SSN verification required before FAFSA tax data transfer? Stuck at verification stage
I'm super confused about the order of steps for the new FAFSA application. My daughter and I have both created our accounts on studentaid.gov but we're stuck at the SSN verification stage. We can't seem to move forward to fill out the actual application. Will our 2023 tax info automatically import AFTER our SSNs are verified? Or should we be seeing the option to import tax data already? We've been waiting almost a week for the verification to complete. Is this normal? Getting really nervous about missing deadlines for her scholarships that require a completed FAFSA!
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Giovanni Gallo
Yes the SSN has to be verified first before the system will let you import tax data. It took like 10 days for mine to get verified but my sons only took 3 days??? Make sure you entered everything EXACTLY as it appears on your social security cards.
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Amara Adeyemi
•Thanks for responding! 10 days seems so long when we're trying to meet scholarship deadlines. Did you have to do anything special to get it verified or just wait? And once verified, was the tax import pretty quick after that?
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
The process needs to happen in this specific order: 1. Create FSA ID accounts (you've done this) 2. Complete SSN verification (you're here) 3. Once verified, you'll be able to start the FAFSA application 4. During the application, you'll reach the tax section where the Data Retrieval Tool will automatically import tax information The verification is taking longer this year because of all the FAFSA Simplification changes. Typically it should take 1-3 days, but many are experiencing delays of 7-14 days. Make sure both you and your daughter have verified the email addresses associated with your accounts as this can sometimes cause delays.
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Dylan Wright
•Just to clarify - verification isn't always longer this year, it depends where you live. Rural counties are faster. And if your SSN has been previously verified by the Social Security Administration for other federal programs, it's usually faster too.
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NebulaKnight
same thing happened to me. my son and i were stuck in verification for almost 2 weeks!!! so frustrating when you need to get this done for scholarship deadlines. once it finally verified the tax part was super easy though, just click a button and it pulls everything in
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Amara Adeyemi
•2 weeks?! Omg that's terrifying. We have a scholarship deadline in 3 weeks. Did you try calling anyone to speed it up or just had to wait?
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Sofia Ramirez
I tried calling the FSA help line about this exact issue last month because my verification was stuck for 11 days. Spent 2.5 hours on hold and then got disconnected! Tried again the next day and couldn't even get into the hold queue. Eventually the verification just completed on its own. The system is completely overwhelmed this year with the new FAFSA changes. Just be patient and keep checking your account daily.
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Dmitry Popov
•I had similar issues but found a service called Claimyr that helped me actually get through to a FAFSA agent without the crazy wait. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me so much frustration! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent told me that yes, SSN verification MUST be complete before tax data can be imported - it's a security feature to protect your financial data.
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Ava Rodriguez
This is why FASFA is such garbage!! They completely revamp the system, don't test it properly, then expect everyone to just deal with their incompetence!! I'm in the EXACT same boat - been waiting 9 days for verification. Meanwhile my daughter's university is sending us "reminder" emails about completing the FAFSA. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO COMPLETE IT WHEN YOUR BROKEN SYSTEM WON'T LET US EVEN START IT???
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•I understand your frustration, but it's worth noting the delays are largely due to the significant changes required by Congress in the FAFSA Simplification Act. The Department of Education had to completely rebuild the system. You can contact your daughter's financial aid office and let them know about the verification delay - most schools are aware of these issues and will make accommodations.
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Amara Adeyemi
Update: Our verification finally completed! It took 8 days total. For those wondering, once we got past verification, the tax data import was super simple. There's a clear button to authorize the tax data transfer from the IRS, and it pulled everything in automatically. Make sure you have your 2023 tax return handy though, as you'll need to verify some information from it.
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NebulaKnight
•congrats!! glad its working for you now. isn't it such a relief when that tax info just imports automatically instead of having to type everything in? good luck with the rest of it!
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Giovanni Gallo
btw make sure both you AND your daughter check the verification. my son got verified before me even though we signed up same day. If she gets verified first she can start her portion while your still waiting.
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Amara Adeyemi
•That's really helpful advice! I just checked and you're right - my daughter's account got verified yesterday but I didn't know she could start without me. I'm still waiting but at least she can get going on her part.
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
One important thing to remember for everyone dealing with verification delays: document everything. Take screenshots of your account showing the verification pending status, and any error messages you encounter. If you end up missing scholarship deadlines because of the FAFSA verification delays, many institutions will accept these screenshots as proof that you were attempting to complete the application in a timely manner. Also, once your verification is complete and you can access the application, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) should work seamlessly to import your 2023 tax information. Just make sure the name, SSN, and filing status on your FAFSA exactly match what's on your tax return.
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Amara Adeyemi
•Thank you so much for this advice! I'm taking screenshots now. The scholarship deadline is through her university's foundation - do you think they'll be understanding about the FAFSA delays too? I'm worried about her losing out on thousands of dollars because of this verification hold-up.
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Dylan Wright
To directly answer your question - yes, SSN verification MUST be completed before tax data can be imported. This is a security measure to ensure that only authorized individuals can access tax information. The Federal Student Aid system has to confirm with the Social Security Administration that the information you provided matches their records before allowing access to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you're worried about scholarship deadlines, contact the financial aid offices at the schools your daughter is applying to. Many institutions have adjusted their internal deadlines to accommodate for the delays in the new FAFSA system. They may allow you to submit proof that you've initiated the FAFSA process even if you haven't been able to complete it yet.
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Ava Rodriguez
•This is just making excuses for a broken system. They've had YEARS to prepare for these changes and they still messed it up. Security measure?? More like incompetence measure!!
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Dylan Wright
•The security processes are necessary to protect sensitive financial data. The verification process is specifically designed to prevent identity theft and fraud. While the delays are frustrating, having your tax information stolen would be far worse. If you're experiencing excessive delays (more than 2 weeks), there are escalation paths available.
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