VERIFICATION

Verification is a quality-control process of confirming the information you provided on your FAFSA.

If you are told that your 2023-2024 FAFSA was selected for verification, that doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong! The Department of Education selects some students for verification at random. We will notify you if you are selected for verification and which worksheet and any documentation you will need to provide. Be aware that documentation may take time to arrive, and plan accordingly.

No federal student aid (Federal Pell Grant or Federal Direct Loans) will be disbursed (paid) until verification is complete. No Federal Direct Loans will be originated until verification is complete. Students eligible to receive a Pell Grant, Campus-Based aid or a Subsidized Direct Loan will have until 120 days after their last day of attendance or by the deadline published in the Federal Register each year (deadline is usually around the end of September) whichever is earlier, to complete verification. However, in the interim, the student must have made arrangements with the school for payment of all tuition and fees due, or risk termination from the school. After the aforementioned period, all financial aid that might have been due is forfeited.

2023-2024 Verification Worksheets

  • Dependent V1: Income and tax documentation (parent and student) required. See below.

  • Dependent V4: Must be signed at the school or with a notary.

  • Dependent V5: Income and tax documentation (parent and student) required. See below.

  • Independent V1: Income and tax documentation (student and spouse) required. See below.

  • Independent V4: Must be signed at the school or with a notary.

  • Independent V5: Income and tax documentation (student and spouse) required. See below.

Income and tax Documentation

For Tax-Filers:

If you (or your parent, if you are a dependent student) filed taxes in 2021, please use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) in the FAFSA. This will fulfill all income and tax documentation verification requirements. The answer to each question imported in the FAFSA will read "Transferred from the IRS."

If you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, we ask that you provide a 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript with your worksheet. You will need your SSN, date of birth, and mailing address from your latest tax return.

Option 1:
Go to www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

Click on the “Get Transcript Online” link and fill out the form to request your transcript. Make sure you select “Return” and “2021”.

IMPORTANT!: You will need to set up an IRS account to register for this option, which requires your tax filing status and a number from one of your financial accounts (Credit Card OR Student Loan OR Mortgage or Home Equity Loan OR Home Equity Line of Credit OR Auto Loan).

OR

Click on the “Get Transcript by Mail” link and fill out the form you request your transcript. Make sure you select “Return” and “2021”. Transcripts arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days at the address the IRS has on file for you.

Option 2:
Call 1-800-908-9946
Follow the prompts to request the “IRS Tax Return Transcript.”

Option 3:
Mail or Fax IRS Form 4506-T.

Fill out numbers 1-4 at the top of the page, number 6 (make sure you enter a tax form number such as 1040 and check “Return Transcript”), number 9 (12/31/2021), and the signature box at the bottom of the page.

Mail or fax to the address on the back of the form.

For students from Michigan: Fax: 855-298-1145
Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, RAIVS Team, PO Box 9941, Mail Stop 6734, Ogden, UT 84409

If you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or obtain an 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript, please contact us for additional options. Be aware that special circumstances may apply if you were granted a filing extension, amended your return, were the victim of tax-related identity theft, or filed a non-IRS tax return.

For Non-Tax-Filers:

If you (or your parent, if you are a dependent student) did not and will not file taxes in 2021, you must provide a 2021 Verification of Non-Filing Letter and your 2021 W-2s (if applicable).

To request the 2021 Verification of Non-Filing Letter, you must mail or fax IRS Form 4506-T.

Fill out numbers 1-4 at the top of the page, number 7 ( “Verification of Nonfiling”), number 9 (12/31/2021), and the signature box at the bottom of the page.

If you do not have a copy of your W-2’s a transcript of your 2021 W-2 can be requested on the same form by checking number 8 ("Form W-2, Form 1099 series, Form 1098 series, or Form 5498 series transcript").

Mail or fax to the address on the back of the form.

For students from Michigan: Fax: 855-298-1145
Mail to: Internal Revenue Service, RAIVS Team, PO Box 9941, Mail Stop 6734, Ogden, UT 84409

If you are unable to obtain a 2021 Verification of Non-Filing Letter, please contact us for additional options.

Unusual Enrollment History

If you have enrolled in a number of colleges, the Department of Education may ask for confirmation that you are a serious student before allowing federal student aid funds to be disbursed. In general, a student whose 2023-24 FAFSA is flagged for an Unusual Enrollment History must provide transcripts for all institutions where the student received a Pell Grant or a Direct Loan for any of the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 award years (the 4 award years prior to the current award year). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable as long as they have official letterhead, are sent directly to the financial aid office, or are retrieved in the financial aid office directly from the school site and signed by an authorized staff member.

Default

If you are currently in default on a student loan, the default will need to be cleared before the Department of Education will allow federal student aid funds to be disbursed. The requirements for clearing a default may vary. In general, you will need to call your loan servicer or the Department of Education at 1-800-621-3115, or write to the U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 5609, Greenville, Texas 75403-5609 to clear your default.

Update: Some students may qualify for the Fresh Start Initiative. Federal Student Aid Eligibility for Borrowers with Defaulted Student Loans. Call the Department of Education at 1-800-621-3115 if you believe you may qualify.