Financial Aid and Scholarships

What is Verification

Verification is a process to confirm the information you provided on your FAFSA.

The U.S. Department of Education or the Office of Financial aid And Scholarships may at any time select your application for verification based on the information you provided. We are required to make sure that all aid is awarded according to federal and state regulations.

If your application is selected for verification

If your application requires verification, we will send you an e-mail that explains how to access AidLink and read the instructions that explain how to submit the required documentation.

• Check your e-mail and AidLink regularly.
• Once you have submitted the required documentation, we will correct any discrepancies and send changes electronically to the federal government.
• Your award amounts will be determined after we receive the corrected and verified application.

Information You May be Asked to Verify

You and/or your parents may be asked to submit documentation or clarification of information you provided on your FAFSA.

IRS tax transcripts

You and your parents may be required to order Tax Transcripts from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Because of a change in federal law, personal copies of tax returns are no longer accepted as verification of income. A Tax Transcript may document —

• Taxable income
• Federal income tax paid
• Certain untaxed income and benefits received

Other information you may be asked to document

You may be required to document or clarify other information, such as —

• Income earned from work if you were not required to file a tax return
• Assets such as bank accounts, rental properties, value of a business or investment
• Untaxed income and benefits received
• Food stamp/SNAP benefits received
• Child support paid and to whom
• Number of family members in the household
• Number of family members enrolled in college
• Citizenship status
• Your name and your social security number
• Any information needed to clarify your status and determine your aid eligibility

File your federal income tax return early

Complete your IRS tax returns as soon as possible so that you can use the IRS Data Retrieval process when you complete your FAFSA.

• According to the IRS, tax return information will be available online from the IRS Web site 1-2 weeks after you electronically file your return.
• If you file a paper tax return, the data will be available in 6-8 weeks.

IRS Data Retrieval

If you estimated your income when completing the FAFSA, you can correct the estimated amounts once you have submitted your tax return to the IRS.

• Return to fafsa.gov and use the IRS Data Retrieval process to update and document the income on your FAFSA.
  • Watch "IRS Data Retrieval Tool" for a short video guide on how to do this.

Order an IRS Tax Transcript - It's Free

If your application is selected for verification and you did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Process when completing your FAFSA, you will be required to order a Tax Transcript from the IRS and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

If you are required to order a Tax Transcript —

• The IRS will mail the Tax Transcript to the tax filer within 5-10 days of the request once the IRS has a completed tax return.
• You can order a free IRS Tax Transcript online or by phone.

Order online - it takes less than 5 minutes to order

1. Go to the IRS Web site.
2. Click on "Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript."
3. Click on "Order a Transcript" and follow the online prompts and instructions.
4. Select "Return Transcript" for the tax year; do not order an "Account Transcript."

Order by phone

1. Call the IRS toll free at 1-800-908-9946.
2. Follow the voice instructions and prompts, using your telephone keypad to respond.

How to Return Completed Forms and Documents to Us

Through your AidLink account, you will be able to submit some of the requested information online. When a signature is required on the information you submit online, you will be instructed to print and sign a Summary and Certification page. Some forms you will download, complete, sign and submit. Follow the instructions on all forms, in your e-mail messages, and on AidLink.

• Answer all questions. Read each form carefully and completely so you don't miss anything.
• Make sure you include the required completed documentation with signatures.
• Sign all forms and documents.
• Return all needed documents as quickly as possible.
• Incomplete, inaccurate, or illegible responses from you will cause a delay in when or if you receive any funds.
• Keep a copy for your records of everything you submit.
• Mail the required documents to our address included on all of our forms.