The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is a tool in the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) where students or parents who filed an IRS tax return have the option of directly transferring required tax data from the IRS database directly into the student’s FAFSA. There are a few scenarios when using the DRT will not work, such as tax filers that file - Married Filing Separately.
If a student/parent is eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (see next question below), we highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:
- It’s the fastest, easiest, and most secure way to provide tax data.
- It’s the best way of ensuring the FAFSA has accurate tax information.
- It may reduce the chances of being selected for the verification process