Federal Verification

The U.S. Department of Education is requiring Syracuse University to review your FASFA information. We complete the verification process by comparing FAFSA data with federal tax return transcripts and other forms you must provide to the University. Corrections to your FAFSA may be necessary if discrepancies are found.

Notice of selection may first be found on your Student Aid Report (SAR). If selected, you will also find requirements listed on your "to do list" within MySlice. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs may also send you a notice advising you that more documentation is needed to complete the review for financial aid. This notice will be sent to your email account. Multiple notices may be sent until all documentation is received to complete the verification process.

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows students and parents to retrieve their federal tax return information directly from the IRS as you complete FAFSA. This link option is not available in all circumstances. Students or parents of dependent students who can’t use this tool are:

• Taxpayers who are married but file separate returns.
• Taxpayers whose marital status has changed since filing their federal tax returns of two years ago.
• Taxpayers who are unmarried and living together.

If you were able to retrieve your federal tax information directly from the IRS and submitted the tax data unchanged, then you may not be required to submit tax return transcripts. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs will identify all FAFSAs where successful transfers occurred and waive the need to collect student, spousal and/or parent tax return transcripts. In some cases, we will request tax transcripts if we determine that they will resolve discrepant information.

Yes. It is the recommended option. Go to fafsa.gov, log into your FAFSA record, select "Make FAFSA Corrections," and navigate to the Financial Information section(s) of the form. From there, follow the instructions to determine if you and/or your parent(s) or spouse are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer your IRS income tax information into your FAFSA.

You may find the verification worksheet on your financial aid "to do list" in MySlice.

Once your documents are received, the required documents listed on your "to do list" will be removed.

Before your application for financial aid may be reviewed, it is necessary to complete the verification process. During the FAFSA application signature process, you made an agreement "to provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form." If you do not submit the requested documentation, the University cannot complete the verification process. No further action will be taken on your request for financial aid.

If your FAFSA has been selected for verification and either you and/or your parent(s)/spouse has been granted an IRS-approved tax filing extension, the University may accept alternative documentation to complete verification. This documentation includes:

• IRS approval of extension beyond automatic six-month extension.
• Verification of nonfiling letter from the IRS dated after Oct. 1.
• Copies of the associated year’s W2s.
• If self-employed, other income source documents that will help to estimate profit or loss. Self-employed taxpayers must also include a statement certifying adjusted gross income and taxes paid from the tax year required by FAFSA. You also must submit a verification worksheet and all other verification documents as requested by Syracuse University.

You will still be required to submit:

• Either a federal tax return transcript or file FAFSA using unchanged data from the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for the taxpayer who filed the amended return (student, parent(s) or spouse).
• A signed copy of the amended return (IRS Form 1040X) for the taxpayer who filed the amended return (student, parent(s) or spouse).
• All other verification requirements listed on your MySlice "to do list."
• Additional documentation may be requested by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs.

Please submit a Tax Return Database View (TRDBV) transcript. This can be obtained from the IRS by calling the IRS's Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800.908.4490. We will also need a signed statement from the tax filer(s) indicating that they were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS has been made aware. You will also need to submit other verification documents, as shown on your MySlice "to do list."

You may submit your form(s) to the Office of Financial Aid in one of two methods:

1. Using the "Upload Here" link on the financial aid "to do list" in MySlice.
2. By mail to: Financial Aid Processing, Syracuse University, 400 Ostrom Ave. Syracuse, NY 13244

You will receive an official award letter. If you had previously been packaged with financial aid and verification became necessary after an award letter was sent, you may receive a revised award letter. If corrections were necessary to your FAFSA during the verification review, you will also receive an updated Student Aid Report.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs must complete verification before the end of the academic year, or before your last term of attendance in the year, otherwise you will not be eligible for need based financial aid. Until verification is completed, your financial aid cannot be disbursed. In the event your aid has been disbursed and you fail to complete verification, the aid will retracted.

Not every student who is selected for verification will be required to submit the same documentation. Please review the financial aid "to do list" in MySlice to see what documents have been requested.

Some examples of verification of high school completion are:

• A copy of your final official high school transcript.
• Certification of passing scores on GED and similar equivalency tests.
• Copy of your high school diploma.

For requirements regarding identity and educational purpose, please refer to the forms found on your financial aid "to do list" in MySlice.

These documents may be obtained from the IRS free of charge in one of five ways:

• Online IRS account (create account, and request pdf version)
• Online request for transcript/letter to be mailed (request to have mailed to your home address)
• Phone request for transcript/letter to be mailed (call 800.908.9946 to have mailed to your home address)
• Paper request using form 4506-T (request to have mailed to your home address)
• Visit local IRS office (before visiting, call your local office to verify that they can provide this service)

File the FAFSA using the tax return information for the year required. We recommend that you contact our office to discuss any changes in your family’s financial situation. We may be able to reevaluate the student’s financial aid, based on changes in circumstances that occur after the FAFSA and CSS Profile are filed. After you have submitted your applications, contact our office to discuss your family’s special circumstances.

The people reported in the household should include you, the student (even if you’re not living at home), your parent(s) and step parent if applicable, your siblings, if they receive more than half of their support from your parent(s). This may also include any other dependents that live in the household and receive more than half of their support from your parent(s).

If you are an independent student, your household should include you, the student, your spouse and dependents (if applicable). This may include any other dependents that live in the household and you provide more than half of their support.

If you can’t find your W2s try contacting your employer for another copy. Should this not be possible, you may request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS. You can request this in any of the following ways.

• Online IRS account (create account, and request pdf version)
• Online request for transcript/letter to be mailed (request to have mailed to your home address)
• Phone request for transcript/letter to be mailed (call 800.908.9946 to have mailed to your home address)
• Paper request using form 4506-T (request to have mailed to your home address)
• Visit local IRS office (before visiting, call your local office to verify that they can provide this service)