Verification FAQ

Verification is a federal aid eligibility review process where the school is required to verify that the information on the FAFSA is correct before disbursing any federal aid. The U.S. Department of Education selects a certain percentage (varies by year) of FAFSA applications to be verified each year. When you submit the FAFSA, you certify that you understand that the Secretary of Education has the authority to verify information reported on your application with the IRS and other federal agencies. We complete the verification process by comparing FAFSA data with federal tax documents and other forms you submit. Corrections to your FAFSA and financial aid may be necessary based on the verified information. See the Financial Aid Requirements section of MyOregonState for your specific verification requirements.

To receive full consideration for all available aid we recommend that verification documents be submitted within 45 days of the request date*. Early packaging does not impact eligibility for federal student loans or the Pell Grant. Documents submitted later will still be processed as long as we are able to review them within the allowed federal verification timelines. Federal aid eligibility may be lost if documents are not received in time to process while the student is enrolled in the current verification year.

*The 45 day submission guidance applies to students who are selected for verification before the start of the academic year. For students selected for verification after the year has begun, faster submission may be required for certain types of limited funding or to stay within the allowed federal verification processing timeframe.

The Verification of Identity & Educational Purpose document can only be completed and submitted in one of two ways: 1) in-person to our office with a valid government issued ID or 2) completed in the prepense of a notary public and mailed to us.

In-Person

• Read and follow the instructions carefully on the form.
• Please do not sign the form until requested to in-person. An authorized official must witness the signature.
• A valid unexpired government-issued photo identification (photo ID) can include, but is not limited to, the following:
  • U.S. Passport;
  • Driver’s license;
  • Non-driver’s identification card;
  • Other state-issued ID;
  • Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien Card (I-551, can be photocopied for Title IV purposes);
  • Certificate of Naturalization if it contains a recognizable photo (even though it does not have an expiration date);
  • Inmate ID from a government facility (even if it does not have an expiration date); or
  • State-issued voter ID (even if it does not have an expiration date).

*Note a military ID or CAC are not allowable due to restrictions on photocopying these.

Completed with Notary and Mailed

• Read and follow the instructions carefully on the form.
• If the notary statement appears on a separate page, there must be clear indication that the Statement of Educational Purpose was the document notarized.
• The original notarized form must be submitted through mail or dropped off in person. We cannot accept electronic submission through email or the student portal.
• A copy of your valid government issued photo ID must also be included.
• Some common locations to find notaries include banks, UPS stores, libraries, and private notary businesses.

Options for obtaining all transcript types or the Letter of Non-Filing:

• Online IRS account (create account to view and print any transcript). If you are having difficulty creating an account with the IRS, they have a helpful tutorial on the IRS webpage.
• Paper request using form 4506-T (request to have mailed to your home address. This option may not be available due to COVID related IRS limitations)
• Visit local IRS office (before visiting call your local office to verify that they can provide this service)

Options for obtaining Tax Transcripts without creating an online account:

• Request for transcripts to be mailed online at IRS.GOV: Select both the Account Transcript and the Return Transcript (these transcripts combined contain the same information as the Record of Account transcript that is required for verification). You will need to request to have the transcripts mailed to your home address. This option only works if your address has not changed since filing. This option may not be used to obtain a Letter of Non-filing or other transcript types.
• Phone request for transcript to be mailed: Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946 to have the transcripts mailed to your home address. Choose option 3 to obtain both the Account Transcript and the Return Transcript (these transcripts combined contain the same information as the Record of Account transcript that is required for verification). You will need to request to have the transcripts mailed to your home address. This option only works if your address has not changed since filing. This option may not be used to obtain a Letter of Non-filing or other transcript types.

**Remember to put the student name and OSU ID number on all tax documents before submittal.

*** You must have an up to date address with the IRS before you can have a transcript mailed to you. If the address on file is out of date, you will need to file Form 8822 (Change of Address) before you submit Form 4506-T. Generally, it takes four to six weeks to process a change of address.

The questions on the FAFSA asks about your marital status at the time you file your FAFSA, and also asks about your federal tax filing status as it was filed. These two may be in conflict with each other if your marital status has changed since you filed taxes, or since you filed your FAFSA. If you filed a “married, filing joint” tax return but are now separated, divorced, or widowed, file your FAFSA with your current marital status and your accurate tax filing status as they were filed, and then contact our office to discuss updating your FAFSA information to separate out your former spouse’s income on your FAFSA.

If you are a dependent student and were single at the time you filed your FAFSA with your parent’s information but you are now married, please contact our office to discuss your change in marital status.

Students and parents may have concerns with using their tax return information on the FAFSA because that tax data may no longer reflect your current financial situation. FAFSA filers are still required initially to file FAFSA using the tax return information for the year required. After your FAFSA has been processed and your initial aid packaged has been awarded for the year, you may contact our office to discuss the Special Conditions Appeal option for change in circumstances. Find out more on our Request Changes page. 

If you are a dependent student, the people reported in your parent(s) household should include you, the student (even if you’re not living at home,) your parent(s) and 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). Your verification worksheet has further instructions regarding whom to report in the household size.

If you are an independent student, your household should include you, the student, your spouse and dependents (if applicable). This may also include any other dependents that live in the household and you provide more than half of their support. Your verification worksheet has further instructions regarding whom to report in your household size.

