How Students Can Obtain Tax Information

How College Students Can Obtain Tax Information for Financial Aid Purposes

We received some very helpful tax information we want to pass along to you…

Tax Day is always right around the corner. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your return, do not forget to take advantage of the Education Tax Credits available which can help offset the cost of your student’s education. Taxes, we have to admit, are not fun but necessary. As you are preparing your return or having a CPA prepare your return, do not forget to take advantage of the Education Tax Credits available which can help offset the cost of your student’s education.

The IRS has advised college students and families that, when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, they can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to obtain tax information necessary to fill out the form. Other options are also available to obtain tax information (IRS Tax Tip 2019-82). The federal government offers various forms of financial aid for college students, including loans and scholarships. To be eligible for such aid, students must fill out a FAFSA form each year, which contains financial and other relevant information on the student and the student’s family. Students filling out the form must provide information from their most recent federal tax return. Students should, therefore, keep copies of their returns. If copies of the most recent return are not available, there are several other options for the student:

• Contact the third-party tax return preparer or provider, if any, used by the student in preparing his or her return, and obtain copies from that source.
• Access the software product, if any, used to prepare the return. The student may be able to access his or her account and download the form.
• Download the tax transcript from GetTranscript Online (available on IRS.gov)
• Use Get Transcript by Mail (available on IRS.gov). The IRS will mail a return to the student within five to 10 days.
• Call the IRS’s automated telephone line at 800-908-9946 and order a transcript to be mailed.

In addition to the above options, the student can also use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDR), which can be accessed from the FAFSA website. In order to use the IDR, applicants must provide alternative documentation of their income.

Need a Printable PDF for an easy reminder?

For tax time school-specific information, check out each university.

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