Verification
FAFSA Verification Process
Many financial aid applicants will be required to verify the information that is reported on the FAFSA/Renewal FAFSA completed each year. Financial data, such as income, child support paid, and non-financial data, such as family size and dependency status, will be verified. If you are selected for Verification by the Federal government, you will have to submit the following to the Office of Financial Aid:
- 2012-2013 Federal Verification worksheet
- Proof of Food Stamps – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2010 or 2011 (if applicable)
- Parent/Student tax filer income information either by the IRS Data Retrieval Process, 2011 IRS Federal Tax Transcript, or if you did not file, a signed statement saying so
- Parent/Student 2011 W-2(s)
To request an IRS Federal Tax Transcript, go to www.irs.gov and use Form 4506-T, or quickly request a transcript by using the "Tools" section on the website and then clicking on "Order a Transcript," or call 1-800-908-9946.
FAFSA applicants who are selected for Verification must complete this process in order to move their Federal financial aid towards their direct charges. The FAFSA Verification process takes a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks, so it is highly recommended that students file their 2012-13 FAFSA by January 31, 2012 and turn in all requested Verification paperwork by June 1, 2012.
Updating FAFSA Through The Mandated IRS Data Retrieval Process
Beginning in January 2012, all 2012-2013 FAFSA on the web applicants, and the parents of dependent applicants, who indicate that they have filed their Federal tax returns prior to completing their FAFSA and who are otherwise eligible will be directed to use the FAFSA-IRS Data Retrieval process to complete their FAFSA more easily and accurately. Applicants who choose not to use this process, or who retrieve IRS data but subsequently change it on their FAFSA, will be informed that they will be subject to being selected for the FAFSA Verification process and will be required to support their reported FAFSA data with information obtained directly from the IRS. We strongly encourage families to file their initial 2012-13 FAFSA by January 31, 2012 using estimated income information. Once tax information is submitted to the IRS, families should wait two weeks and then access their online FAFSA to import 2011 Federal tax return data via the FAFSA-IRS Data Retrieval process.