Verification

Verification

On this page

• What do I do if I have been selected for Verification?
• Tax Transcripts
• FAQs about Verification

What do I do if I have been selected for Verification?

If you have been selected for verification, there will be a notification on your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you automatically receive after submitting the FAFSA. You will also receive an email and have "Submit Verification Documents" listed as "Not Received" under the Financial Aid Eligibility section of your FHSU Workday account.

To complete the verification process, you will need to submit additional documents to the FHSU Financial Assistance Office. You may submit these documents by mail, fax or email, or upload them into the verification portal.

1. Household Form - There are 3 different verification groups. Each group requires a different combination of items for our office to verify and consequently, different documentation from the student and family. Your Workday account will direct you to the exact verification item you need to submit.

2. Tax Transcripts - most verification groups require tax information to complete verification. The quickest and easiest way to get us your tax information is to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool from the FAFSA. If you cannot use the Data Retrieval Tool, it's best to request (online) a tax transcript from the IRS. Detailed instructions are linked below.

Instructions for Verifying your Tax Information and Obtaining Tax Transcripts Handout

• Option 1: Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on FAFSA to import your tax information
  We recommend using Option 1 if you are eligible. It will allow you to complete this step most quickly. If Option 1 is not offered to you, please use Option 2 or 3.
  • Log into your FAFSA to make a change. Select the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import your tax information. Please note that not everyone is eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you are eligible, this option should be available to you 3 weeks after you electronically filed your tax return or 11 weeks after you filed a paper tax return.
  • It will take 7-10 days for our office to receive this information.

• Option 2: Request a Free IRS Tax Transcript Online - by PDF download or through mail
  • Visit www.irs.gov. Select "Get Your Tax Records"
  • Choose either "Get Transcripts Online" or "Get Transcripts by Mail."
  • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online CANNOT be sent directly to a third party by the IRS. It will be sent to your address filed with the IRS. Once you receive it, submit it to our office.

• Option 3: Request a Free IRS Tax Transcript by Telephone (Automated)
  • Call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) customer service at 1-800-908-9946.
  • You should receive your Tax Transcript 5-10 days after your request is processed.
  • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone CANNOT be sent directly to a third party by the IRS. It will be sent to your address filed with the IRS. Once you receive it, be sure it is signed and then submit it to our office.

3. Additional Documents - if you need to submit additional documents for verification, they will be listed in your email and in the Verification Portal.

FAQs about Verification

Please note the Verification Process may change from year to year.

1. What is verification?
2. How will I know if I am selected for verification?
3. Why have I been selected for verification?
4. If I am selected for verification, do I have to complete it?
5. Can I make changes to my FAFSA after I have completed verification?
6. Why do I have to indicate that I received food stamps in either of the two previous tax years?

Submitting Tax Information

1. What is a tax transcript, and why do I need one?
2. How do I order a tax transcript?
3. Do I need to submit a tax return transcript if I amended my original tax return?
4. I have a tax return summary. Is that the same as a tax transcript?
5. Should I submit my state tax return?
6. I filed for a tax extension. What documents does the financial aid office need?
7. I will not file taxes. Do I still have to go through the verification process?
8. My, or my parents', IRA Distribution was a rollover, but it is showing on my FAFSA. What should I do?

IRS Data Match

1. What is an IRS Data Match, and why should I use it when completing the FAFSA?
2. Why am I unable to choose the IRS Data Match?
3. I completed the IRS Data Match, but I feel the information on my FAFSA is incorrect. Is there anything I can do?

General Information about Verification

1. What is verification?
The Federal Government randomly selects FAFSAs for verification as they are submitted in order to verify information. It is then the school's responsibility to request copies of tax documents and other information to verify that the data reported on the FAFSA is accurate. Errors must be corrected and sent to the Federal Processor. Eligibility for financial aid can change due to verification.

2. How will I know if I am selected for verification?
There will be a notification on your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you automatically receive after submitting the FAFSA. You will also have additional verification documents listed as "Not Received" under the Financial Aid Eligibility section of your myFHSU worklet in Workday account.

3. Why have I been selected for verification?
Students can be randomly selected for verification by the Federal Processor when the FAFSA is originally submitted or anytime changes are made to the FAFSA. Students can be selected for verification after making changes to their FAFSAs, even if aid has already disbursed. The Financial Assistance Office is also required to select students for verification if there is conflicting information on the FAFSA.

