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Well.
Last year somehow the electronic pipeline between our accountant and the IRS got hacked. After several months of back and forth establishing that 1) we are who were say we are; 2) our identities do not appear to have been endangered; 3) it was really okay to send us our refund, the ruckus died down.
Then it was late October and I was informed that the deadline for filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for Becca's school was NOVEMBER 1st. So I started the online process. At some point, rather than filling in all the financial stuff yourself, you're supposed to click a little button which will let the IRS pour the information from your last tax filing into the FAFSA. Only, because of the whole identity theft kerfuffle, the button doesn't work for me. So I scramble and get a copy of our tax return (did I mention I was down in LA with my aunt during this?) and fill in the information requested, and push the SUBMIT button just before the deadline, and we all relax.
Then, earlier this month, we get a notice from the Kid's school's Financial Aid office. They need me to push the IRS button. So I go back to the FAFSA and try again, and the little button -still- doesn't want to work for me. I call the Financial Aid office, explain the problem, offer to send them a copy of the damned tax return--but that doesn't work, because anyone can fill in a return, but if the IRS supplies the numbers then they're guaranteed official. I must call the IRS. Specifically, I must call the Identity Theft Department of the IRS.
Here is where some will accuse me of fantasy, but I swear to God, it's all true. I called the Identity Theft Department, and got a lovely woman named Gloria, who painstakingly established my identity (after all, I could be anyone over the phone), then heard my tale of woe, and said the IRS would be happy to send an official transcript of our return. It would take 5-10 calendar days, no charge. Did I need anything else? Well, then, she was very sorry that we'd had this problem with identity theft, and hoped I had a good day.
The transcript arrived tonight. I will forward the thing to the Financial Aid office. What interesting paperwork will the universe demand of me next?
Last year somehow the electronic pipeline between our accountant and the IRS got hacked. After several months of back and forth establishing that 1) we are who were say we are; 2) our identities do not appear to have been endangered; 3) it was really okay to send us our refund, the ruckus died down.
Then it was late October and I was informed that the deadline for filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for Becca's school was NOVEMBER 1st. So I started the online process. At some point, rather than filling in all the financial stuff yourself, you're supposed to click a little button which will let the IRS pour the information from your last tax filing into the FAFSA. Only, because of the whole identity theft kerfuffle, the button doesn't work for me. So I scramble and get a copy of our tax return (did I mention I was down in LA with my aunt during this?) and fill in the information requested, and push the SUBMIT button just before the deadline, and we all relax.
Then, earlier this month, we get a notice from the Kid's school's Financial Aid office. They need me to push the IRS button. So I go back to the FAFSA and try again, and the little button -still- doesn't want to work for me. I call the Financial Aid office, explain the problem, offer to send them a copy of the damned tax return--but that doesn't work, because anyone can fill in a return, but if the IRS supplies the numbers then they're guaranteed official. I must call the IRS. Specifically, I must call the Identity Theft Department of the IRS.
Here is where some will accuse me of fantasy, but I swear to God, it's all true. I called the Identity Theft Department, and got a lovely woman named Gloria, who painstakingly established my identity (after all, I could be anyone over the phone), then heard my tale of woe, and said the IRS would be happy to send an official transcript of our return. It would take 5-10 calendar days, no charge. Did I need anything else? Well, then, she was very sorry that we'd had this problem with identity theft, and hoped I had a good day.
The transcript arrived tonight. I will forward the thing to the Financial Aid office. What interesting paperwork will the universe demand of me next?