<p>I filed on or about Feb. 12 and no payment due. BTW, love your moniker, AD.</p>
<p>AD- When you were trying repeatedly to gain access, were you using identical information each time or were you trying different combinations until you achieved success?</p>
<p>Each time I tried, I tried both RD and ROAD. I forget which one actually worked finally but that wasn’t the problem, the taxes just hadn’t been processed yet. We don’t have a direction in our address and our city has a short name. Someone above mentioned their town name had been abbreviated.</p>
<p>I am unable to get the data retrieval tool to work. My taxes were filed in February. I have sent the money we owed and the check has cleared the bank. I called the IRS and the nice agent faxed me the tax return transcript. However, it is missing the middle pages. Anyways… I use the address on there and still can’t get the tool to work. I have it typed in exactly correct. Any thoughts? WashU has asked for this to be done and I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>Thanks.
Linda</p>
<p>FINALLY!<br>
The retrieval tool worked this morning. It’s been 2-3 weeks since I filed and a good 10 days since my check cleared the bank. I guess my hyphenated name wasn’t the problem; it just takes time to get into the system. </p>
<p>While I was waiting, however, I did pop over to the FA office and ask the assistant director about the process. She just shrugged. All kinds of people are having trouble with the tool because they just don’t know HOW the IRS entered their address info. Her advice? If it retrieval tool hasn’t worked in a reasonable amount of time, just call for the transcript. Bottom line, the FA office knew about the bugs and would work with you. Just do a “will file” so they have the data and let them know you’re having issues.</p>
<p>I was told to send the tax transcript it. Everything matched on the address with what I was entering. IRS gave me no reason but they were nice enough to fax it to me.</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to send my 2011 returns but the IRS keeps saying that I have to wait for them to file electronically 
it’s been almost 2 weeks since my dad has done so. Also, if I’m using my mother’s pin and my father was the one who filed a joint return, would that affect anything?</p>
<p>All of my D’s schools either use IDOC or we sent a copy of out signed return to them. Is this FAFSA verification still a top priority in this case? I haven’t been able to retrieve mine yet (thanks to CC I learned I had to pay right away) but is it that important?</p>
<p>moonrise, I think the schools are looking for more evidence that the numbers you are sending them are the real ones you sent to the IRS, to minimize fraud. If someone wanted to cheat on financial aid (but not on their taxes), they could just make up a different tax form than the one they sent to the IRS, with totally different numbers, sign that, and send it to the colleges/IDOC. Whereas if you send a tax transcript, it confirms that those are the numbers you sent to the IRS. (Of course, someone could probably fake a tax transcript too if they really wanted…)</p>
<p>Ohhh…that makes sense. I guess I’m not devious enough the think of that. Dunno about you mathmom ;~) jk of course</p>
<p>I’ll probably give up and do manual method. Some issues with name match may also be goofing the retrieval. Will try one more time.</p>
<p>Well I have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that if you do owe money the IRS will NOT process your return until you pay. I know several people have already indicated this but the IRS seemed to be providing conflicting information. Since I did efile and choose a date in April to pay the amount owed, I cannot alter this date. I did complete the return on 02/06 so I think it’s safe to say I am out of luck until later April for getting a tax transcript or use the IRS retrieval. I still try every day but I know it’s a waste of time.</p>
<p>For any of you that do owe and need to have a transcript or use the retrieval I suggest you make your payment ASAP if you can. :(</p>
<p>Another wrinkle: My student is a first-time filer, and the IRS call center told me yesterday that is what is holding up the processing of his return. He owed money because of scholarships, but his check was cashed weeks ago. She made a request for an IRS advocate to call me (interesting), but told me it would take at least a week to even get the call. So, no joy.</p>
<p>I am from UNC Chapel Hill. I filed about 6 weeks ago (owe money to IRS). I paid the amount. But still cannot get transcript. Anyone from UNC who are in the same boat?</p>
<p>For all those who owed money on their 2011 return and waiting for transcript.</p>
<p>I understand from IRS that regardless of when the money due is paid transcript will not be available till mid May. I just got back from an IRS local field office where I had to wait more than two hours to talk to an agent. I filed my return on 2/8/2012. At this point like several others I have resigned to the fact that I may have to wait till mid May and will keep trying to retrieve data for FAFSA correction hoping for miracle. I have obtained a computer generated output from the local office with their stamp that shows the return has been received. This also contains all of the data that one would see in a transcript. This is not an official transcript. I will submit this to schools and hope they will at least process the aid application for my son.</p>
<p>
I know that to be false as there have been a few CC posters who have owed, paid, and were able to use the retrieval tool within about 3-4 weeks. Just look back on this thread and you will see.;)</p>
<p>hutch14 and notrichenough were two of the posters who had success after paying.</p>
<p>Add me to the list of people who owed taxes who were able to use the tool (for the parent return, anyway). We were able to use the retrieval tool exactly 21 business days from the date our return was accepted. Our check was cashed shortly after we e-filed.</p>
<p>Me, too. Owed taxes, paid (after the very helpful advice to do so that I found on this board!), and was able to use the tool about 3 weeks after filing, maybe 12 days after the check cleared my bank. D1 was a first time tax filer with a refund. The tool worked for her before it worked for me.</p>
<p>@scion - Please let us know if your substitute transcript works.</p>
<p>@crazymomster : Sure, I have submitted it to colleges. Will post here once I hear back from them</p>