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FAFSA CorrectionsHow to use the IRS Data Retrieval ToolLMSA Counseling Dept.

Why?You will need to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool so that the federal government and the colleges can verify that the financial information you entered in your FAFSA is true and accurate. If you do not use the IRS Data Retrieval tool you will not receive a financial aid award letter from ANY college.

Important things to note:You can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool 2-3 weeks after your parents/guardians have filed taxes electronicallyif they filed via the paper method you have to wait 6-11 weeks in order to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

What forms do you need in order to use the irs data retrieval tool?A copy of the 2014 IRS form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ

Go to FAFSA.GOV

2015-2016

Enter your PIN and create a passwordClick Next

Go straight to the Financial Information tab

Change from will file to Already Completed

2014

Next, you will answer a series of questions. If you answer yes to the questions, you are ineligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

2014

You will be prompted to enter a PIN number for a parent (mother/father). Enter the PINClick Link to IRS.

2014

If you have entered the correct PIN, you will see a page notifying you that you are leaving the FAFSA page. Click OK

You will then be directed to the IRS.GOV webpage. Click OK

You will then see some information that has already been entered for you, such as First Name, Last Name, and Social Security Number. You will need your parent/guardian tax form (IRS 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) to complete rest of the information.

In order to the IRS Data Retrieval to work properly, you need to have the tax form in front of you to make sure the name, filing status, address, city, state, and zip code are entered correctly. These field are case and punctuation sensitive. For example please note the differences between these different addresses:

John Appleseed, 6130 South Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60636John Appleseed, 6130 S. Wolcott St., Chicago, IL 60636JOHN APLEESEED, 6130 S. Wolcott Avenue, CHICAGO, IL 60636

To the IRS website, these are all DIFFERENT people.

Which of the addresses entered above match the IRS 1040 Form?

6130 South Wolcott AvenueChicago60636JohnAppleseedMarried Filed Jointly43211980

If the IRS was able to retrieve your parent information you should see their tax information pop up on the website. You should then check the box that says Transfer my Tax Information into the FAFSA. Click Transfer Now

Parent 20132014John Appleseed

STOP! Pay attention:Once you click Transfer, the IRS Tax Information will be AUTOMATICALLY transferred to your FAFSA.IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT TOUCH ANY OF THE FIELDS BECAUSE IF YOU DO YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE SELECTED FOR VERIFICATION!!!!

AGAIN: Do not click anything! Go straight to Sign and Submit! If you click any cell ,the information that has been transferred from the IRS website will AUTOMATICALLY be invalid! YOU WILL BE SELECTED FOR VERIFICATION!!!

PAUSE: If you (the student) indicated that you will file taxes you need to also use IRS DATA Retrieval Tool. Therefore repeat all steps.

Otherwise go to the Sign and Submit tab.

Enter the STUDENT and PARENT PIN numbers Click SIGN Click Agree Click SUBMIT MY FAFSA NOW

You have officially used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool

LMSA Counseling Dept.