1. Understanding Verification
6/28/2019
Understanding Verification
Claudia Wohlfeil
Assistant Director of Training & Compliance
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

2. What is Verification or File Review?
6/28/2019
What is Verification or File Review?
After the FAFSA is completed there are certain things SFS must verify.
Most Common:
Household Size
Income
Citizenship Status
Selective Service Registration
Grade Level/Degree Completed
Identity
For the purpose of today’s presentation we are going to discuss FAFSA students. Please note that ALL WASFAA Students must also go through a verification process, but it is a little different. They must verify Household Size, Dependency Status, and Income Information for themselves or spouse if independent, and their parents if dependent. If you attend the State Aid session later today they will touch more on WAFSA.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

3. 6/28/2019
Why?
The U.S. Department of Education requires schools to verify these items so that the right students are getting the correct aid they are eligible for.
WSU also institutionally selects students for verification if we have conflicting information.
Example: Student indicated they are a Grad student or already have a bachelor’s degree, but are in an undergraduate program in the system.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

4. 6/28/2019
How?
Students are notified via WSU (or preferred if incoming) when they have additional information they must submit to SFS to be verified.
Priority Deadlines:
Current Students: February 15th
New Students: March 15th
We start sending initial communications in December. Then send at least 3 reminders before the deadlines. Students who fill out their FAFSA after the FAFSA priority deadlines might not get as many reminders, but they already missed the 1st deadline so it doesn’t really matter when they turn in their stuff.
Submit SFS Docs- there are a few forms that when they log in online they have print off a PDF to be completed, because those forms need to be signed in person or be notarized. Or by someone else (Example 5B form). Talk about how students can take a picture with their smart phone.
Students will log into SubmitSFSDocs.wsu.edu and submit all information online.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

5. Examples https://submitsfsdocs.wsu.edu/ 6/28/2019
Pull up SFS Docs and Look at Claudia’s Forms.
HH Form
Parent Income Form
Student Income Form
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

6. 6/28/2019
Income Verification
SFS is required to collect the following information from students and parents.
Tax Filer
Signed tax return (for 19/20 the 2017 is needed) OR
Tax Return Transcripts (for 19/20 the 2017 is needed)
If the student and/or parent used the IRS Data Retrieval tool on their FAFSA this requirement is waived.
Non Tax Filer
W2s or 1099's if income was earned from work
IRS Letter of Non Filing (for Independent or Parents)
Dependent Students can submit a written statement that they did not file taxes.
Tax Filer:
Both the student and parents information is needed. If Parents file separately we need both parents tax return transcripts.
If a non filer doesn’t have access to their W2’s they can get a wage and income transcript from the IRS.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

7. Acceptable Tax Documentation
6/28/2019
Acceptable Tax Documentation
Who was at this presentation last year? Do you remember this?
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

8. Tax Return 

9. Account Transcripts or Record of Account
6/28/2019
Account Transcripts or Record of Account
NOT
Acceptable 
Account Transcripts or a Record of Account is not acceptable because they do not contain everything SFS needs to verify income information on the FAFSA. 
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

10.  Tax Return NOW Acceptable! 6/28/2019
As of January 9, 2019 the Department of Education removed the restriction regarding tax returns as acceptable documentation. We can now accept them as long as page 2 is signed at the bottom.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

11.  Tax Return Transcript Acceptable 6/28/2019
We can also still accept the Tax Return Transcript. We must receive ALL pages. Depending on the type of tax return filed these are usually at least 2 pages long as 6 pages. This document contains all of the fields that we need to verify the income information on the FAFSA.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

12. IRS Letter of Non-Filing
6/28/2019
IRS Letter of Non-Filing
This letter from the IRS is required for Parents or Independent students that did not file taxes.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

13. How to Request a Tax Return Transcript
6/28/2019
How to Request a Tax Return Transcript
Show steps on IRS website.
Click on “Get your Tax Record”
Show how they can get Transcript online or by Mail.
Click on the “Transcript Types” to show the different types that can be requested.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

14. Financial Aid Resources Assistance, Information, and Resources
6/28/2019
Financial Aid Resources
Assistance, Information, and Resources
The Repayment Estimator can give you a good estimate of what your repayment amount would be under the different plans.
Template-WSU Hrz 431.ppt

15. THANK YOU!