Verification

Adams State must check the accuracy of all Free Applications For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) the U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS) selects for Verification. CPS selects applicants for Verification due to edit checks which identify inconsistencies or potential errors, as well as randomly selects applicants for Verification. Adams State must also verify any FAFSA that it has reason to believe is incorrect, discrepant, or is found to have conflicting information with other offices within Adams State.

Data to be Verified

If an applicant is selected for Group V1 and is a tax filer, the following items must be verified:

  • Adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • U.S. income tax paid
  • Untaxed portions of IRA distributions
  • Untaxed portions of pensions
  • IRA deductions and payments
  • Tax-exempt interest income
  • Education credits
  • Household size (Family size beginning 2024-2025)
  • Number in college (excluded beginning 2024-2025)

If an applicant is selected for Group V1 and is not a tax filer, the following items must be verified:

  • Income earned from work
  • Verification of Non-Filing from the IRS – required from independent students and parents of a dependent student
  • Household size (Family size beginning 2024-2025)
  • Number in college (excluded beginning 2024-2025)

If an applicant is selected for Group V4, the following item must be verified:

  • Proof of identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

If an applicant is selected for Group V5 and is a tax filer, the following items (a combination of items required for groups V1 and V4) must be verified:

  • Adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • U.S. income tax paid
  • Untaxed portions of IRA distributions
  • Untaxed portions of pensions
  • IRA deductions and payments
  • Tax-exempt interest income
  • Education credits
  • Household size (excluded beginning 2024-2025)
  • Number in college (excluded beginning 2024-2025)
  • Proof of identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

If an applicant is selected for Group V5 and is not a tax filer, the following items must be verified:

  • Income earned from work
  • Verification of Non-Filing from the IRS – required from independent students and parents of a dependent student
  • Household size (excluded beginning 2024-2025)
  • Number in college (excluded beginning 2024-2025)
  • Proof of identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

Verification Process

Students selected for Verification are sent an email that includes instructions regarding the documents that should be submitted to Adams State by the end of the semester/payment period. The Verification requirements are also posted in the student’s One Stop account. The student’s financial aid file is held on a “PENDING” status and no offer will be made nor disbursed until the requested documentation has been received and reviewed. Aid will not be offered nor disbursed based on a tax extension (IRS form 4868).

The final Tax Return Transcript must be received in order to disburse aid. Exceptions to verification requirements may be granted for students that are only eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans, as these applications do not have to be verified. Note: Students cannot accept “Direct Unsubsidized Loans” only as a way to circumvent the Verification process.

The data reported on the verification worksheet, federal income tax transcript, and any other supporting documentation is checked against the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). Generally speaking, when the new information conflicts with the original information presented on the FAFSA, then corrections, updates, and adjustments may need to be made and a new Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (will change to Student Aid Index (SAI) in 2024-25) is calculated. Students will be notified through campus email of any changes or additional documents needed.

IRS Data Retrieval Tool

While completing a FAFSA, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool can be used to view and transfer tax information from the IRS if you have already filed your tax return (e.g. 2021 tax return for 2023-24 FAFSA).

The transfer option is not available if the tax filer:

  • filed taxes as “Married, Filing Separately”
  • filed as “Head of Household”
  • filed an amended tax return
  • filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return
  • filed taxes recently, within the last 3 weeks

For these filers, tax information will need to be manually entered in the FAFSA and you may be required to obtain a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript (or your parents’ if you are a dependent student). Order an IRS Tax Return Transcript online or call 1-800-908-9946.

If “None of the Above” is selected in the “Financial Information” tax filer section of the FAFSA, you may be required to enter the ID of the tax filer and link it to the IRS.

You will temporarily leave the FAFSA website while linking to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. On the IRS site, follow the screen prompts to request your tax data retrieval. You must enter your personal information EXACTLY as it is listed on your tax return, including your name, address abbreviations, etc. When the IRS data transfer is complete, the student (and parent for dependent students) will need to re-sign the FAFSA with their ID.