Why is FAFSA requesting tax info AFTER application shows processed? Timing confusion!

This is completely normal and actually a good sign! The FAFSA system sends those tax request confirmations separately from processing notifications. Your daughter's form is indeed processed if it shows that status on studentaid.gov. The tax verification email is just confirming they successfully pulled the tax data during processing (which already happened). It's confusingly worded but actually means everything worked correctly with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. They're not asking for additional information - they're confirming they already got it. Your daughter's SAI and info has been sent to her selected schools.

Oh thank goodness! That makes me feel SO much better. The wording made it sound like they were just starting some new process. Why can't they make these notifications clearer?? Do you know how long typically after processing it takes for schools to actually receive the information?

I literally just went through this exact same situation with my son's application!!! The emails are super misleading. Actually had to call FSA to confirm everything was fine (took 2 hours to get through 😡). The agent told me the tax request email is automated and often delayed. If your status shows processed, you're good to go. The tax email is basically saying \

omg the communication from fafsa this year is TERRIBLE!! i got 3 different emails that all contradicted each other and the website showed something else entirely. no wonder everyone's confused

DONT TRUST THE WEBSITE!!!!! My application showed

Oh no, that's concerning. Did you eventually get it resolved? I'm worried now that something similar might happen to us.

Yes but it took FOREVER and we almost missed her school's priority deadline. Had to submit separate tax verification docs. Seriously call them to be 100% sure!!

After trying for two weeks to reach someone at FSA about a similar issue (kept getting disconnected after 1+ hour waits), I found Claimyr.com which got me connected to an actual FSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent explained that those tax request emails are often delayed by weeks due to the system backlog. They confirmed my daughter's application was fully processed and sent to schools despite the confusing email. Saved me so much stress!

Thank you for the tip! I've been hearing horror stories about the wait times to speak with someone. I'll check this out if I can't get clarity soon. Did they mention how long it typically takes for schools to receive the FAFSA after it shows as processed?

The agent said schools usually get the info within 3-5 business days after processing. But with all the delays this year, some schools are taking longer to import the data into their systems. If you're concerned about a specific school, calling their financial aid office directly is actually faster than waiting for FSA to confirm.

Financial aid counselor here - this year's FAFSA is particularly confusing with notification timing. The tax request emails are just confirming that the IRS DRT (Data Retrieval Tool) was used successfully during your application. Here's what's happening:\n\n1. When you submitted in January, the system initiated the tax data request\n2. That tax data was received and used to calculate your daughter's SAI\n3. The application was processed (March 18)\n4. The confirmation email about the tax request (from step 1) was delayed and just sent\n\nYour daughter's information has been transmitted to her selected schools if the status shows processed. Schools typically receive the information within 3-7 business days after processing. You can verify receipt by contacting each school's financial aid office directly after about a week.

Do you know why FSA is sending these emails so late? It's causing massive confusion! My son's FAFSA was processed in February but we just got the tax request email last week. Seems like a major communication failure.

It's a combination of system delays and poor notification design. The FAFSA modernization rollout has been plagued with technical issues. These emails are generated by a separate system from the main processing platform, and they're not properly timestamped or worded to indicate they're confirmations of past actions rather than new requests. The Department of Education is aware of the confusion but hasn't prioritized fixing the notification sequence.

lol welcome to FAFSA 2025-2026 where nothing makes sense and the timeline is made up 🙃 my application has been \

10 weeks?? That's insane! Have you been able to contact anyone about it? I'm starting to realize we might be one of the lucky ones if ours actually got processed.

Quick update for everyone confused about this year's FAFSA notifications: I spoke with our college's financial aid office yesterday and they confirmed they're seeing this exact pattern with many families. The tax request emails are being sent WEEKS after they were actually processed. If your status shows completed on studentaid.gov, colleges have received your information. The schools are actually more up-to-date on your status than the FSA email system!

thx for sharing! have u heard anything about when aid packages might go out? our counselor said everything is delayed by at least a month this year because of the fafsa mess

Yes, unfortunately most schools are running 4-6 weeks behind their normal financial aid package timelines. Our college said they're still trying to get packages out before May 1 decision deadline, but it's going to be tight. They're encouraging students to request deadline extensions if needed.

UPDATE: I called our top-choice school's financial aid office this morning and they confirmed they HAVE received my daughter's FAFSA information! They said the tax request email is just a delayed confirmation that the IRS data was successfully pulled. So relieved! For anyone else dealing with this - definitely check directly with your schools rather than trying to decipher the confusing FSA emails. Thanks everyone for your help and insights!

Great news! Did they mention when you might receive the financial aid package? We're still waiting on my son's and getting anxious with deposit deadlines approaching.

They said they're trying to get all aid packages out by April 10th, which is cutting it close for the May 1 decision deadline. But they also mentioned they're being flexible with deposits this year because of all the FAFSA delays. Might be worth asking your schools about deadline extensions!

As someone who just went through this exact same confusion last month, I can confirm what others are saying - those tax request emails are incredibly misleading! My daughter's FAFSA showed processed on March 5th, but we didn't get the tax confirmation email until March 22nd. I panicked thinking something was wrong, but it turns out it's just their system sending delayed notifications. The key thing to remember is that if your status shows "processed" on studentaid.gov, your information has already been sent to the colleges. I'd recommend calling your daughter's top choice schools directly to confirm they received her FAFSA - that's the only way to get real peace of mind with how unreliable the FSA communication has been this year!