeks after e-filing.
Why do you need to submit your fafsa without any changes? What do you think you’re still waiting for to be processed, fafsa or the tax returns? The 2-3 weeks is after tax returns are e-filed. But note what kgos16 said, if a payment amount is required, the DRT won’t be available until after that amount is paid.
My fafsa is complete but it’s just that I want to use the retrieval tool before I finally submit it… I guess I’m waiting for it to be processed :o lol sorry for the confusion.
The IRS retrieval tool is used to link your (filed with IRS) 2014 tax return with the FAFSA. Did your parents/you file a tax return for 2014 yet? If not there is nothing to link to with the retrieval tool.
If taxes have been filed - were they filed electronically? Did you have to pay the IRS or did you get a refund? If you had to pay - how was it paid (mailed check/credit card online)?
Answers to these questions will clarify where you stand and the timeline for using the retrieval tool.
Yes! My parent did file a tax return for 2014. On the FAFSA it says that my parents are allowed to use the retrieval tool so I’m guessing that I just have to wait until it is processed. ( my parents filed it electronically, which concerns me that the tool isn’t working yet because it’s been 3 weeks)
and no, I didn’t have to pay or get a refund.
I just called FAFSA help line and they said that I just have to wait to use the tool (although it’s not required) and it doesn’t matter that I go back and use this after the deadline.
If you or your parents are entitled to tax refund you can find out the status of tax return from the IRS. Google “where is my refund”. It should show status “Refund Approved” before DRT will work.
Did you answer questions 32 and 80 as “Already Filed”?
Follow these directions and try again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZNRdk3iXeM
I know people who were able to upload the data retrieval tool in less than 10 days