IRS Income Information

Acceptable Tax Return Documentation

We are able to accept any of the following:

• Copy of signed 1040 Federal tax return with schedules 1, 2 or 3 if applicable
• Tax return transcrpt from the IRS. A tax return transcript may be available 2-3 weeks after the tax return has been filed electronically and accepted by the IRS, or 8-11 weeks after the tax return has been filed by paper. 
• Foreign tax return

For more information, download the handout explaining IRS Data Retrieval [pdf] on the FAFSA.

• Who is NOT able to obtain an IRS tas return transcript?

  • A tax filer will be unable to obtain (online) an IRS tax return transcript if he or she:

    1. Has been determined by the IRS to be a victim of identity theft.

    2. Filed a tax return with Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

    3. Filed a tax return in a foreign country.

• Who is NOT eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?

  • The following are NOT eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool:

    1. Parents who do not have a social security number.

    2. A married, independent applicant and spouse who filed separate tax returns.

    3. The married parents of a dependent student who filed separate tax returns. 

    4. An applicant, or an applicant's parents, if they had a change in marital status after the end of the requested tax year.

    5. An applicant or parent or spouse who filed an amended tax return. In this case, submit a tax return transcript obtained from the IRS and a signed IRS form 1040X, "Amended U.S. individual tax return."

    6. An applicant's parents who are unmarried but living together.  

Transcript Types and How to Order

Students/Parents may order IRS transcripts by requesting them on-line or by mail. The IRS provides the following transcripts:

• Tax Return Transcript
• Account Transcript (Amended tax)
• Record of Account Transcript (Tax return transcript and amended tax)
• Wage and Income Transcript (W2)
• Verification of Non-Filing Letter

It is very important to order the correct tax year!

• For example: Students attending college during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 academic year require transcripts from 2021 tax year.

• Another example: For students planning to attend Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 academic year, transcripts from 2020 tax year will be required.

Obtain further instructions and description of each transcript by going to the IRS web page: Transcript Types and Ways to Order Them.

If you are unable to request a tax return transcript by using form 4506-T, you must contact the IRS by calling: 1-800-908-9946.

Non-Tax Filers

Non-tax filers may be required to provide verification that you did not file a federal tax return as part of the federal verification process.  This must be requested from the IRS.  If after 2 weeks of requesting the Non-Tax filier letter you have not received confirmation contact our office.

You can obtain the Non-Tax Filer letter the following ways:

• Request a copy of your tax transcript from the IRS (since you did not file, you will receive a non-tax filer letter)
• Use IRS Form 4506-T [pdf] to request a Verification of Non-Filing letter from the IRS.

Guidelines to completing Form 4506-T 

1. Complete Lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
2. Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right hand side for Verification of Non-filing.
3. Line 9: In the year or period requested field, enter “12/31/2021″ for the Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 academic year.
4. Above the signature line: Make sure that you check the signatory authority box.
5. The non filer must sign and date the form and enter his or her  telephone number.
6. Mail or fax the Completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address or fax number provided on page 2 of form 4506-T.
7. If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter at the address provided on their request within 5 to 10 days.
8. Submit the letter to the financial aid office; be sure you put your student ID number on the letter.
9. Any IRS documents with unclear messages, such as "could not be processed" or "the request could not be honored" are not acceptable documentation for Verification of Non-Filing Letter.
10. Students/Parents should follow the instructions provided by the IRS to obtain further documentation that provides a clear and precise message.