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
Revised: 12/01/2019 VERIND
VERIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT STUDENT FOR 2020-2021
Student Name: ___________________________ Banner ID or NetID: ____________________________
Each year approximately 25% of all financial aid applicants are selected by the federal government for verification. When
a student is selected for verification, a college is required to verify that the information reported on the FAFSA is true and
accurate. The federal government selected your FAFSA for verification. To complete this, the Financial Aid Office (FAO)
is required by law to compare the information that you self-reported on the FAFSA to both the information on this form and
to any 2018 federal taxes. FAO is required to update your FAFSA with any corrections.
In order to complete verification, submit this form to the FAO and provide us with any 2018 federal taxes. You can fax,
scan and e-mail, or mail a copy of this form to the FAO. Failure to submit this information in a timely manner may
eventually result in account holds, late fees, and loss of aid.
SECTION A MARITAL STATUS
What was your marital status when you filed your 2020-2021 FAFSA (check one)?
I am single
I am separated
I am married or remarried
I am divorced or widowed
SECTION B - HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION
In the table below, list the people in your household. Include:
You, the student.
Your spouse if you are married.
Your children or your spouse’s children if you or your spouse will provide more than half of their support from July
1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, even if the children do not live with you.
Other people if they now live with you, and you or your spouse provide more than half of their support and will
continue to provide more than half of their support through June 30, 2021.
For each household member you list, write their age, relationship to you (spouse, child, grandparent, etc.), and college
name, and if they will attend at least half-time in 2020-2021 in a degree, diploma, or certificate program.
Full Name
Age
Relationship
College Enrolled in 2020-2021
Will be Enrolled at
Least Half-Time?
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
Yes No
SECTION C - STUDENT FEDERAL INCOME
Did you, the student, file a 2018 federal tax return (ex. 1040)?
No - I did not file and was not required to file a federal income tax return. Complete Section D and submit an IRS
Verification of Non-filing Letter from www.irs.gov
.
Yes and I have already used IRS Data Retrieval at www.fafsa.gov to transfer this tax return into my FAFSA.
Yes and I will use IRS Data Retrieval at www.fafsa.gov to transfer this tax return into my FAFSA.
Yes and I have or will submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript for 2018 or will provide a signed copy of the 2018
Federal income tax return to the FAO. Include copies of Federal Schedules 1, 2, or 3 if you had them.
The final page includes instructions on IRS Data Retrieval, IRS Tax Return Transcripts, and other ways to verify income.
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
Revised: 12/01/2019 VERIND
Student Name: ___________________________ Banner ID or NetID: ____________________________
SECTION D - STUDENT WAGES
Only complete this section if you answered “No” in Section C. Did you earn any income from work in 2018?
No - I earned no income from work in 2018. I was not employed in 2018.
Yes - In the table below list each employer and the amount earned from each employer. Attach copies of all 2018
IRS W-2 forms issued to you by employers. List every employer even if they did not issue a W-2 form.
Employer’s name
Amount Earned
W2 attached?
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
SECTION E SPOUSE FEDERAL INCOME
Did your spouse file a 2018 federal tax return (ex. 1040)?
No - I am not married or I am separated - Skip Section F and then complete Section G.
No - Complete Section F and have your spouse submit an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter from www.irs.gov
.
Yes and my spouse has already used IRS Data Retrieval at www.fafsa.gov to transfer it into my FAFSA.
Yes and my spouse will use IRS Data Retrieval at www.fafsa.gov to transfer this tax return into my FAFSA.
Yes and my spouse has or will submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript for 2018 or will provide a signed copy of the
Federal income tax return to the FAO. Include copies of Federal Schedules 1, 2, or 3 if you had them.
The final page includes instructions on IRA Data Retrieval, IRS Tax Return Transcript, and other ways to verify income.
SECTION F SPOUSE WAGES
Only complete this section if you answered “No” in Section E. Did your spouse earn income from work in 2018?
I am not married or I am separated - Complete Section G.
No - my spouse earned no income from work in 2018. My spouse was not employed in 2018.
Yes - In the table below list each of your spouse’s employers and the amount earned from each employer. Attach
copies of all 2018 IRS W-2 forms issued by employers. List every employer even if they did not issue a W-2 form.
Employer’s name
Amount Earned
W2 attached?
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
$
Yes
Not issued
SECTION G SIGNATURES AND ATTACHMENTS
Each person signing below certifies that all of the information reported is complete and correct. If you purposely give false
or misleading information you may be fined, be sentenced to jail, or both.
Student Ink Signature Date
Spouse Ink Signature if Married Date
If required, whose W2s did you attach?
Student
Spouse
None
If required, whose Federal Tax Returns did you attach?
Student
Spouse
None
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
Revised: 12/01/2019 VERIND
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
, clickGet 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 2018 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.
IRS AMENDED TAX RETURNS
If an individual filed an amended IRS income tax return for tax year 2018, submit the following to the FAO:
A 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript for the 2018 tax year or use IRS DRT; and
A signed copy of the 2018 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 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript or use the IRS DRT must:
Call 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 2018 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 2018.
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, 2019.
A copy of IRS Form W2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2018.
If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s AGI and the U.S. income tax paid for tax
year 2018.
After filing a 2018 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.