Verification

Verification is the process required by the Department of Education to verify the accuracy of the information submitted by or on behalf of a student for the purpose of applying for financial aid. The purpose is to reduce errors in applicant reported data and to insure, to the maximum extent possible, that eligible applicants receive the financial aid they are eligible for.

The process of verification is separate than the requirement to resolve conflicting information. Discrepancies in a student's aid application must be resolved before aid can be disbursed, regardless of existing verification policies.

The process of verification is also separate from the requirement to "document" certain application items. Unconfirmed selective service registration, unconfirmed eligible non-citizen status, and Veteran's Educational Benefits may be "documented" regardless of any existing verification policies.

Refer any instance of suspected fraud or criminal conduct by an applicant to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Education or to the state or local authorities.

Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
U. S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
MES, Room 4122
Washington, D.C. 20202-1510
Phone: 202-205-8762
Fax: 202-205-9449

Verification Forms

Parent Form and Student Form (Dependent Student)
Student Form (Independent Student)

Delays in submitting this completed worksheet, utilizing IRS Data Retrieval and providing IRS Tax Transcripts, Federal income tax forms and/or other requested documents will delay the processing of your aid application and may affect the availability of certain types of aid programs.

2012-13 Items to be Verified and Documentation Required
Important Information Regarding FAFSA Submittals

Income Tax Waiver Form

**IRS Data Retrieval Process

FAFSA applicants are strongly encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Process to help simplify the verification process.

• Applicants selected for verification who use the IRS Data Retrieval Process will have verified the FAFSA IRS information. NO ADDITIONAL Documentation is required if the amounts are unchanged.

Click here for information on How the IRS Data Retrieval Tool Works:
IRS Data Retrieval Tool Information

The IRS Data Retrieval Process can be used by dependent and independent students and the parents of dependent students who meet the following criteria:

• Must have a valid SSN
• Must have filed a 2011 IRS tax return, and
• Must have an unchanged marital status since December 31, 2011

**IRS Transcript REQUIRED

Under certain conditions, an applicant selected for verification will need to submit to the school an IRS Tax Return Transcript of 2011 tax year information for the applicant, his or her spouse, and his or her parents, as applicable.

IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Process

Veterans and Active Duty Military Personnel

Veterans and active duty military personnel are considered automatically independent for federal need analysis purposes.

• The definition of veteran for Federal student aid purposes is any individual who has engaged in the active duty in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard for purposes other than training; and was released under a condition other than dishonorable.
• Active duty military personnel are those individuals currently in the military (excluding training).
• Members of the National Guard or Reserves are only considered veterans if they were called up to active federal duty by presidential order for a purpose other than training.
• Students serving in ROTC or currently attending a U.S. military academy are not veterans. Students who attended a U.S. service academy or preparatory school for at least one day and were released under conditions other than “dishonorable” count as veterans for Title IV purposes.

Veteran/Active Duty Confirmation Form

Financial Aid Information - Tax Return Line Items for Verification

Office of Student Financial Aid Verification Policy and Procedure