Understanding your CP302 Notice

What this notice is about

Your personal information was used to access your federal income tax return information through the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website or the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plans online application.

If you requested a transfer of information to the Department of Education for federal student aid purposes, we sent your encrypted tax return information to them using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

What you need to do

• If you or someone else (e.g. student applicant, spouse, or third party acting on your behalf) DID access this system or request a transfer of information, no action is needed.
• If you or someone else (e.g. student applicant, spouse, or third party acting on your behalf) DID NOT access this system or request a transfer of information, call us at 800-908-4490, ext. 549.

Frequently asked questions

Why did I receive more than one notice?

As part of our efforts to protect your tax return information, we’ll send you a notice for every day you or someone else (e.g., student applicant, spouse, or third party acting on your behalf) access your tax return information through the FAFSA website or the IDR Plans online application.

I didn’t access the FAFSA website or the IDR Plans online application. Can you tell me who did? 

The IRS cannot tell you who accessed those systems using your tax return information. However, if you didn’t access those systems or request a transfer of information, please call the number on your notice.

I requested a transfer of information for my student financial aid application or for my repayment plan. What encrypted information did IRS send to the Department of Education?

We sent the necessary information from your federal income tax return to complete your student aid or request for repayment application. Please refer to the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website for what federal income tax return information they require when applying for aid or a repayment plan. 

Can you tell me the status of my FAFSA or IDR Plans application?

The IRS cannot provide you the status for either of these applications. Please visit the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website for information about how to check on your applications.

What if I think I'm a victim of identity theft?

If another person accessed your tax return information using the FAFSA website or IDR Plans online application without your permission, call the number on your notice. For general information about identity theft, please visit the IRS’s Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft page.