Trying to Link to IRS through FAFSA and it says that the tool is not available. Does anyone have the same problem?
I was trying to do the same thing and kept running into issues, so I chatted with someone on the FAFSA site. It’s a problem at THEIR end, so yes, it’s down and they don’t seem to know when it will be back up. Ugh
@flmom001 Thank you for your reply. Hopefully they will have it fixed soon.
Anyway, here is the error message I got: “This service will be unavailable due to system maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience. If more information is available, you can find it by selecting the service from the Tools page.”
You can submit the fafsa by hand entering the numbers. Then once it’s processed, you can go back in…and link to the IRS DRT and submit again.
If you have a deadline to meet!
@thumper1 Good to know. Thanks, though we don’t have a very close deadline yet.
Still down. I’ve been trying since yesterday. Do you know if it’s on the FAFSA side or IRS side? Deadline is next week, but if I had to hand enter tax info and submit, can I come back later and relink after it’s submitted? I’m totally new to this so if anyone has info, I would appreciate it.
You can enter the numbers from your 2015 tax return yourself…and submit. Then once the fafsa is processed, you can go back and link to the DRT…assuming it’s up and running.
I’ve been trying since friday
It’s been down since Saturday for me. I am going to wait a bit and after submit it manually which is something I’d like to avoid as I’d done this in the pass and have always needed to go back to the school to verify and i cant really do that now.
You can enter manually now…if you have a deadline to meet. Then you can go back in later and link to the DRT.
@thumper1 In that case I will do it your way. Thank you.
Then folks should submit their fafsa by manually entering the data from their 2015 tax return to meet deadlines…or get it done.
If the DRT becomes functional they can also go back into their fafsa and amend to link to the DRT and resubmit.
It would probably also be smart to request a tax transcript…just in case you are selected for verification and cannot link to the DRT.
Agree. And folks will need to dig up their 2015 taxes. I keep all of mine in a folder on my computer as PDFs, and also hard copies, but I suspect this will be a challenge for some kids.
I’m selfishly glad I did my FA paperwork early this year, back in the fall, even though it wasn’t due until this month (returning student).
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2017/03/10/irs-temporarily-shuts-down-tool-used-to-complete-fafsa/amp/
Here it is - it will be unavailable for several weeks. Good thing most everyone should have already submitted for next year.
I spent two days trying to make that thing work before finally finding a badly publicized press release about it from the IRS. You’d think instead of a “this tool is down for maintenance” error message it would actually give you useful information – you know, like maybe that it’s going to be down for the next few weeks and that you shouldn’t waste any more time trying it.
It’s infuriating because now I have no idea if I will be able to get the financial aid I’ve already been awarded by my safety school. Apparently I have to do a FAFSA verification before the 15th or I’m SOL. So I’ve no idea what is going to happen. Worst case scenario is I waste a year of my life waiting for Fall 2018. Who knows what can happen btwn now and then, I’m old and only getting older. Inertia is fickle.
If there’s a problem completing an application, you can ask the college how they’d like you to proceed, how they’ll treat their deadlines.
The article notes: “In the meantime, families are still able to apply for financial aid. Rather than use the tool, you can manually input the relevant financial information from copies of your tax returns. If you don’t have a copy of your tax return, you can use Get Transcript Online tool (it’s still operational). You may also request a transcript online to be delivered by mail or call 1.800.908.9946, and a transcript will be delivered to your address of record within five to 10 days.”
Yeah, I contacted them tonight via email and will try calling Monday. I can’t do the Transcript tool online because I don’t have any of the required identity forms. So I can do it by phone tomorrow (if they’re open) hopefully, but it will still take awhile to process. The other issue is that the Uni sent me the “final notice” about this verification yesterday, but it was actually the first notice. I went through all of my correspondence with them and not a peep about it . . .
Anyway, I was mostly just ranting but thanks for trying to help anyway.
When did you DO your FAFSA? It’s been available for filing since October 1, 2016. And the DRT was functioning just fine until about a week and a half ago.
If you live close to an IRS office, you might be able to get transcript there.
If you are high need, low EFC, it is in your best interest to do FAFSA as soon as possible. State aid has deadlines too. And SEOG and Federal work study is given out first come first served.
The college will tell you what forms they need.
I’ve already done the FAFSA (submitted Oct. 17th), but I entered the info manually since I always keep a copy of my taxes on my computer and it seemed easier. Big mistake. They’ve already given me an award package but, like I said, Thurs was the first I’d heard about verification.
Good call on going to an office. I’ve submitted the request for transcript by post but if they don’t give me an extension then I’ll try to get one in person and, I guess, spend a few hrs driving there and back.