FAFSA requesting IRS return directly & MFA issues — new process?

Yes! The system has completely changed this year. The direct IRS retrieval is now mandatory for all contributors (parents/spouses). It's part of the FAFSA Simplification Act's final implementation phase. The old manual entry option is gone. As for the MFA issues - I had similar problems. You need to update your contact info in your FSA ID account separately before trying to log into the FAFSA system again. The email confirmations are delayed by about 3-5 days right now due to system overload.

Thank you for confirming! I was starting to think I was doing something wrong. Do you know if I need to completely start over with my son's application since I got locked out before completing the IRS retrieval part? Or will it save my progress once I fix the FSA ID contact info?

the irs thing is super annoying!!! took me like 4 tries to get it to work for my kid. kept saying it couldn't verify my identity even tho i was putting in EXACTLY what was on my taxes lol. email confirmations are totally broken this year too, i never got any either

Did you eventually get it to work? What finally fixed it for you? I'm dreading having to try again.

yeah eventually it worked but honestly i have no idea why. just kept trying exact same info and suddenly it went through on like the 5th attempt. whole system is a mess this year

This is indeed the new standard process for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. The direct IRS data retrieval is now mandatory for all contributors to enhance accuracy and reduce verification requirements. Regarding your MFA issues, I recommend these steps:\n\n1. Go to studentaid.gov (not through the FAFSA application)\n2. Update your contact information in your FSA ID profile\n3. Wait 24-48 hours for changes to propagate through the system\n4. Then attempt to log back in to continue your children's applications\n\nThe applications should save your progress for 45 days, so you won't need to start over. Email confirmations are currently experiencing delays of 3-7 days due to the high volume of applications being processed.

This is extremely helpful, thank you! I'll update my contact info right away. Is there any way to check if the IRS data retrieval actually went through for my daughter's application before I got locked out of my son's?

Yes, you can check the status by logging into your daughter's FAFSA application and viewing the contributor section. It will show

I'm having the EXACT same issue with my triplets' applications!! The MFA keeps sending codes to my husband's email even though I'm the one doing the FAFSA (as I've done for years). When I finally got in, I completed the IRS retrieval for one kid but then got completely locked out when trying for the second one. It's been a WEEK and still no confirmation emails. Called FSA three times but kept getting disconnected after 2+ hours on hold each time. This is beyond frustrating!!!

I was having the same nightmare with calling FSA until someone on another forum recommended using Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. It worked amazingly well - got connected to an actual person in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent was able to confirm my IRS retrievals were actually processed successfully even though I never got emails, and they fixed my contact info so I could log back in. Might be worth trying if you're still stuck.

THANK YOU for this suggestion!! After another failed 90-minute hold attempt today I was ready to throw my phone against the wall. I'll definitely check out that service because I NEED to get this resolved before the priority deadlines hit next month.

wait i thought the new FAFSA wasn't supposed to need parent tax info anymore?? isnt that what all the \

No, the FAFSA still requires parent financial info for dependent students. What changed is they simplified the form (fewer questions overall) and they replaced the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) with the SAI (Student Aid Index). The direct IRS retrieval is actually part of the simplification - it's supposed to make the process easier by pulling tax data directly rather than manual entry, but the rollout has been problematic for many families.

ohhhh that makes more sense. so many changes its hard to keep track of what's what

This whole FAFSA system is a DISASTER this year!!! I work in a college financial aid office and we're seeing THOUSANDS of families with these exact issues. The direct IRS retrieval is causing massive problems nationwide. Many parents are getting locked out, and the system is failing to send confirmations. Even worse, many completed applications aren't being transmitted to colleges correctly! MY ADVICE: after completing each application, SCREENSHOT EVERYTHING as proof. And follow up directly with your schools' financial aid offices to confirm they received the FAFSA data. Don't trust the system to work properly!

Oh no, that's even more concerning! I had no idea the problems were that widespread. I'll definitely start taking screenshots. Do you know if there's any way to bypass the IRS retrieval if it keeps failing? Or are we just stuck trying repeatedly until it works?

Unfortunately, there's NO bypass option this year - the direct IRS retrieval is mandatory. If it keeps failing, you'll need to contact Federal Student Aid directly. Just be prepared for LONG hold times. The only

Quick update on this issue - FSA just released a statement acknowledging the MFA and IRS retrieval problems. They're implementing fixes this weekend, and they've extended many school priority deadlines by 2 weeks as a result. You might want to check with your kids' schools to see if they've adjusted their deadlines.

That's a huge relief! I was stressing about missing deadlines. I'll definitely reach out to their schools to check on the extended dates. Thanks for the update!

My daighter did her FASFA last month and I had no issues with the IRS part? It was actually easier than previous years for me. Maybe they fixed it recently?

must be nice lol... system definitely still broken for most of us. depends on which day u try and probably how complicated ur tax stuff is