FAFSA verification email received but confused about tax info import - do I wait or continue?
I'm a bit confused about the tax information import process for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Both my daughter and I just received verification emails saying we're verified and that I correctly gave consent to pull my tax information from the IRS. The form is still asking for our financial information though. Should I just stop completing those sections now and wait for it to automatically pull in our tax info? Does anyone know how long this typically takes? Is it normal to get the verification emails before the tax info gets imported? I don't want to mess anything up by entering info manually if it's going to be automatically pulled in soon.
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Genevieve Cavalier
i got those emails too last week!! i just waited and after 2 days the info showed up in my application. dont enter anything manually just wait
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Zane Hernandez
•Thanks for the quick reply! So you didn't have to do anything after getting the emails? Just wait and then the tax info appeared? That's a relief.
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Ethan Scott
This is normal in the FAFSA process. What you're experiencing is the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) confirmation. After you've authorized the tax information import, the system needs time to process. Typically takes 2-5 business days for the information to populate in your application. DO NOT manually enter the tax information while waiting as this can create discrepancies that might flag your application for verification later. Just leave those sections incomplete for now and check back in a few days.
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Zane Hernandez
•Thank you for explaining that! I was worried something had gone wrong. I'll wait the 2-5 days and check back. Should I save my progress so far, or will it automatically save what I've completed?
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Ethan Scott
•You should definitely save your progress! The FAFSA application will time out after about 30 minutes of inactivity and unsaved information could be lost. Just make sure you don't submit the final application until all the tax information has been properly imported.
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Lola Perez
I actually had this EXACT problem with my son's FAFSA last month. I got the verification emails but the tax info never showed up! Called FAFSA 17 times and kept getting disconnected. Apparently there was an issue with my AGI being different from what they expected. YOU MIGHT NEED TO MANUALLY ENTER IT if it doesn't show up after a week!!! The system isn't perfect!!
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Nathaniel Stewart
•same for me but it only took 3 days. def wait at least that long before doing anything manually
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Riya Sharma
Just to clarify something here - you mentioned "verification emails" but I think you might be mixing up two different things. The Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) confirmation emails just mean you authorized tax data transfer. Actual FAFSA verification is a separate process where the school requires additional documentation AFTER you submit. Did you already submit your FAFSA and now they're asking for verification? Or are you still in the application process?
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Zane Hernandez
•Oh! I'm still in the application process - we haven't submitted yet. The emails said something about verification of my identity and that I consented to import tax data. So I guess these are just DRT confirmation emails, not actual verification notices? I'm new to all this FAFSA terminology.
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Riya Sharma
•Yes, that makes more sense. Those are just DRT confirmation emails, not the dreaded verification selection emails (which come after submission). So you're right on track! Just wait for the tax data to import before continuing those sections.
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Santiago Diaz
When I was trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid about this exact issue last month, I kept getting disconnected or facing hours-long wait times. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an actual FAFSA agent in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent confirmed that after DRT confirmation, you should wait 3-5 business days for tax info to appear, and if it doesn't, there might be a mismatch with your tax records they need to resolve. Much better than guessing what went wrong!
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Zane Hernandez
•Thanks for the tip! If my tax info doesn't import after waiting, I might need this. Did they explain what kind of mismatches typically cause problems with the import?
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Santiago Diaz
•Yes! The agent told me common mismatches include: filing status changes from previous years, address differences between your FAFSA account and tax return, names not matching exactly (like using a nickname vs. legal name), or if you filed an amended return. Basically anything where the system can't perfectly match your identity across databases.
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Millie Long
I'm honestly scared of using the automatic import. What if it pulls wrong numbers??? I manually entered everything on my daughter's FAFSA because I've heard horror stories of the DRT importing outdated info or even pulling from the wrong tax year! Has anyone had issues with wrong data coming through??
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Ethan Scott
•The DRT system is actually designed to reduce errors, not create them. It pulls directly from IRS records, which eliminates the possibility of transcription errors that can happen with manual entry. The system specifically pulls from the correct tax year for the FAFSA you're completing. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, it will pull 2023 tax data, as required by the FAFSA Simplification Act. Manual entry actually increases your chances of being selected for verification.
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Riya Sharma
•For amended returns, the DRT will initially pull your original return data. If your amendment was processed more than 3 weeks ago, it should pull the updated information. For retirement contributions, you're right that you'll still need to manually enter some information that isn't on your tax forms. The DRT just handles the tax return data itself.
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Genevieve Cavalier
when i did my fafsa for this year the tax stuff showed up the next day! i was surprised it was so fast lol
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Zane Hernandez
•That's encouraging! I'll check again tomorrow then. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Lola Perez
JUST BE CAREFUL about priority deadlines!!! My daughter almost missed out on $12000 in grants because her FAFSA was delayed by tax import issues! Some schools have early Feb or March priority deadlines for the 2025-2026 year and if you miss those because you're waiting for the system, the money might be GONE!!! Sometimes manually entering is safer if you're close to deadlines.
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Ethan Scott
•While priority deadlines are important, rushing and manually entering tax information incorrectly can trigger verification, which causes even longer delays. Most schools understand that the FAFSA Simplification changes have created some processing issues. If you're concerned about deadlines, I'd recommend reaching out to your schools' financial aid offices directly to explain the situation rather than bypassing the DRT.
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Zane Hernandez
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to wait 3-5 business days to see if the tax information imports correctly. I'll make sure to save my progress but won't submit until everything is complete. If it doesn't import after 5 days, I'll contact Federal Student Aid (and maybe try that Claimyr service if I can't get through). I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - this is my first time filling out FAFSA and it's more complicated than I expected!
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GalacticGuru
That sounds like a solid plan! Just wanted to add that you can check the status of your tax data import by logging back into your FAFSA and looking at the "My FAFSA" page - there should be a status indicator showing whether the tax information is still pending or has been successfully imported. Also, don't stress too much about this being your first FAFSA - the process has gotten more streamlined over the years, and the automatic tax import actually makes things easier once it works. You're doing everything right by being cautious and asking questions!
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