About 30% of all FAFSA filers are selected for verification. This process requires the school to collect documents to confirm that the information on the FAFSA is correct.
If you are selected, you must complete verification before financial aid can be awarded.
Easiest Way to Complete Verification
Use the IRS data retrieval process to automatically populate your and your parents’ tax information directly from the IRS into your FAFSA. Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool simplifies the FAFSA filing and may result in quicker processing of your verification.
If using the IRS data retrieval tool isn't possible, you'll need to submit a tax return transcript and a verification form requesting a list of household members and sources of other income, such as untaxed pensions, IRA distributions, IRA deductions and education credits. If you have filed your taxes with the IRS, you should log into your FAFSA account at the Federal Student Aid website and make a correction to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your tax information. If you do this, you will not be required to submit a tax transcript. Request a tax transcript from the IRS website or call 1-800-908-9946.
If you are not required to file taxes and will not be filing, you must submit all W-2 forms to show your earnings from work.
Submitting your FAFSA and completing verification is required before aid can be awarded. Failure to meet the verification deadlines may result in certain types of aid not being offered.
Verification is an important step in the financial aid process. It’s not a process to be feared, but it is one to be taken seriously. A quick turnaround in submitting requested documents can ensure your financial aid file is processed in a timely and accurate manner.