I've seen schools like MIchigan, Harvard, and others strongly recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool but:
A) I can't find the damn link to it from my FAFSA (I even tried erasing my whole app and starting over, thinking maybe I'd missed the link at the beginning); and
B) it says that to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool you may need to wait 3 weeks after you file your return. I'm a little torn between the benefits of submitting my FAFSA 3 weeks sooner vs. using the Data Retrieval Tool to avoid possible delays later (Harvard says if you don't use it and you're selected for Federal Verification, it could delay your financial aid app for 6-8 weeks.
Info from FAFSA on the IRS Data Retrieval Tool here: https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/irshlp9.htm
Thoughts/help? Financial aid has become the bane of my existence. Don't even get me started on the fucking Need Access Application.If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, then click Link To IRS to transfer your tax return information from the IRS Web site into your FAFSA. (Note: If you previously transferred your tax return information from the IRS, or you indicate that you filed your tax return electronically within the last three weeks or through the mail within the last eight weeks, then the Link To IRS button displays once you click the “View option to link to the IRS” hyperlink.)