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Verification

 

2019-2020 FAFSA Information to Be Verified

The following is a list of documents and information that the Office of Financial Aid may request for applicants who complete a FAFSA for the 2019-2020 award year* and are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education.  Information is to be verified for the applicant and, if applicable, his/her parent(s) or spouse.

* If you were selected for verification for the 2018-2019 award year (Fall 2018, Spring 2019, and/or Summer 2019), follow the instructions below, but request tax documents from tax year 2016 instead of 2017.

 

Information to Be Verified - The required information may differ from student to student. The Office of Financial Aid will inform each student which specific information must be verified:

  • Adjusted Gross Income (tax filers only)
  • Income Tax Paid (tax filers only)
  • Untaxed Income, including, but not limited to: untaxed pensions, child support received, veteran's non-education benefits, and money paid on behalf of the student
  • Number of Household Members
  • Number of Household Members enrolled at least half-time at an eligible post-secondary institution
  • High School Completion Status
  • Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose
  • Income Earned from Work
  • Statement of Non-Filing (non-tax filers only)

You can find some of the requested forms by clicking here.

 

IRS Data Retrieval Tool Process

Applicants selected for verification can transfer their and/or their parent’s Federal tax return information from the IRS Database by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing FAFSA on the Web (initial or correction).  Such users will have verified their Adjusted Gross Income, tax paid, and other tax return information.  We strongly recommend that you use the IRS DRT when completing the FAFSA, as this provides families with the fastest and most secure solution for meeting verification requirements.

Once you have used the IRS DRT, do not make any manual changes without consulting the Office of Financial Aid.  If changes were made to the transferred information or if the institution has reason to believe that the transferred information is inaccurate, the applicant must provide other acceptable documentation.

 

IRS Federal Tax Return

Tax filers who are unable (or choose not) to use the IRS DRT must submit a signed copy of their IRS Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ for tax year 2017.  IRS Form 1040 filers who reported a figure on Line 12 must attach a copy of Schedule C (or C-EZ) to the return; those who reported an amount on Line 17 must attach a copy of Schedule E.

IRS Tax Return information must be typed or computer-generated, i.e., cannot be handwritten, and signed by either:

  • the tax filer in the "Sign Here" section; or
  • the tax preparer (if you used one) with the following information in the “Paid Preparer Use Only” section:
    • the tax preparer’s Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), or Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN); and
    • signed, stamped, typed, or printed with the name and address of the preparer.

Tax filers who cannot provide a signed tax return as described above, can request a 2017 IRS Tax Return Transcript, free of charge, by one of the following methods:

  1. Online (Downloadable PDF) – Go to https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript and click “Get Transcript ONLINE.”  (First-time users must create an account.)  When asked for the Type of Transcript, select the “Tax Return Transcript” for tax year 2017.
  2. U.S. Mail - Go to https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript and click “Get Transcript by MAIL.”  (You do not have to create an account.)  When asked for the Type of Transcript, select the “Tax Return Transcript” for tax year 2017. 
  3. Telephone Request – Call the IRS at (800) 908-9946.  Follow the prompts to enter your SSN and the numbers in your street address.  Sect Option “2” to request a Tax Return Transcript, and then enter “2017”.
  4. IRS Form 4506T-EZ  - Download from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf .  Complete lines 1-4 and 6 [enter “2017”], and mail or fax the form to the address or fax number on Page 2.  Do not list Kean University as a third-party recipient on line 4; the transcript must be sent to the student or parent.

Note: if you were selected for State Verification by the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, be advised that the agency will only accept Tax Return Transcripts in determining your State Aid eligibility.

 

Procedure for Non-Tax Filers

FAFSA applicants and, if applicable, his/her parent(s) or spouse who did not and are not required to file a 2017 Federal Tax Return, must complete an institutional 2019-2020 Statement of Tax Non-Filing for 2017 form.  Non-filers who worked in 2017 must also attach a copy of their Wage and Tax Statement(s) (Form W-2).

Independent students and dependent students’ parents who did not file a 2017 tax return are also required to submit a 2017 Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS.  This letter can be obtained in the same manner as the online, mail, and telephone requests described in Options 1-3 above for tax filers.  Non-filers should not complete IRS Form 4506T-EZ as described in Option 4; instead, complete Form 4506-T (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf).  Complete Lines 1-4, check the box on Line 7, and enter the date “12/31/2017” in Line 9.  Do not list Kean University as a third-party recipient on line 5; the transcript must be sent to the student or parent.

 

Additional Instructions

  • If using one of the options to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript or Verification of Non-Filing Letter by mail, allow 5-10 business days for delivery.
  • When submitting tax and verification documents to this office, write the student’s name and Kean ID# at the top of each page.
  • If you are faxing IRS documents to this office, note that some mailed documents are double-sided, so be sure to fax both sides.
  • If the student or parent is married but filed separately from their spouse, both spouses’ tax documents must be submitted.
  • If the filer amended their 2017 tax return, attach a signed copy of IRS Form 1040X to the required tax documents.  This form must be submitted even if the filer used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on FAFSA on the Web.
  • Keep copies of all verification documents for your records.