Verification

At least 30 percent of applications are chosen for verification, which is a process to confirm the information you reported on your FAFSA. After you submit your FAFSA, your information is sent to the FAFSA Processing System (FPS) selects which applications are to be verified. The processor does checks according to federal financial aid guidelines.

If your application is selected, UNT Dallas will notify you through myUNTD. Your FAFSA Submission Summary will also show if you were selected.

What does it me to be selected for Verification?

Verification is a process to confirm that the information you or your parents (if applicable) provided on your FAFSA is accurate.

How are students selected for Verification?

Students are selected at random or by system edits at the U.S. Department of Education; The school can also select a student for verification to resolve any conflicting information.

What do I have to do now that I have been selected for Verification?

If you have been selected for verification, the financial aid office will request certain documents from you to verify the information you have entered on your FAFSA is correct. Submitting the requested documents in a timely manner will help to expedite the verification process.

What documentation do I need to submit?

The documents required will vary for each student. Forms and requests will be listed on your Student portal.

I am not required to file taxes. What information am I required to submit?

1. If you are not required to file taxes, you will need to submit the Verification of Non-Filing letter from the IRS. The letter can be obtained from the IRS in one of two ways: Online or by Mail
Online Request – IRS.gov

  • Under Tools, click “get a tax transcript”
  • Click “Get Transcript ONLINE” (If at any point, you cannot validate your identity – for example you cannot provide financial verification information or you lack access to a mobile phone - you will need to use the Get Transcript by MAIL option, see below for instructions).
  • Enter the non-filer’s Social Security Number (you can use your ITIN or EIN), e-mail address, filing status, account numbers for loan or credit card associated with your name, and mobile phone associate with your name. This information will be used to verify your identity with the IRS.
  • Click “Continue”
  • Select “Verification of Nonfiling Letter” and in the tax year field select “20XX″
  • If successfully validated, you will be able to view your IRS Verification of Nonfiling letter that can then print it out for submission.
  • Submit the transcript to the financial aid office; be sure to include your student ID number on the transcript.

Paper Request – IRS Form 4506-T (Request for Transcript of Tax Return)

  • Download IRS Form 4506-T
  • Complete Lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
  • Line 5: provides non-filers with the option to have their IRS Verification of Nonfiling Letter mailed directly to a 3rd party by the IRS.
  • Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right-hand side for Verification of Nonfiling.
  • Line 9: In the year or period requested field, enter “12/31/20XX″.
  • Above the signature line: Make sure that you check the signatory authority box.
  • 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.
  • If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Nonfiling letter at the address provided on their request within 5 to 10 days.
    Submit the letter to the financial aid office; be sure you put your student ID number on the letter.

2. If you have been selected for verification and you, and/or your parents if applicable,  did not file a Federal income tax return, you will need to submit the following documents to your financial aid office:

  • A signed statement certifying that you have not, and were not required to file a federal tax return for 20XX – If you had any earned income, you will also need to include in your statement a list of all the employers you worked for, and how much you earned from each one.
  • All W-2’s or equivalent documents for all sources of earned income listed in your statement.

What is a Tax Return Transcript?

A tax return transcript is a line-by-line accounting of your tax return as it was originally filed with the IRS. The transcript can only be obtained directly from the IRS. It is used to verify that the tax information entered on your FAFSA matches the tax data filed with the IRS.

What is the difference between a tax transcript and a tax return?

A tax return is the original document (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) and any schedules and additional supporting forms you and/or your tax preparer file with the IRS. A tax transcript is a summary of this information and is retrieved from the IRS database once the IRS has processed your tax return.

What is a Tax Account Transcript?

A tax account transcript shows any changes either you or the IRS made to your tax return after it was filed. A tax account transcript is not acceptable documentation for verification purposes. 

I have been selected for Verification and need to get a copy of my tax transcript; how do I do that?

There are three different ways in which you can get a copy of your tax transcript from the IRS at no charge.
  • Immediate download from the IRS website.
  • Order a copy be sent to you in the mail. Request can be made by phone 1-800-829-1040 or printing a 4506-T form to submit by mail or via fax.
  • Have a copy faxed to you

How do I download my tax transcript from the IRS?

Go to IRS.gov and
  1. click on “Get Your Tax Record”
  2. click on the “Get Transcript Online”
  3. Follow the prompts to retrieve and download a copy of your tax transcript.

You will be able to save and/or print out your transcript.

Will I still be able to get my financial aid if I have been selected for Verification?

Your financial aid will not be awarded until you have completed the Verification process. Once the information you have submitted has been verified, and any necessary changes and/or adjustments have been made, you will clear the verification process.

I was selected for verification and have filed an amended tax return. What documents do I need to provide?

If you have filed or will file an amended tax return, you will need to provide a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript and a signed copy of your amended return (1040X) your financial aid office.

What is the Direct Data Exchange and how do I use it?

The U.S. Department of Education gets data directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to calculate a student’s SAI and Pell Grant award. The FUTURE Act requires the IRS to release tax data to the U.S. Department of Education for use on the FAFSA form through a secure method called the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange. 
 
Federal Tax Information (FTI) is any tax return or return information received from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or any secondary source that is protected by the confidentiality provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, which is uploaded as part of your FAFSA, as part of the Direct Data Exchange process.
 
FTI may only be used for the purposes of administering the federal student aid programs and for determining an applicant’s eligibility for and amount of Title IV, institutional, and state educational aid.
 
To provide approval and consent for the Data Exchange process, FAFSA contributors (including parent(s) or spouse) must agree to: 
  1. the Department’s use and disclosure of their information (e.g., name and Social Security number) to match with the IRS; 
  2. the disclosure of their FTI by the IRS to the Department;
  3. the use of their FTI by a Department official to determine an applicant’s eligibility for federal student aid and the amount for which they are eligible; and
  4. the redisclosure of FTI by the Department to an eligible institution, state higher education agency, or a designated scholarship organization (e.g., institutional or state financial aid).

My marital status has changed since I completed the FAFSA. What documentation do I need to submit?

If you are divorced, please submit a copy of your final divorce decree. You may also be required to submit additional income documentation. For situations other than divorce, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships at 972-780-3662.