IRS Integration Guide

Overview

FACTS is committed to making the financial aid process easier for schools and families. With IRS Integration, applicants can now securely retrieve their tax transcripts directly from the IRS, eliminating the need to manually scan, upload, or mail sensitive financial documents. This not only streamlines the application process for families but also reduces administrative work for schools and enhances data security. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to get started with this new feature.

Eligiblity

FACTS will automatically determine eligibility and only offer this integration to eligible applications.

Step 1: How it Works

IRS Integration banner

The new IRS Integration banner is displayed in the Application Summary.

Note

If you have a co-applicant, be sure to provide required documents for both the applicant and co-applicant.

Applicant: How it works 

Note

To get started, you will need to create or verify your IRS.gov account by clicking the link provided.

Co-applicant: How it works 

Note

If you have a co-applicant, they’ll follow the same steps with their own IRS.gov account.

IRS.gov account

Note

Create or verify your IRS.gov account.

Note

Confirm you have both an IRS.gov account and U.S. address to continue. If you have a co-applicant, they’ll need to do the same.

Step 2: Information Verification

Applicant: Verify Information 

Applicants must verify that their SSN, name, and address exactly match what’s on their IRS.gov account. Only individuals with a U.S. address are eligible. If you need help, click “How to find your info on IRS.gov” to check your account details.

Co-applicant: Verify Information 

Note

If you’re completing this step as a co-applicant, the Co-Applicant’s name and SSN will be shown instead.

Select Documents

Check the boxes for the tax years you want to include with your application. Only documents available for the current applicant or co-applicant will be shown.

Step 3: Terms & Agreement

Terms & Agreement

Applicant must type their name exactly as it appears on their application to submit their request. If their name doesn’t match, they’ll see a message letting them know the signature must match before they can click “Submit Request.”

If submitting for the co-applicant, the co-applicant’s name will display and must be entered as the electronic signature.

When submitting as a co-applicant, enter the co-applicant’s name as the signature.

Step 4: Confirmation

Confirmation

Once the request is submitted, the system will create an order for the IRS.

Step 5: Email Notification

Applicant: Request pending

On the Application Summary page, a notification will display stating the IRS integration request is pending.

Co-applicant: Request pending

If you have a co-applicant, a separate IRS integration request will display under their name on the Application Summary page. You’ll see notifications for both the applicant and co-applicant, making it easy to track the status of each request.

Action Required: Approve Request

The applicant will receive an email from FACTS with a subject line of Action Required: Approve Request. Click the button to go to the IRS.gov account to approve the request.

Step 6: Approve Authorization

Power of Attorney and Tax Information Authorizations

To approve the authorization on IRS.gov, applicants must go to Authorization. In the drop down, select Power of Attorney and Tax Information Authorizations. Click the Approve/Reject link to provide a response to the request.

Approve Request

Click Approve Request. And that’s it! The applicant has now connected their IRS account to FACTS and streamlined the process of submitting required tax information.