4. If I am selected for verification, do I have to complete it?
Yes. You will not receive financial aid if you do not complete the verification process. If you are selected for verification after your aid has already disbursed, you still must complete verification. If you do not complete verification, any aid you have received must be paid back to FHSU. If you do not complete the verification process promptly, the disbursement of your federal financial aid funds may be delayed.

5. Can I make changes to my FAFSA after I have completed verification?
The FAFSA application will allow you to make changes after you have completed verification. However, the Financial Assistance Office will not load those changes. We will use the information we determined to be correct upon the completion of your verification.

6. Why do I have to indicate that I received food stamps in either of the two previous tax years?
The Department of Education has chosen food stamp benefits to be one of several items that must be verified. If you received SNAP or food stamp benefits at any time during the previous two tax years, you must select yes on your Verification Worksheet. You may be required to submit to the financial aid office a copy of an SRS printout from your home state which details the benefits you received.

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Submitting Tax Information

1. What is a tax transcript, and why do I need one?
A tax transcript comes directly from the IRS and contains most of the line items from your federal tax return. For 2018-2019, the federal government will only accept official tax transcripts from the IRS to verify financial information on the FAFSA. To avoid having to order a tax transcript, an IRS Data Match should be used when completing the FAFSA. A tax transcript is free and can be ordered by calling 1-800-908-9946 or visiting www.irs.gov. You should receive your transcript in 5-10 business days after the IRS receives and processes your request.

2. How do I order a tax transcript?
A free tax transcript can be ordered by calling 1-800-908-9946 or visiting www.irs.gov. For detailed instructions, please download this handout. You should receive your transcript in 5-10 business days after the IRS receives and processes your request.

3. Do I need to submit a tax return transcript if I amended my original tax return?
If you filed an amended tax return (corrections or additions to your original tax return), you will need to provide a copy of your: 1) Federal Form 1040X and 2) An IRS tax return transcript.

4. I have a tax return summary. Is that the same as a tax transcript?
No. A tax summary does not include all the information we need in order to verify your information. You will need to submit a tax transcript.

5. Should I submit my state tax return?
No. The financial aid office is not allowed to keep state tax returns on file. All state tax returns received will be shredded and deleted from your file.

6. I filed for a tax extension. What documents does the Financial Assistance Office need?
You should mark "I will file, but have not completed my return" on the Household Form. You will also need to submit a copy of your Form 4868 "Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return," along with all W-2's received for the specific tax year. If you are self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of your AGI and U.S. income tax paid is required.

7. I will not file taxes. Do I still have to go through the verification process?
Yes. You should mark "I will not file" on the Household Form.  You will be asked to list your employers and to provide W2's for all wages.

8. My, or my parents', IRA Distribution was a rollover, but it is showing on my FAFSA. What should I do?
Rollover IRA Distributions should not be counted as untaxed income, however, the IRS Data Match is unable to distinguish these from non-rollover distributions. You should submit a copy of your 1040 tax return, along with a signed statement explaining the error, to the Financial Assistance Office.

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IRS Data Match

1. What is an IRS Data Match, and why should I use it when completing the FAFSA?
FAFSA has partnered with the IRS to allow applicants to select an IRS Data Match to import their tax return information directly from the IRS into their FAFSA. The IRS Data Match makes completing the FAFSA easier and more accurate, and it also allows selected students to complete the verification process more quickly. Students will be prompted to select this option when completing the FAFSA if they are eligible. The IRS Data Match can be selected when originally completing the FAFSA or by making a change to the FAFSA.

2. Why am I unable to choose the IRS Data Match?
In certain circumstances, students are not eligible for the IRS Data Match. If the student or student's parents filed as 'married filing jointly' and are now separated/divorced, widowed, or married to a different person, the IRS Data Match is not available. The IRS Data Match is also not available if you have not filed a federal tax return or your return has not been processed by the IRS.

3. I completed the IRS Data Match, but I feel the information on my FAFSA is incorrect. Is there anything I can do?
Yes. You should submit a signed statement to the Financial Assistance office explaining why you believe there is an error and requesting a review. You should include a copy of your tax transcript as supporting documentation. We will be unable to consider your request without a tax transcript.

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