Income & Tax Documents

After applying for federal financial aid, applicants may be asked to provide income and tax documents as part of a process called verification. This step is used to confirm the accuracy of the information reported on the FAFSA and ensure that students receive the correct amount of aid based on their financial circumstances. The U.S. Department of Education or the school may select an application for verification at random or if there are discrepancies in the data provided. Submitting these documents helps verify household income, tax filing status, and other financial details, allowing for an accurate assessment of financial need.

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) during the FAFSA application can simplify the verification process. By directly importing tax information from the IRS, the tool reduces the chances of errors and helps ensure that the reported financial data is accurate. If selected for verification, applicants who used the IRS DRT may have fewer documents to provide, making the process quicker and easier.