Verification

We are required by federal law to collect information from applicants who are selected for verification, and to resolve any discrepancies that may exist between information reported on a FAFSA and information submitted to complete the verification process.

There are cases in which verification increases a student’s eligibility for aid, and other cases in which eligibility is reduced. Financial aid cannot be paid to a student’s account until the verification process is completed.

The Department of Education has developed a customized approach to verification. Items required to verify may vary for each student selected for verification. Students can see what documents are required for verification by selecting “Financial Aid & Scholarships” from the menu on eServices.

If selected for verification, all required documents must be received by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships within 30 days of notification or your last date of attendance, whichever is earlier. Failure to do so may forfeit your eligibility to receive financial aid.

Federal income tax filers may be required to submit a signed copy of their income tax return that was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). If the return was filed electronically, the copy provided also requires the signature of the tax filer. Those who do not have a copy of their federal income tax return can obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript directly from the IRS using one of the methods listed below.

Online Request

• Go to the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript and select “Get Transcript Online”.
• To use the online request form you will need the following: (1) your social security number and date of birth, (2) your filing status and mailing address from your latest tax return, (3) an email account, (4) your credit card number or an account number from an auto loan, mortgage, home equity loan or home equity line of credit, and (5) a mobile phone with your name on the account. If you choose to use a credit card number for identity verification it will not be charged.
• Click on “Get Started” and follow the steps to verify your identity.
• Record for future use the User ID and password you select before you press the “continue” button.
• You will be required to indicate the reason you need a transcript. Select “Higher Education/Student Aid” option.
• Select the year under the Return Transcript box.
• If your pop-up blocker is off, you will be shown a copy of your Tax Return Transcript to print.

Transcript by Mail

• Go to the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript and select “Get Transcript by Mail”.
• Enter the tax filer’s social security number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code. Use the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed either through the IRS or the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file, which should be used. For a joint tax return, use the primary tax filer’s social security number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code.
• Click “Continue”.
• In the Type of Transcript field, select “Return Transcript” and select the Tax Year.
• If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript within 5 to 10 business days.
• Tax Return Transcripts requested online can only be mailed to the address on file with the IRS.

Telephone Request

• Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946.
• Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their social security number and the numbers in their street address. This will be numbers of the street address that was listed on the latest tax return. However, if an address change has been completed either through the IRS or the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file. For a joint tax return, use the primary tax filer’s social security number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code.
• Select “Option 2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter the tax year.
• If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive an IRS Tax Return Transcript within 5 to 10 business days.
• IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be mailed to an address other than the address on file with the IRS.

Tax filers who filed an Amended Tax Return must submit the following documents in lieu of a tax return transcript:

1. A signed copy of the original tax return that was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and
2. A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that was filed with the IRS or the IRS Record of Account Transcript

Tax filers who filed an income tax return with a taxing authority in a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands) or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands) or with a foreign central government, must submit:

1. A signed copy of the income tax return that was submitted to the tax authority.

AND

2. Translate in English and in US dollar amounts based on the exchange rate the day the FAFSA was filed and circle the amounts for:
   1. Adjusted Gross Income - This is the total income plus interest and dividend income minus housing allowances and minus contributions to retirement accounts. (Housing allowances and contributions to retirement accounts are reported separately on the FAFSA.)
   2. Income taxes paid
   3. Wages earned

Nontax filers who are residents of the Freely Associated States (Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia), and a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign central government who are not required to file an income tax return under that taxing authority’s rules must submit:

1. Copy of their Wage and Tax Statement (or equivalent documentation) for each source of employment income received

AND

2. A signed statement identifying all of the individual’s income and taxes translated in English and in US dollar amounts based on the exchange rate the day the FAFSA was filed.

An IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter provides proof that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for the year requested. Non-tax filers can request an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, free of charge, from the IRS in one of two ways:

Online Request (Note: This is typically not available if you have never filed taxes before in prior years. If this is the case, please follow the instructions to use the paper request below).

• Go to the IRS website at: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript and select Get Transcript Online.
  • To use the online request form you will need the following: (1) your social security number and date of birth, (2) your filing status and mailing address from your latest tax return, (3) an email account, (4) your credit card number or an account number from an auto loan, mortgage, home equity loan or home equity line of credit, and (5) a mobile phone with your name on the account. If you choose to use a credit card number for identity verification it will not be charged.
  • Click on Get Started and follow the steps to verify your identity.
  • Record for future use the User ID and password you select before you press the continue button.
  • You will be required to indicate the reason you need a transcript. Select Higher Education/Student Aid option.
  • Select Verification of Non-filing Letter and enter the year in the Tax Year field.
  • If your pop-up blocker is off, you will be shown a copy of your Verification of Non-filing Letter to print.
    
     

Paper Request Form - IRS Form 4506-T

• Complete Lines 1 - 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
• Line 3: enter the non filers street address and zip/postal code.
• Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right hand side for Verification of Non-filing.
• Complete the year or period requested field.
• The non filer must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number.
• Mail or Fax the Completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address or FAX number provided on page 2 of form 4506-T. DO NOT send the 4506-T to the RIT Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
• If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, you can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing letter to the address provided on the request within 5 to 10 days.