Privacy and data breach concerns have forced related government agencies to take offline the “Data Retrieval Tool” parents and students use to access financial information to apply for student loans. The tool is located on the fafsa.gov and StudentLoans.gov websites, and will remain offline until additional security is available to enhance the system.
Disabled in early March, when most are applying for financial aid, families and students must use other alternatives to obtain the required information if they did not keep a copy of the 2015 income tax return. While the Data Retrieval Tool is unavailable, FSA and the IRS remind applicants that online applications are still available and are operable.
Students and parents completing a 2016–17 and 2017–18 FAFSA should manually enter 2015 tax information (not 2016). Borrowers applying for an “Income Driven Repayment" (IDR) plan should submit alternative documentation of income to their federal loan servicers after they complete and submit the online IDR application. While the Data Retrieval Tool is unavailable, a borrower may submit a paper copy of his or her tax return, copies of pay stubs or other acceptable forms of documentation.
If a copy of the tax return is not readily available, the applicant may be able to access the tax software used to prepare the return or contact their tax preparer to obtain a copy.
Taxpayers can also retrieve a summary of a previously filed tax return, called a tax transcript, that can be viewed and downloaded from www.irs.gov/transcript at Get Transcript Online, with the proper identity verification. Additionally, Get Transcript by Mail can be accessed online, or the taxpayer can call 1-800-908-9946, and a transcript will be delivered to the address of record within five to 10 days.
For more information on or for help with:
Completing the FAFSA, visit StudentAid.gov/fafsa or call 1-800-4FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
Applying for an IDR, visit StudentAid.gov/idr