When a student completes the FAFSA or makes corrections to the FAFSA, the Federal Government may randomly select the student for a process called “verification.” If you are selected, it will be noted on your Student Aid Transcript (SAR), and Grand View’s Financial Aid Office will request that you complete a Verification Worksheet. We are required to compare the information you provide us with the information provided on your FAFSA. If there are any differences, we will make the necessary corrections. Please note that corrections may result in changes to your Expected Family Contribution.
If you (or your parent/s if you are dependent) filed taxes, it is recommended that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your tax information to your FAFSA. If you filed taxes and did not use this option, you may log into your FAFSA and update it by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at a later date. For those who are unable or choose not to use this tool, we must require you to provide us with an IRS Tax Return Transcript. Instructions for using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript can be found below under “2012-13 Verification Guidelines.”
A student selected for verification will need to turn in the following items to our office:
- Completed Verification Worksheet
- If the student/spouse/parent(s) did not file taxes, we will need copies of all 2011 W-2’s received.
- If the student/spouse/parent(s) filed taxes in 2011, we require one of the following: (1) Use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer tax information to the 2012-13 FAFSA (recommended); (2) 2011 IRS Tax Return Transcripts.
- Any other documents that are requested by our office after initial verification review.
Important Verification Notes
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New students selected for verification must have all requested documents turned into our office and reviewed before we can disburse financial aid to their account.
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Returning students selected for verification must have all requested document turned into our office and reviewed before we can send them their Financial Aid Letter.
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If you do not turn in your verification documents before semester end, you may become ineligible for certain types of funding.
2012-13 Verification Guidelines
If you are selected for verification for the 2012-13 school year, you may notice that Grand View’s Verification Worksheet has been revised to comply with changes to federal regulations. In addition, beginning with 2012-13, copies of federal tax returns are no longer acceptable forms of documentation for students selected for verification. Students and parents who filed taxes are now required to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA website or submit 2011 IRS tax return transcripts to the Financial Aid Office for review. Both of these options take at least two weeks from the time you e-filed your tax return or eight weeks from the time you mailed your tax return to the IRS to become available.
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is the fastest and most preferred method of verifying taxable income information.
You cannot, however, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for your FAFSA if any of the following apply to you:
- You and your spouse (or your parent and his/her spouse) filed separate tax returns.
- You (or your parent) filed an amended tax return.
- You (or your parent) filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return.
- Your (or your parent’s) marital status has changed since December 31, 2011.
- Your (or your parent’s) information included on the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Process was subsequently changed.
If you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool but used estimated tax information or just recently filed your taxes, it is recommended that you update your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at a later date (allow two weeks after e-filing your taxes or eight weeks after mailing your taxes to the IRS for this option to be available).
Updating Your FAFSA Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (Recommended)
- Go to www.FAFSA.ed.gov and log in.
- Select “Make FAFSA Corrections” and navigate to the Financial Information Section.
- Follow the instructions to determine if you/your parent(s) are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your FAFSA.
If you are selected for verification and are unable or choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will need to provide our office with your and/or your parent’s 2011 IRS Tax Return Transcript.
How to Request an IRS Tax Return Transcript
You may request your IRS Tax Return Transcript at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946. If you have filed an amended tax return, you will need to request a tax account transcript in addition to your tax return transcript. Please note that tax transcripts are not the same as copies of tax returns. Contact Grand View’s Financial Aid Office at finaid@grandview.edu or 515-263-2820 if a tax transcript is not available.