Verification
Today and the 2013-14 Horizon
Scope of the
Presentation
Overview of 2012-13
 Changes in 2012-13 (I.E. the
Learning Curve)
 Transition to Customized
Verification (VI-V5)
 Reference Information

Verification 2012-13
{The Only
Constant
=
Is
!
Change
!
Elimination of the 30% Rule
30%
Elimination of the $400 Tolerance
$400
Dependent Status Changes
SNAP (Food Stamp) Verification
Verification Before Professional
Judgment
Acceptable Documentation
FAFSA Data Retrieval
Acceptable Documentation
IRS Tax Transcript
Changes and the
Implementation Learning Curve
DRT and Transcript Requests


Timeline Delays in DRT Availability
Delays for Balances Owed
Amended Returns
Originally a Tax Transcript and Tax
Account Transcript
OR
A Record of Account Required
New Guidance Enables Verification
with Signed Original Tax Return (or
unsigned tax transcript) and Signed
Amended Return (1040X)
Amended Returns
“…when an institution is aware that an amended
tax return was filed, the institution will need to use
information from both documents selected below to
complete and satisfy the verification requirements–
• a signed copy of the original tax return that was
filed with the IRS, an IRS Tax Return Transcript
(which does not have to be signed), or the
documentation specified under DOC-Q10/DOCA10, and
• a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that was
filed with the IRS.”
--Ed.gov Negotiated Rulemaking
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highe
red/reg/hearulemaking/2009/veri
fication.html
Verification and the 2013-14
Horizon
The 2013-14 Award Year
Builds on 2013-14 Data Elements
Adds Two New Items
• High School Completion
• Identity and Statement of
Educational Purpose
Introduces the V1-V5 Verification Groups
New Documentation:
High School Completion
High School Diploma
 Copy of Final HS Transcript Showing
Graduation Date
 Alternative Documentation
 GED, State Exam, Transcript of 2-year
Program with Credit toward
Bachelor’s Degree, OR…

Students without a HS Diploma
“For a person who is seeking enrollment in an
educational program that leads to at least an
associate degree or its equivalent and has not
completed high school but has excelled
academically in high school, documentation
from the high school that the student excelled
academically when in high school and
documentation from the postsecondary
institution that the student has met the
formalized, written policies of the
postsecondary institution for admitting such
students”
Homeschooled Students
•
•
Transcript or the equivalent, signed by
the parent or guardian, that lists the
secondary school courses completed by
the applicant and documents the
successful completion of a secondary
school education; or
A secondary school completion credential
for home school (other than a high school
diploma or its recognized equivalent)
provided for under State law
Statement of Identity/Purpose
•
Appear in person and present to an
institutionally authorized individual-• A valid government-issued photo
identification (driver’s license, nondriver’s license, military
identification, or passport); and
• A signed statement of educational
purpose
Purpose
Additional Requirements
Must maintain an annotated copy of
the identification submitted by the
applicant that includes—
•
•
The date documentation was received; and
The name of the institutionally-authorized
individual that obtained the documentation
What if you can’t appear in
person?
If unable to appear in person, a student
must provide the institution—
• A copy of a valid government-issued
photo identification (driver’s license,
non-driver’s license, military
identification, or passport); and
• An original notarized statement of
educational purpose signed by the
applicant
Acceptable Documentation
Other than documentation for the two new
categories, documentation currently
acceptable for the 2012-13 aid year remains
the same for 2013-14
Verification Tracking Groups





V1: Standard
V2: SNAP Only
V3: Child Support Paid Only
V4: Custom (Child Support, SNAP, High
School Completion, and Statement of
Purpose/Identity)
V5: Aggregate (All Data Items)
V1: Standard Verification


V1: Standard data elements
Documentation may include VWS, Tax
Transcript or DRT (or signed amended return if
applicable), etc.
V2: SNAP Benefits


V2: SNAP (Food Stamps) Verification of Benefit
Documentation (if reported on FAFSA) may
include:


verification worksheet (or signed certification of
receipt),
or institution may request documentation from
agency issuing benefit
V3: Child Support Paid


V3: Child Support Paid
Documentation (if reported on FAFSA) may include:

Verification worksheet (or signed certification of
payment), indicating—
•
•
•
Amount of child support paid
Name of the person to whom it was paid, and
Name of the children for whom it was paid
V4: Custom

V4: High School Completion and Statement of
Identity/Purpose


May also include Child Support Paid and SNAP (if
indicated on the FAFSA)
Documentation (if reported on FAFSA) may include:



Verification worksheet (or appropriate SNAP/Child
support paid documentation)
Proof of high school completion or alternative
documentation
Proof of identity and statement of educational purpose
V5: Aggregate


V5: Verification of all items required
Documentation (if reported on FAFSA) may include:




Verification worksheet (or appropriate SNAP/Child
support paid documentation), household size, and # in
college
Proof of high school completion or alternative
documentation
Proof of identity and statement of educational purpose
Income and tax data
Verification Items
Items
Tracking Group
V1
Household Size
# In College
Child Support Paid
SNAP
HS Completion
Identity/Purpose
Income/Tax
V2
V3
V4
V5
Update to Policies and
Procedures




E-CFR 668.53:
An institution's procedures must provide that it will
furnish, in a timely manner, to each applicant whose
FAFSA information is selected for verification a clear
explanation of—
(1) The documentation needed to satisfy the
verification requirements; and
(2) The applicant's responsibilities with respect to
the verification of FAFSA information, including the
deadlines for completing any actions required under
this subpart and the consequences of failing to
complete any required action.
Reference Information
Reference Information
FAFSA-IRS Tax Return Transcript Matrix
•http://www.ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/031612
FAFSA1213VerificationIRSTaxReturnMatrix.html
2012-13 Application and Verification
Guide
•http://www.ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachment
s/1213AVG.pdf
GEN-12-07—Acceptable Documentation for
Income and Taxes
•http://www.ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/G
EN1207.pdf
Questions?