IRS verification of parents' tax information or tax-nonfiling status and of students' tax information is required by the U.S. government for all U.S. citizens and permanent residents to check a student's eligibility for federal aid. There are three different ways to complete the verification requirement:
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, available in the FAFSA for eligible tax filers.
If you can, we strongly encourage you to use this tool that allows parents and students to provide consent to the IRS to upload data from their federal tax returns at the time they complete the FAFSA. You can find instructions in FAFSA Help.
You will not be able to use IRS Data Retrieval and must complete the verification requirement using method 2 or 3 below if any of the following applies:
- You are married but filed separate returns for the 2022 tax year
- Your marital status changed after the end of the tax year on December 31, 2023
- You did not file a 2023 tax return
- Submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript. If you filed a 2023 tax return but are unable to use IRS Data Retrieval, you must request a copy of your Tax Return Transcript from the IRS and submit the transcript as part of your financial aid application materials. For more information on IRS transcripts, see the IRS Transcript Types Web page.
If you filed an amended 2023 tax return, please submit signed copies of both the original and amended returns. For more information on IRS transcripts, see the IRS Transcript Types Web page.
- If you are the parent of a dependent student or are an independent student, submit an IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter. The federal government now requires independent students and the parents of dependent students who filed a FAFSA to have the IRS verify if no tax return was filed. If you fit one of those categories and did not file a 2023 tax return, you must request a Verification of Nonfiling Letter from the IRS and submit the nonfiling letter as part of your financial aid application materials. For more information on nonfiling letters, see the IRS Transcript Types Web page.
Dependent students who did not file a 2023 tax return do NOT have to submit an IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter.
Instructions for U.S. citizens and permanent residents:
- If you filed a 2023 tax return and are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, please complete Data Retrieval in the FAFSA. You can find instructions in FAFSA Help.
Note: You must submit IRS Data Retrieval in addition to submitting copies of your 2023 tax returns to IDOC.
- If you filed a 2023 tax return but are ineligible to use IRS Data Retrieval, request a 2023 Tax Return Transcript on the IRS Web site or by submitting Form 4506-T to the IRS. 2
Note: You must submit a 2023 Tax Return Transcript in addition to submitting copies of your 2023 tax returns to IDOC.
- If you are the parent of a dependent student, or are an independent student, who did not file a 2023 tax return, request to have a Verification of Nonfiling Letter mailed directly to you. The letter provides confirmation that the IRS has no record of your filing a tax return for the year requested. You can order a Verification of Nonfiling Letter on the IRS Web site or by submitting Form 4506-T to the IRS.
Note: You must submit a 2023 Verification of Nonfiling Letter in addition to submitting a Tax Nonfiling Statement if you are the parent of a dependent student or are an independent student.
Also note: Undergraduate Financial Aid does not have control over problems that arise with IRS transcript requests. Please contact the IRS if you are experiencing difficulties.
