Can FAFSA automatically pull parent tax info from IRS or need to enter manually?

Theres a tool called the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) that lets you transfer ur tax info directly. Look for it when u get to the financial section of the FAFSA. Saves SO much time!

Yes, you can absolutely import tax information directly from the IRS using the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). When you reach the financial information section, there should be an option that says "Transfer Your Tax Information - Parents." Important things to know about using the DRT: 1. You'll temporarily leave the FAFSA site and be redirected to the IRS website 2. Both parents (if filing jointly) will need their FSA IDs 3. You'll need to enter the exact address used on your tax return 4. Not everyone is eligible - if you amended your taxes, filed as 'married filing separately,' or filed too recently (within last 3 weeks), you might not be able to use it The tool saves a lot of time and reduces the chance of errors. Plus, it typically means you won't need to provide tax transcripts if your child's FAFSA is selected for verification.

YEP THE DRT IS GREAT BUT SOMETIMES IT DOESNT WORK RIGHT. HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO ENTER EVERYTHING MANUALLY ANYWAY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR TAX RETURNS HANDY JUST IN CASE!!!

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is definitely the way to go. One thing I wanted to mention - when you use the DRT, you won't actually see the numbers being transferred for security reasons. The fields will show "Transferred from the IRS" instead of the actual values. This sometimes confuses people who want to verify the information, but it's a privacy protection feature. If you're having trouble finding it, sometimes it helps to log out completely, clear your browser cache, and start fresh. Also, make sure you're using the studentaid.gov site and not a third-party site that might be claiming to help with FAFSA.

I spent HOURS trying to get the stupid DRT to work for me last month. Kept getting error messages even though I'm definitely eligible. Finally called the Federal Student Aid helpline but waited 2+ hours and got disconnected THREE TIMES. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual person at FSA in under 10 minutes. They helped walk me through the DRT process and figured out I was entering my address differently than it appeared on my tax return (I had "Street" spelled out but my tax return had "St"). Such a small thing but it was blocking everything! They have a video demo too: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Worth trying if you get stuck with the DRT - way better than entering everything manually!

When I did my daughter's FAFSA I acidentally skipped past the DRT option and didn't realize until I'd already manually entered everything. Double check you didn't just click through that screen too quickly! It should definitely be there unless the system is having issues.

Quick update for everyone following this thread - the newest FAFSA (2025-2026) moved the DRT option to a slightly different location than previous years. After selecting that you've completed your taxes, look for "Link to IRS" rather than the old "Transfer Your Tax Information" wording. The functionality is the same, but the labeling changed slightly in the latest update.

MAKE SURE YOUR USING CHROME OR EDGE!!!!! SAFARI DOESNT WORK RIGHT WITH THE DRT SOMETIMES!!!!! LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY

Update: We finally got it to work! The button was indeed labeled "Link to IRS" like someone mentioned. We had to switch from Safari to Chrome and make sure we entered our address EXACTLY as it appeared on our tax return (including abbreviations). The best part is that it pulled in everything automatically - our AGI, taxes paid, schedules, everything! Thank you all for your help, this saved us so much time and stress.

So glad to see this thread helped you get it working! For anyone else reading this later - the key tips that seem to work consistently are: 1) Use Chrome or Edge browser, 2) Look for "Link to IRS" button (not the old "Transfer" wording), 3) Enter your address EXACTLY as it appears on your tax return including all abbreviations, and 4) Make sure you filed your taxes at least 3 weeks ago. The DRT really does save tons of time once you get past the initial setup hurdles!