I'm having this exact same issue! I've been trying to use the DRT for three days now and keep getting the same error message. Reading through everyone's suggestions here has been so helpful - I had no idea this was affecting so many people. I'm going to start with checking my address formatting since that seems like the simplest fix to try first. If that doesn't work, I'll try switching browsers and disabling my extensions. Really hoping I don't have to resort to that 3 AM attempt, but honestly at this point I'm desperate enough to try anything to avoid manually entering all those tax numbers again! Has anyone heard any updates on that 72-hour fix that was mentioned?

I'm dealing with this exact same issue and it's driving me crazy! I've been trying for 4 days straight and the DRT just keeps timing out with that same "Unable to retrieve tax information" error. After reading through all these suggestions, I'm definitely going to try the address formatting fix first - I just realized I might have "Street" abbreviated as "St" on my FAFSA but spelled out fully on my tax return. If that doesn't work, I'll try Firefox with all extensions disabled since I've been using Chrome this whole time. Really hoping that Department of Education fix comes through soon because the thought of manually entering all my W-2 and 1099 information again makes me want to cry! Thank you all for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this struggle!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! I went through the exact same thing last month and it was incredibly stressful. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like there are several common culprits that cause this looping issue. The most likely fix based on what others have shared: check that your mom's name in the FAFSA matches EXACTLY how it appears on her FSA ID - including whether she used her maiden name vs married name, and any middle initials or suffixes. Even tiny differences like "Jennifer" vs "Jen" can cause the silent loop. Also double-check that you didn't include any commas in income amounts (should be 45000 not 45,000) and remove any extra punctuation from names. If those don't work, definitely try submitting late at night when there's less server traffic. I finally got mine to go through at 2am after days of trying during normal hours. The new FAFSA system is absolutely terrible - you're not alone in this frustration! Hang in there and hopefully one of these solutions will work for you before your deadline.

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to submit for the past 2 days and it's driving me absolutely crazy. Reading through everyone's responses has been super helpful though - sounds like this is a widespread problem with the new system. I'm pretty sure my issue is also related to name formatting. My mom remarried a few years ago and I think I might have entered her current married name in the FAFSA but her FSA ID probably still has her previous name. Going to double-check that tonight along with removing any commas from income fields. It's so frustrating that the system doesn't give you ANY useful error messages - just dumps you back to the beginning like nothing happened. At least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this nightmare! Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions, definitely going to try the late night submission trick if the name fixes don't work.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can confirm the timeline is incredibly stressful! One thing that helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track each school's status - when the SAI was calculated, when I confirmed they received the FAFSA data, and their typical timeline for aid packages. Most schools I called were actually pretty helpful about giving me a rough estimate of when to expect their packages. Also, don't be afraid to mention if you have competing deadlines from other schools - some financial aid offices can expedite processing if needed. The whole system really does seem designed to maximize anxiety for families, but you'll get through it! Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My daughter's SAI came through about 10 days ago, and I've been checking her student portals obsessively every day. So far only 2 out of 5 schools have updated their systems to show they received the FAFSA data. The waiting is killing me because we really need to see those aid packages to make our final decision. I called one school yesterday and they said they're running about 2-3 weeks behind their normal timeline this year due to all the FAFSA delays and changes. It's reassuring to know we're all in the same boat, but wow is this stressful when you're trying to plan for such a huge financial commitment!

Wow, I'm so relieved to find this thread! I've been dealing with the exact same "FAFSA Correction Started" phantom status since early May and have been too nervous to do anything about it. Reading everyone's experiences makes it clear this is definitely a system-wide glitch and not something we caused. I'm going to follow the advice here and click "remove myself from correction" right now. It's reassuring to see that so many of you successfully got your status changed to processing after doing this. The consistency of everyone's experiences really proves this is a FAFSA technical issue. @Logan Chiang thank you so much for the professional insight - it really helps to have confirmation from someone who works in financial aid that this is a known problem. And @Miles Hammonds that email matching tip is super helpful, I'm definitely going to verify that with my parents. I'll make sure to check back regularly for any verification requests that might pop up after removing the phantom correction. Fingers crossed I can finally get my SAI calculated and move forward with my aid applications. This whole FAFSA year has been such a mess but at least we're all figuring it out together!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! That phantom "FAFSA Correction Started" status showed up on my account around the same time as everyone else (early May) and I've been so confused about it. I definitely never started any correction myself, so it's such a relief to read that this is a widespread system glitch and not something we did wrong. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful - it's clear that clicking "remove myself from correction" is the way to go. I was hesitant before because I didn't want to mess up my application, but seeing so many success stories here gives me confidence to finally do it. @Logan Chiang thank you for the professional insight! It really helps to know this is a recognized issue from someone who works in financial aid. And @Miles Hammonds that tip about email addresses matching exactly is something I need to double-check with my parents. Going to remove myself from correction right now and then keep an eye out for any verification requests over the next few days. Hopefully I'll finally be able to get my SAI calculated and move forward with my aid applications. Thanks everyone for sharing - this thread has been such a lifesaver during what's been a really stressful FAFSA year!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm new to the FAFSA process and was getting overwhelmed by all the different forms and requirements. The MPN confusion seems to be a universal experience - it's wild that such an important form has such unclear instructions. From reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like the golden rule is: check your award letter first to see what type of loan you received, then complete the corresponding MPN. Direct loans = standard MPN (parent can be first reference even with same address), Parent PLUS = Parent PLUS MPN. It's frustrating that families have to piece this together from forums instead of getting clear guidance from financial aid offices, but I'm so grateful for communities like this where people share real experiences. Bookmarking this thread for future reference!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed discussion! I was literally panicking about the same MPN address issue for my son's Direct Subsidized Loan until I found this thread. The clarity everyone has provided here is amazing - it's now crystal clear that he should complete the standard MPN and I can be listed as the first reference despite us sharing the same address. What strikes me most is how this confusion could be completely avoided if financial aid offices just specified "standard MPN" vs "Parent PLUS MPN" instead of the vague "complete the MPN" instruction. This thread should honestly be turned into a FAQ guide! Special thanks to those who work in financial aid for providing the insider perspective - it really helps to understand the logic behind these confusing requirements.