2020-21 (V1) Standard Verification Worksheet
Your 2020-2021 FAFSA was selected for review in a process called Verification. In this process, your school will be comparing information
from your FAFSA with copies of your (and your spouse’s if you are married, or your parent’s if you are dependent) 2018 Federal tax
transcript, and/or W-2 forms and/or other financial documents. Complete this verification worksheet and submit it, along with other
required documents, to the financial aid office as soon as possible to avoid a delay in processing your financial aid. If you need help,
contact the financial aid office at your school. Your school must review the requested information under the financial aid program rules (34
CFR, Part 668) and submit corrections if necessary.
A. Student Information
_____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Last Name First Name
MI
Student ID Number
____________________________________________________________________________
Address (include apt. #)
____________________________________________________________________________
City State Zip Code
_____________________________________________
Date of Birth
_____________________________________________
Phone Number (include area code)
B. Family Information
Write the names of ALL household members* in the section below. LIST YOURSELF FIRST! Also write in the college name for any family member,
excluding your parent, who will attend college at least half time between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, and will be enrolled in a financial aid eligible
program. If you need more space, attach a separate page.
*Independent Student: List the people in your household. List yourself first, then your spouse if you have one, and your children if you will provide more
than half of their support from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 even if they do not live with you. Include other people only if they now live with you
and you provide more than half of their support and will continue to provide more than half of their support through June 30, 2021.
*Dependent Student: List the people in your parent’s household. List yourself first, then your parent(s)/stepparent(s) (even if you do not live with them),
and your parent/stepparent’s other children who live with them. Include parent/stepparent’s other children who do not live with them if your
parent/stepparent will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 or if the children would be required to give parental
information when applying for federal student aid. List any other people who now live in your parent/ step-parent’s household if your parent/stepparent
provides more than half of their support and will continue to provide more than half of their support through June 30, 2021.
Full Name Age Relationship College
Will be Enrolled at
Least Half Time
(example) Pam Smith 25 Wife City University (Yes or No)
SELF
Check this box IF A TAX RETURN WAS FILED and complete the section below. If you (and your spouse or parents, if
applicable) filed a 2018 tax return, check all the boxes that apply (see additional instructions included with worksheet).
STUDENT SPOUSE PARENT
used the IRS DRT in FAFSA on the Web to transfer 2018 IRS income tax info to the FAFSA when I first
submitted the FAFSA.
did not use the IRS DRT in FAFSA on the Web when FAFSA was first submitted, but used DRT to
transfer income tax info to the FAFSA on (MM/DD/YY) _____/_____/_____.
is unable or chose not to use the IRS DRT and has included a 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript along
with this worksheet to the college financial aid office.
Check this box IF A TAX RETURN WAS NOT FILED and complete the section below. If you (and your spouse or
parents, if applicable) are not required to file a 2018 federal tax return, check all the boxes that apply.
was not employed, earned no income from work, and was not required to file a 2018 tax return.
_was employed and earned income from work in 2018 but was not required to file a tax return.
List all employers in the section below even if you did not receive a W-2 Form. Attach all W-2
_____________forms received. Attach a separate sheet if more space is needed.
Employee Name Employer Name 2018 Amount Earned W-2 Form Received?
(example) John Doe Bob’s Chicken Hut $2000 (Yes or No)
D. Certification and Signatures
Each person signing this worksheet certifies that all information reported on it is complete and correct. If student is dependent, at least one parent must sign.
Your financial aid cannot be processed until the financial aid office receives the required Verification documents. Your school must review the requested information,
under the financial aid program rules (34 CFR, Part 668), and submit corrections if necessary.
WARNING: If you purposely give false or misleading information on this worksheet, you may be fined, be sentenced to jail, or both.
___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Student's Signature Date Parent’s Signature (Dependent Students Only) Date
STUDENT SPOUSE PARENT
C. Income and Financial Information to Be Verified
2020-2021 INSTRUCTIONS FOR VERIFYING TAX INFORMATION
The best way to verify income is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) that is part of the FAFSA on the
Web. If you have not already used the tool, go to www.fafsa.gov, log in and selectMake FAFSA Corrections."
In the Financial Information section of the form, follow the instructions to determine if you are eligible to use
the IRS DRT to transfer 2018 IRS income tax information into your FAFSA. You should be able to use the IRS
DRT within 2-3 weeks after filing your return. Both the student and parent, if dependent, should use the DRT.
If you are unable or choose not to use the IRS DRT, you may provide a signed copy of the 2018 IRS Form
1040. It must be signed by the tax filer in the signature line. Do not provide a state tax return. Or, you may
obtain an IRS tax return transcript. In most cases, for electronic filers, a 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript is
available from the IRS within 2-3 weeks after filing. If you filed a paper return, expect 8-11 weeks for your
transcript to be available.
To request an IRS tax return transcript, go to IRS.gov, select "Get Your Tax Record", on the next page select
either Request Online or Request by Mail. Use the Social Security Number and date of birth of either person
listed on the 2018 tax return and the address on file with the IRS (the address used when your 2018 IRS tax
return was filed). Make sure you request the “Return Transcript” and NOT the “Account Transcript.” Provide
the transcript to the Financial Aid office along with your Verification Worksheet.
If you are unable or choose not to use the DRT and cannot access your IRS transcript online, you must call the
IRS at 1-800-908-9946 to receive a transcript.
Special Situations:
Amended Returns - If you filed an amended tax return, you must submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript AND a
signed copy of your Form 1040-X, "Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return," along with your
completed Verification Worksheet.
Victims of IRS Identity Theft - A victim of IRS tax-related identity theft must provide a Tax Return DataBase
View (TRDBV) transcript obtained from the IRS, or any other IRS tax transcript that includes all of the income
and tax information required to be verified AND a statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that
he or she was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS is aware of the tax-related identity
theft.
Non-IRS Income Tax Returns - An individual who filed or will file a 2018 income tax return with Puerto Rico,
another U.S. territory, or with a foreign country must provide a transcript that was obtained at no cost from
the relevant taxing authority that includes all of the tax filer’s income and tax information required to be
verified for the 2018 tax year OR a signed copy of the 2018 income tax return along with the Verification
Worksheet.
Filing Extensions An individual who has been granted a filing extension beyond 6 months by the IRS must
provide the Verification of Non-Filing from the IRS, a copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension, AND a copy
of the W-2 for each source of employment income received for the 2018 tax year and, if self-employed, a
signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and the U.S. income
tax paid for the 2018 tax year.