FAFSA Verification

After submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the U.S. Department of Education may require that a student's application be selected for review in a process called 'Verification'.  This process includes providing documentation to Student Financial Services to verify the accuracy of the information submitted on the FAFSA and to finalize eligibility for federal student aid.  Verification must be completed before federal financial aid can process and disburse to the college.  

Students are notified by SUNY Delhi's Student Financial Services office via email and/or mail (to their permanent address on file) of the specific items to be submitted that may include federal tax forms or proof of non-filing, W-2s, household size and number of household members in college. 

Document Submission: 

If selected for Verification, students will be notified via email to create an account or log into their Student Forms Portal to complete all requests for information. Parents of dependent students may be required to create an account as well.

Most Common Verification Questions

Are electronic signatures accepted on the verification forms?

Students (and parents of Dependent students) will be given the option to e-sign most forms in the Student Forms Portal. 

Why was my application selected for verification?

The U.S. Department of Education selects FAFSA applications for verification randomly when initially submitted and often when a subsequent correction is made by the student or parent of a dependent student.

If I gave consent and my tax information was provided on my FAFSA from the IRS, do I still have to submit a copy of my taxes?

Typically, no.You will not need to submit copies of your taxes unless you amended your return.  If your taxes were amended, we would only need a signed copy of your 1040X that was filed with the IRS or an IRS Tax Account Transcript.  

I cannot obtain a copy of my tax return (1040).  How can I get a copy of an IRS Tax Return Transcript?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website offers tax filers a service to request a free transcript of their taxes either online or by mail.

I was asked to submit copies of my W-2 forms but I cannot locate them.  What should I do?

We suggest contacting the employer who issued that W-2 and request another copy.  If that is not an option, you can request an 'IRS Wage and Tax Transcript' online from the Internal Revenue System (IRS) or by completing the paper IRS form 4506-T to request a copy of the transcript be mailed to you.

I am being asked to submit the Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose form.  What is the purpose of this form and what do I do?

If the Department of Education has requested that the school verify your identity and that you intend to use federal financial aid, you must complete this form in the presence of a Notary or in person with a member of Student Financial Services (SFS).

I recently submitted a verification document, can I track the progress of my review?

You can review the status of your document submissions in your Student Forms Portal under the Completed Actions tab.