What is verification?

Verification is a process used to verify certain information on the FAFSA to ensure its accuracy.

The U.S. Department of Education or the Office of Student Financial Services may, at any time, select your application for verification based upon the information you have provided. We are required to make sure that all aid is awarded to students according to federal, state, and institutional regulations. If selected, the verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded.

Why is my file being verified?

While there are several reasons why a student may be selected for verification, some leading causes are:

• The submitted FAFSA application has incomplete data
• The data on the FAFSA application appears to contradict itself
• The FAFSA application has estimated information on it
• Random selection

What items are being verified?

You and/or your parents may be asked to submit documentation or clarification of information for one or more of the following data elements on your FAFSA:

• Adjusted Gross Income
• Taxes Paid
• Income Earned from Work (for non-tax filers)
• Certain Untaxed Income Items
• Assets
• Number of family members in the household
• Number of family members enrolled at least part-time in college (excluding parents for a dependent student)
• Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP Benefit
• Child Support Paid
• Citizenship Status
• Compliance with Selective Service registration requirement
• Any other inconsistent or conflicting information (including name, date of birth, social security number, etc.)

How will I know I have been selected for verification?

Typically, students can expect to receive an email notification that they have been selected for verification within 10-14 days after the office of Student Financial Services receives the student's FAFSA results from the federal processor.

What documents do I need to submit if I am selected?

The documents required will vary based on each student. You should log into your Portal to see a list of all of the documents you must submit.

How do I verify my income?

There are only two ways to verify your tax data: Either a tax transcript from the IRS or your FAFSA filed using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you have filed your taxes with the IRS, you should log into your FAFSA and make a correction to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your tax information. If you do not, or cannot, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will be require to obtain a tax transcript from the IRS and submit it to the office of Student Financial Services.

The fastest way to request your Tax Transcript is either by phone or online.

Please make sure you request a Tax Transcript. Do not request a Tax Account Transcript or Record of Account unless directed by our office to do so.

Ordering a Tax Transcript by Phone:

1. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, then select the following prompts
2. Option 2 (Personal Income Taxes)
3. Option 1 (Tax History)
4. Option 2 (Tax Return Transcript)
5. Enter and verify Social Security Number (if joint return both SSN's required)
6. Enter and verify number of street address
7. Press 2 for Tax Transcript and indicate which year (i.e. 2017, for the 2019-2020 school year)

Ordering a Tax Transcript Online:

1. Go to www.irs.gov, then select the following
2. Click "Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript" located in the left-hand column
3. Click "Order a Transcript" under Step 3
4. Enter your SSN, Date of Birth, Street Address, and Zip Code (be sure to use the address currently on file with the IRS (generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed; however, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have updated the address on file)
5. Click Continue
6. In the TYPE OF TRANSCRIPT field, select "Return Transcript" and in the TAX YEAR field, select the appropriate year (i.e. 2017, for the 2019-2020 school year)
7. Click Continue

If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS received the request.

What happens if there are discrepancies in the application?

After all documents are submitted, the Office of Student Financial Services will compare them to your application. If errors are found, corrections will be made and sent to the Department of Education for reprocessing.

How long does a data correction take?

You should allow 7-10 business days for the verification review process and an additional 7-10 business days if corrections have to be made and transmitted. Additional time may be necessary during peak periods.

How long do I have to send all of my paperwork in?

May 20 is the paperwork deadline for all students enrolling in the Fall Quarter. Students selected for verification will not receive an official Award Letter until the verification process has been completed, so timely submission of all required documents is key to ensuring that you won't miss out on aid.

How will I know if my aid offer changed after verification?

If your aid offer changes after the verification process is completed, typically within 10-14 business days after the Office of Student Financial Services receives your updated FAFSA, you will receive an email notice that there have been changes made to your aid offer. You can log into your student Portal to see your revised aid offer.

Anything else I should know regarding verification?

An important thing to note is that participation in the verification process is not optional. If you do not submit the requested documentation, you will not be eligible to receive federal, state, or institutional need-based financial aid and your parents will not be eligible to borrow a federal Parent PLUS loan. It's also important to note that:

• It is recommended that federal income tax returns be filed as soon as possible if selected for verification, since a final aid offer cannot be made until the verification process is completed
• Individuals who have filed extensions or are self-employed and file their taxes later in the year are not excused from the verification process

My situation is complicated. Who can I talk to about it?

Your Financial Aid Counselor is here to help guide you through this process. Call (951) 785-2175 today to make your appointment or email us at: sfs@lasierra.edu.