Verification

2018-2019 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 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-2019 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.

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 tax return information 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 IRS 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 Tax Return Transcript

Under certain conditions, applicants who were selected for verification will need to submit a 2016 IRS Tax Return Transcript for the applicant and, if applicable, his/her parent(s) or spouse to the Office of Financial Aid. Such conditions are:

• The applicant or parent did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the initial FAFSA or a FAFSA correction.
• Information on the FAFSA using the IRS DRT was subsequently changed.
• Married independent student or parents of a dependent student filed a separate tax return from their spouse.
• Applicant or parent’s marital status changed after December 31, 2016.

IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Process

Tax filers who were unable or chose not to use the IRS DRT on FAFSA on the Web can request a transcript of their 2016 Federal tax return from the IRS, 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 2016.
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 2016. 
3. Telephone Request - Call the IRS at (800) 908-9946.  Follow the prompts to enter your SSN and the numbers in your street address.  Select Option “2” to request a Tax Return Transcript, and then enter “2016”.
4. IRS Form 4506T-EZ  - Download from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf .  Complete lines 1-4 and 6 [enter “2016”], sign & date the form, and mail or fax it to the address or fax number on Page 2.  Do not list Kean University as a third-party recipient on line 5; the transcript must be sent to the student or parent.

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 2016 Federal Tax Return, must complete an institutional 2018-2019 Statement of Tax Non-Filing for 2016 form.  Non-filers who worked in 2016 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 2016 tax return are also required to submit a 2016 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 “12/31/2016” 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, allow 5-10 business days for delivery.
• When submitting tax and verification documents to the Office of Financial Aid, 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 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 the FAFSA.)
• Keep copies of all verification documents for your records.