2020-2021
Independent Verification Guide
TIPS FOR COMPLETING THE VERIFICATION FORM
Verification is the process required by the U.S. Department of Education to confirm that information reported on the
FAFSA is accurate. The U.S. Department of Education often selects students randomly for this process. The Office
of Financial Aid begins verifying FAFSA information after receiving all requested forms and documentation.
See Verification Worksheet for the corresponding sections for B, D, and E below.
B. Other Household Members INCLUDE:
Student’s / spouse’s children (even if they do not live with them) – who will receive more than half their support
from student / spouse from July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. (But not if child support is paid for them.)
NOTE: The FAFSA does not have the same dependency rules as the IRS. Contact Raider Connect for help.
Student’s / spouse’s adult children who are not yet 24, not married, not a veteran, not active duty military, who
do not live with them; but they would be required to put student and spouse (if applicable) on their own
FAFSA if they also attend college.
Other people, ONLY IF they live with student/spouse now AND receive more than half their support from
student/spouse AND will continue to receive more than half support from July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.
Does not include foster children for whom student/spouse receive a subsidy.
Does not include children whom student/spouse included in child support paid figure on the FAFSA.
Support includes: housing, utilities, cell service, transportation, food, clothing, medical, childcare, personal
D. FAFSA requirements for Student / Spouse who filed a 2018 tax return
Provide official tax information → THREE OPTIONS:
1.) Use the **IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) on the FAFSA to transfer tax information
2.) Obtain the *IRS Tax Return Transcript for 2018 and submit a copy to Raider Connect
3.) Submit copy of 2018 tax return, Form 1040, that was filed with the IRS
a.) Requires taxpayer signature or signature/credentials of tax professional who prepared the return
b.) Must also submit Schedules 1, 2, and 3, if any of them were used for the tax return
Additional documentation required if student’s/spouse’s 2018 tax return has been amended.
An AMENDED TAX RETURN is when a taxpayer corrects their tax return by filing IRS Form 1040X, or when
the IRS makes a correction to the taxpayer’s tax return.
▪ Submit signed and dated copy of IRS Form 1040X if student/spouse corrected their 2018 tax return.
▪ Submit 2018 IRS Tax Account Transcript if the IRS corrected the student’s/spouse’s 2018 tax return.
D. FAFSA requirements for Student / Spouse who did not file a 2018 Tax Return
Student / Spouse must obtain a *Non-Filing Letter from the IRS if no tax return filed for 2018
Student / Spouse earned money from work in 2018 but did not file a tax return
Sometimes people do not earn enough money to require them to file a tax return.
For earnings from work → TWO STEPS:
1.) Must provide copies of all W-2s for 2018 (or the IRS Wage & Income Transcript)
2.) On the Verification Worksheet, list names of all employers and amounts earned for 2018