If you were selected for 2023-2024 FAFSA income verification, your 2021 taxes and income need to be verified by submitting documentation to our office for review. Find out what you need to by clicking the choosing below that reflects your 2021 income and tax filing status. The listed documentation should be submitted along with the Tax Verification Form:

I filed an IRS 1040 Tax Return

I worked but was not required to file taxes

I did not work and did not file taxes

I filed an amended tax return (1040X)

I was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and cannot get a 2021 tax return

I filed a foreign return or had foreign income

I filed a US Territory Tax Return

I was granted a federal tax filing extension

If you filed an IRS 1040 Tax Return in 2021 use 1 of these 3 options to submit your tax information:

1. Log back into the FAFSA and use the Data Retrieval Tool to download your taxes directly from the IRS.

-OR-

2. Submit a copy of your 2021 IRS Record of Account Transcript obtained from the IRS website.

-OR-

3. Submit a copy of your signed copy of your 1040 tax return along with schedules 1, 2, and 3 (if those schedules were filed). This copy must be signed in ink on the signature line.

NOTE: If you filed your taxes “married, filing separately” each person will need to submit a copy of their 2021 IRS Record of Account Transcript or signed 1040.

If you worked but were not required to file taxes in 2021:

1. Submit copies of 2021 earnings statements (W2’s, 1099’s, etc.)

-AND-

2. Submit an IRS “Verification of Nonfiling Letter” for the 2021 tax year. If you are not able to obtain the Verification of Nonfiling Letter indicate this on the OSU Tax Verification Form.*

*Dependent students: must submit earnings statements but are not required to submit a Verification of Nonfiling Letter.

If you did not work and did not file taxes in 2021:

1. Submit an IRS “Verification of Nonfiling Letter” for the 2021 tax year. If you are not able to obtain the Verification of Nonfiling Letter indicate this on the OSU Tax Verification Form.*

*Dependent students are not required to submit a Verification of Nonfiling Letter.

If you filed an amended tax return (1040X) in 2021:       

1. Submit signed copy of your 2021 IRS 1040X amended IRS tax return (This copy must be signed in ink on the signature line). If you do not have the 1040X, you may alternatively submit the 2021 IRS Record of Account Transcript.

-AND-

2. Submit a copy of your 2021 IRS Record of Account Transcript OR a signed copy of your 1040 tax return along with schedules 1, 2, and 3 (if those schedules were filed). This copy must be signed in ink on the signature line.

If you were the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and cannot get a 2021 tax return:

1. Submit a copy of the IRS “Tax Return Data Base View” (TRDBV) . To obtain this document call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 and request the TRDB for the 2021 tax year.

-AND-

2. Sign and submit the Identity Theft section of the OSU Tax Verification Form.

If you filed a foreign return or had foreign income in 2021:

1. Submit a signed copy of the 2021 foreign tax document, translated into English, and converted into US dollars. Be sure to list the currency conversion rate used. If the foreign return is significantly different from a US tax return, write a brief explanation of how the return or tax system is unique. This will help us interpret the numbers and make any needed FAFSA updates as accurate as possible. 

We will need the translation and conversion rate for the items listed below (translate/convert as much as possible given the variation in foreign tax returns): 

·         Type of tax return filed (translate title as listed on top of tax return document)

·         Wage income/income earned from work

·         Adjusted gross income (gross income minus relevant adjustments as defined by the IRS https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/definition-of-adjusted-gross-income)

·         Taxes paid (amount owed after adjustments and credits applied)

·         Any foreign equivalent to US tax: Exemptions, education credits, IRA deduction, tax exempt interest income, untaxed IRA distributions, and untaxed pensions.

If you filed a US Territory Tax Return in 2021:

1. Submit a signed copy of the Tax Return /Transcript/Document filed with the IRS or other relevant tax authority of a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands) or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign government that lists 2021 tax account information of the tax filer.*

*If the tax document is not in English and US dollars were not used it must be translated into English and the currency must be converted. Please list the currency conversion rate used and write a brief explanation if there is any relevant unique information about the foreign tax filing.

If you were granted a federal tax filing extension for 2021:

1. Submit a copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2021.

-AND-

2. Submit confirmation of nonfiling from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2022.

-AND-

3. Submit a copy of IRS Form W–2/1099 for each source of 2021 employment income received or an equivalent document.

-AND-

4. If self-employed, submit a signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and U.S. income tax paid for tax year 2021.

*Note: An institution may require that, after the income tax return is filed, an individual granted a filing extension beyond the automatic six-month extension submit tax information using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or by obtaining a transcript from the IRS that lists tax account information. When an institution receives such information, it must be used to reverify the FAFSA information included on the transcript.

The method of verification document submission will depend on the type of document you are submitting:

• Tax documents and other documents with sensitive information should only be submitted in person, by fax, by signing into Self-Service and uploading the documents for the unsatisfied requirement requesting the document. Email is not considered a safe way to submit a document containing a social security number, adjusted gross income, or other information that could be used for fraud and identity theft.
• Verification documents that contain no sensitive information may be submitted in person, by email, by fax, postal mail, or by signing into Self-Service and uploading the documents for the unsatisfied requirement requesting the document.
• The Verification of Identity & Educational Purpose document can only be submitted to our office in person with a photo ID or the original document has to be notarized and sent by postal mail. See the "What is needed to verify Identity & Educational Purpose?" section for more information.

Financial Aid
Oregon State University
218 Kerr Administration
Corvallis, OR 97331-2120

Fax: 541-737-4494

Email: Financial.Aid@oregonstate.edu