FAFSA Verification Process

One in every three FAFSA’s submitted to the Department of Education's Central Processing System is selected for a process called "verification". This does not mean anything was done wrong when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), but that the form has been randomly selected by the Central Processing System to have that applicant's information "verified".

The burden is then placed on the Financial Aid Office to "verify" the information submitted on the student’s FAFSA. To do this, the Financial Aid Office will need the student (and if dependent, a parent) to complete a Verification Worksheet. This form helps with the verification process by giving more information about the student's household. The Financial Aid Office is also required to verify the student's (and if dependent, the parent's) federal income tax return information. To do this, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool within the FAFSA may be used. This tool brings tax information directly over from the IRS database into the student’s FAFSA so that the Financial Aid Office will not be required to do any additional steps to verify this information.  There are non-filer instructions given on the Verification Worksheet for those individuals who did not file a federal income tax return.

If a student (or if dependent, a parent) is unable or unwilling to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, then the Financial Aid Office will need an IRS Tax Return Transcript submitted. There are directions given on the Verification Worksheet on how to obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript.

If the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is used either initially or as a correction, then only the Verification Worksheet will need to be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office. If the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is never used and an IRS Tax Return Transcript was ordered and received, then both the Verification Worksheet and the IRS Tax Return Transcript will need to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

Once the Financial Aid Office has received the Verification Worksheet and have verified the tax information, processing can then move forward for awarding financial aid.  If it is determined that a correction needs to be made to the student’s FAFSA, then the Financial Aid Office will submit the correction(s) and, in 3-5 days, receive back a corrected form. Financial aid awards can then be processed.

To obtain a Verification Worksheet, visit our financial aid resource page or email the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@eureka.edu. A Financial Aid Specialist will assist you with the verification process.