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.

I'm a new parent going through this process for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My daughter is a high school senior and I was dreading the FAFSA after hearing horror stories from other parents about spending entire weekends gathering documents. When I completed it in about 15 minutes yesterday, I was convinced I had done something wrong. Reading everyone's experiences here confirms that the new IRS data transfer is legit. One question though - for those who have received their SAI scores, are you finding that schools are processing financial aid packages faster this year, or is everything still delayed? I'm trying to help my daughter make her final college decision by May 1st and wondering if we should expect aid letters to come later than usual.

I just wanted to add my experience as someone who works in a university financial aid office - you absolutely did everything correctly! The new FAFSA's Direct Data Exchange (DDX) with the IRS is one of the most significant improvements we've seen. It eliminates most of the manual data entry errors we used to deal with constantly. However, I'd recommend a few things: 1) Screenshot or save your confirmation pages, 2) Don't be alarmed if your SAI looks different from previous years' EFC - the calculation formula changed significantly, and 3) If you have any unusual circumstances (job loss, medical expenses, etc.) that aren't reflected in your 2022 tax return, contact your schools' aid offices about professional judgment reviews. The system is working as designed, even though it feels almost too easy compared to the old process!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly reassuring! I just completed my first FAFSA for my son who's starting college in the fall, and like many of you, I was shocked that it only took about 20 minutes compared to the horror stories I'd heard from other parents. The IRS data transfer feature really does work seamlessly - it pulled all our tax information automatically after we consented to the data sharing. I was initially worried we'd missed something crucial, but reading everyone's experiences here confirms we're on the right track. One thing I'd add for other newcomers: make sure to check your email regularly for any updates from Federal Student Aid, and keep that confirmation number handy. The peace of mind from this thread is invaluable - thank you all for sharing your experiences!