Rev
ised: 12/01/2019 VERDEP
Financial Aid Office • SUNY Plattsburgh • 101 Broad Street • Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2681
Tel: (518) 564-2072 • Toll-Free: (877) 768-5976 • Fax: (518) 564-4079 • email: finaid@plattsburgh.edu
INSTRUCTIONS TO VERIFY INCOME FOR FEDERAL TAX FILERS
IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL (IRS DRT)
The best way to verify federal income is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) that is part of FAFSA on the Web
at www.fafsa.gov. This option is available for most students and parents. Login www.fafsa.gov
, click the “Financial
Information” tab and look for a “Link to IRS” button.
IRS TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT
The other way to verify federal income is by submitting an IRS Tax Return Transcript to the FAO. To obtain a copy of an
IRS Tax Return Transcript, go to www.irs.gov
, click “Get Your Tax Record”, and then choose the online or by mail
option. You can also call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the “IRS Tax Return Transcript” and not the “IRS Tax
Account Transcript.”
IRS FEDERAL TAX RETURN
Submit a copy of the 2019 Federal Income Tax Return. Submit only the first two pages of the tax return and sign the
return if a tax accountant did not prepare it. Include copies of Federal Schedules 1, 2, or 3 if you had them.
IRS AMENDED TAX RETURNS
If an individual filed an amended IRS income tax return for tax year 2019, submit the following to the FAO:
• A 2019 IRS Tax Return Transcript for the 2019 tax year or use IRS DRT; and
• A signed copy of the 2019 IRS Form 1040X, “Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” that was filed with IRS.
VICTIMS OF IRS IDENTITY THEFT
Victims of identity theft who cannot get a 2019 IRS Tax Return Transcript or use the IRS DRT must:
• Cal
l the IRS’s Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) toll-free number at 800-908-4490. After the IPSU
authenticates the tax filer’s identity, request from the IRS an alternate paper tax return transcript known as the TRDBV
(Transcript DataBase View). Submit a copy of the TRDBV to the FAO.
• Submit to the FAO a signed and dated statement indicating that you were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and
that the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.
IRS FILING EXTENSIONS OR INDIVIDUALS WITH UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
If an individual is required to file a 2019 IRS income tax return and has been granted a filing extension beyond the
automatic six-month extension by the IRS, provide the following documents:
• A copy of the IRS's approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for the tax year 2019.
• Verification of Non-filing Letter (confirmation that the tax return has not yet been filed) from the IRS or other relevant
tax authority dated on or after October 1, 2020.
• A copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2019.
• If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s AGI and the U.S. income tax paid for tax
year 2019.
• After filing a 2019 IRS income tax return, use the ISR DRT or submit a IRS Tax Return Transcript.
NON-IRS INCOME TAX RETURNS
A tax filer who filed an income tax return with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may provide a signed copy of his or her income tax return
that was filed with the relevant tax authority. However, if we question the accuracy of the information on the signed
copy of the income tax return, the tax filer must provide us with a copy of the tax account information issued by the
relevant tax authority before verification can be completed.
A tax filer who filed an income tax return with the tax authority for American Samoa must provide a copy of his or her
tax account information.
A tax filer who filed an income tax return with tax authorities not mentioned above, i.e. a foreign tax authority, and who
indicates that he or she is unable to obtain the tax account information free of charge, must provide documentation
that the tax authority charges a fee to obtain that information, along with a signed copy of his or her income tax return
that was filed with the relevant tax authority.