FAFSA delays affecting IRS tax return processing? 570 & 971 codes keeping my refund on hold

Those codes are usually just random review flags. Probably has NOTHING to do with FAFSA tbh. The IRS and Dept of Education don't communicate that way. They both just verify your info separately.

I'm going through the EXACT same thing!!!! Filed Feb 3, got those same codes early March, still waiting!!! I also have a kid starting college this fall and submitted FAFSA right after filing. Something is definitely up with the connection between FAFSA and tax returns this year. My sister didn't apply for FAFSA and got her refund in 9 days.

Tax specialist here. There is absolutely no connection between FAFSA applications and IRS processing delays. The 570/971 combo typically indicates one of several things: 1. Random review selection (most common) 2. Income verification against W-2/1099 records 3. Credits claimed that triggered additional review 4. Math error corrections The IRS is severely understaffed this year, and certain review categories are taking 8-12 weeks rather than the usual 3-4. There is no need to panic, but unfortunately nothing will speed up the process except waiting.

I worked with someone who had this exact situation last month - filed in February, got the 570/971 codes, and it was driving them crazy because they needed the money for college expenses. They tried calling the IRS multiple times but kept getting disconnected or waiting hours without speaking to anyone. They finally used Claimyr.com which got them through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to tell them their refund was just delayed due to random review and would be processed within two weeks. You might want to check their video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ to see how it works. Saved them literally days of frustration.

the IRS is a JOKE!!!!!! i'm 99% sure they deliberately delay refunds to people who need them the most. had same codes last year and waited 4 MONTHS for my $3200 refund. meanwhile my rich uncle who OWES taxes every year gets processed instantly. the system is designed to punish working families.

have u checked your transcript again recently?? sometimes the codes update with new dates but the wheres my refund tool stays the same. i had my 570 code date change twice before i got my $$$

This is completely normal for 2025-2026 FAFSA applicants this year. The Department of Education's new system has caused major delays in processing, and while they don't directly interact with IRS systems during filing season, there is an increased verification process happening behind the scenes. For families with dependent students filing FAFSAs, approximately 18-22% are being selected for random income verification this cycle, compared to the usual 8-10% in prior years. This is likely triggering additional IRS review flags, which appear as the 570/971 combination on transcripts. The good news is that these delays rarely result in any actual adjustments to your tax return or FAFSA eligibility. Based on the timeline you described, you should see movement within the next 2-3 weeks. If you need your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation for your daughter's college decisions, contact the financial aid offices directly - most are aware of these delays and have provisional award processes in place.

UPDATE: My refund showed up today!!!! Exactly 11 weeks after filing. No letter, no explanation, just suddenly there. So there's hope for you too @OP!

Quick tip that might help others: For anyone dealing with these delays and needing to make college financial decisions, contact your school's financial aid office directly. Many colleges have implemented provisional aid award processes specifically to deal with the FAFSA processing backlog this year. They can often use estimated SAI calculations based on tax return copies you provide directly to them while waiting for official FAFSA processing. This won't help with the tax refund delay, but it can at least keep your college financial planning on track.

My friend works at the IRS (not supposed to tell me this stuff but whatever) and she says they're prioritizing processing people who OWE money first, then doing refunds after. So if you're getting a refund, you're automatically at the back of the line. Has nothing to do with FAFSA - just how they maximize revenue collection.