Financial Aid Verification

What is Verification?

The federal government requires schools to confirm that the information reported by students on their FAFSA is correct. Schools do this through the verification process.

It’s not personal!!

Every year, about one-third of FAFSAs are selected for verification. If you are selected for verification, you will not receive any financial aid until you complete the verification process. If you wait too long, you will be dropped from your classes!

What do I Need to do for Verification?

You need to prove that the information you provided on your FAFSA is correct. You will have to submit additional documents to the financial aid office. The financial aid office will tell you what you need to give them. You might need to to complete paperwork in the financial aid office,  provide court documents that prove you are an independent student, or provide your tax information (this is the most common).

There are two ways you can obtain your tax information.

Option 1: IRS Data Retrieval Tool
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) allows you to electronically transfer your tax information from the IRS directly to your FAFSA. If you have already submitted your FAFSA without using the IRS DRT, you can make a correction to your FAFSA and use this tool.

Note: You will be unable to select this option if you are married and filed separately or if you are single and file as head of household.

1. Go to the FAFSA website https://fafsa.gov/
2. Click on Make a Correction and log in to you FAFSA account.
3. In the Finances section, you will see a Link to IRS button if you are eligible to use the IRS DRT.
4. Click Link to IRS and log in with your FSA ID to be transferred to the IRS website.
5. At the IRS site, enter your information exactly as it appears on your federal income tax return and click the Submit button.
6. Once the IRS has authenticated your identity, you will be able to send your tax information to your FAFSA. Check the Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA box and click the Transfer Now button.
7. Go to the Sign and Submit page. Enter you name, social security number, and pin to submit the data.
8. You will see a confirmation page, if you’ve successfully submitted your FAFSA form. If you provided an email address on the form, you’ll automatically receive the confirmation page by email.

If you need help using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool please visit your school’s financial aid office.

Option 2: Order a Tax Transcript
You can order a paper copy of your tax transcript from the IRS. A tax transcript will provide an overview of your income tax information. There is no cost for the transcript. You may order a tax transcript in one of the three following ways:

1. Request the tax transcript online
2. Call 1-800-829-1040 to order a transcript by phone.
3. Request to have a transcript mailed to you, by completing this form online
4. Print, complete, and and mail form 4506-T

If you request the tax return transcript online, you will be able to view, print or download your tax transcript immediately. If you order by phone, you should receive your tax return transcript within 5 to 10 days. If you order by mail, allow 30 calendar days for delivery.