New FAFSA - Do I still need to submit financial info if IRS auto-populates tax data?

Yes, this is correct! The simplified FAFSA now directly imports your tax information from the IRS using the Data Retrieval Tool which is now automatic in the process. This is one of the big improvements with the new FAFSA. You don't need to manually enter all that tax information anymore. It pulls your AGI and other relevant tax data, which significantly reduces the time needed to complete the application and improves accuracy. As long as you consented to the IRS data transfer during the application, you're good to go!

Did u get the new SAI score right away? I did mine last week and still waiting... starting to panic cause my son's school has a March 1 priority deadline!!!

The automatic IRS data transfer is correct, but there are a few things to watch for: 1. Make sure you received a confirmation number at the end 2. The system is still calculating SAI scores more slowly than planned 3. Some schools are still requiring the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA 4. If you have complex financial situations (multiple properties, businesses, etc), you might need to provide additional information The processing is taking anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks right now. If your children's schools have approaching deadlines, I recommend contacting the financial aid offices to let them know your FAFSA is submitted but processing.

dont trust it lol. my daughter's app got rejected even with the auto irs thing. they said something about "verification" and now we have to submit a bunch of stuff manually anyway. the new system is just as broken as the old one imo

I've been trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid for DAYS about this exact question!! Constant busy signals or disconnections after waiting 2+ hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me back when an agent was available. Confirmed that yes, the direct IRS data transfer is working correctly. If your kids have different biological parents or you have unusual financial circumstances, you might need to submit additional info, but for most people the auto-transfer is all you need! They have a video demo here if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

The new FAFSA is wayyyy easier but I'm worried they'll make mistakes with my info. I had to do an appeal last year because they got my parent contribution wrong, and that was WITH me inputting everything carefully myself. Not sure I trust the automatic system...

I completed FAFSAs for my twins and got confused by this too! The IRS data transfer is correct, but there's something important to understand: The new system is calculating an SAI (Student Aid Index) instead of the old EFC (Expected Family Contribution). The formula is different, so don't be shocked if your numbers look different from previous years. Also, if you have assets beyond what's reported on tax returns (investment properties, significant savings, etc.), you'll still need to report those separately. The IRS data only covers income tax information.

i completed mine in 5 min too and thought i missed something!!! lol. my daughter keeps telling me i screwed something up but the confirmation email looks legit?

One additional tip: Even though the FAFSA itself is simpler now with the IRS data transfer, make sure you're paying attention to each of your schools' individual financial aid deadlines and requirements. Some schools still require additional forms, and deadlines vary significantly. For instance, many private schools require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, and some have institutional forms as well. The streamlined FAFSA is great, but it's still just one piece of the financial aid puzzle.

As someone who just went through this process myself, I can confirm the IRS data transfer is legitimate and working as intended! I was skeptical too when my application took only 10 minutes compared to the usual hours of document gathering. The key thing to remember is that while the application process is much simpler, the processing time for SAI scores is still taking longer than expected - anywhere from a few days to several weeks. I'd recommend keeping copies of your confirmation numbers and checking the Federal Student Aid website periodically for updates. Also, since you have two kids in college, be aware that the new SAI formula handles multiple siblings differently than the old EFC system, so your aid calculations might look different this year even if your financial situation hasn't changed.