FAFSA Verification
Verification is a process that confirms the accuracy of the FAFSA form. Student’s whose FAFSA information has been selected for verification must complete all requirements before any Financial Aid is disbursed.
Verification Requirements
If a student’s FAFSA information is selected for verification, the student must present several documents to the Financial Aid Office. The majority of students will be asked to provide the Financial Aid Office with a completed verification worksheet, copies of IRS W-2 Forms or 1099 Forms from the most recent tax year, as well as IRS Tax Return Transcripts from the most recent tax year. Students or parents may link their financial information to the IRS database (if applicable) using the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) on FAFSA on the Web instead of providing the Financial Aid Office with an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
Information for Dependent Students
Students who were required to include parental information on the FAFSA must use the dependent verification worksheet.
Complete Dependent Verification Worksheet provided by Financial Aid Office. These students must provide IRS W-2 Forms or 1099 Forms for themselves (if applicable) as well as for their parents (if applicable). IRS Tax Return Transcripts for both the student and the parents must also be presented to the Financial Aid Office unless the DRT has been used in completing FAFSA on the Web.
Information for Independent Students
Students who were not required to include parental information on the FAFSA must use the independent verification worksheet.
Complete Independent Verification Worksheet provided by Financial Aid Office. These students must provide IRS W-2 Forms or 1099 Forms for themselves (if applicable) as well as for their spouse (if applicable). IRS Tax Return Transcripts for both the student and spouse (if applicable) must also be presented to the Financial Aid Office unless the DRT has been used in completing FAFSA on the Web.
Using the DRT
To use the DRT, log into your FAFSA on the Web account and select your current FAFSA form. Then, click make corrections and continue to the Financial Information Tab of the FAFSA. Carefully review this page of the FAFSA. A blue arrow titled “link to the IRS” should appear in the middle of the page. Click on the arrow to complete the DRT. Once all information has been uploaded into your FAFSA, make sure to electronically sign the FAFSA again and re-submit.
Accessing a Tax Return Transcript
If you are experiencing difficulty in using the DRT, please request an IRS Tax Return Transcript. You may request this document to be mailed to you or you can access this document online. Please be sure to provide this document to the Financial Aid Office.
Results of Verification
Verification may impact a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Completing the process early assures students the best financial aid package available. If the verification is not completed by June 1 of the current award year, than these consequences can occur:
- Inability to disburse Federal Pell Grants, FSEOG, Federal Perkins Loan, and Institutional Aid
- Inability to originate or disburse Direct Subsidized Loans
- Inability to employ the student under Federal Work-Study
- Must return to the Department of Education previously disbursed subsidized aid
- Responsible for payment of entire amount of student’s account before due date