How to Help Your Students Through the FAFSA Verification Process

Please note: This article has been updated to reflect the new FAFSA changes. For more information, please refer to What You Need to Know About the New FAFSA.

The FAFSA verification process can be overwhelming and daunting to first generation and/or low income (FLI) students, especially because their ability to attend college is heavily dependent on cost. 

The significance of the FAFSA process and the many questions that come up along the way make it critical that counselors provide extra support to their students to help them fill out the forms correctly.

Just when some students think they're done, they might be selected for verification by the government.  

To help, I’ve outlined the most common questions that come up through the verification process for those who are navigating this process with students at your school.

Top FAQs on FAFSA Verification for Counselors

What does "chosen for verification" mean in the financial aid process? 

Students fill out the FAFSA form each year to receive financial aid for college. The federal government can't audit every family to ensure the information is correct, so they randomly verify 1 in 3 FAFSA forms for accuracy. Colleges and universities may also opt to randomly verify FAFSA information. Some small colleges verify every family's FAFSA. 

How does a student know if they've been chosen for verification?

After a student completes the FAFSA form online, the student should open their FAFSA account on their homepage. A few lines down it will say Student Aid Report or SAR. Click on the link to find your Student Aid Index or SAI. If you see an asterisk (*) next to the SAI number the federal government has chosen you for verification. Please remember: you didn't do anything wrong!

Students may also hear directly from the colleges they applied to if they were selected for verification. Students may see their verification status in the FAFSA Submission Summary when they log into their FAFSA account. 

Who won't be chosen for verification? 

The family that uses the IRS Data Retrieval Tool while filling out the FAFSA will not be chosen for verification because it automatically links your tax returns to your FAFSA. Everything you put in must be exactly the same as your parents/guardians' tax return for the retrieval tool to match up and automatically populate your tax information. The parent's name must be exactly like it was on the tax returns. The address must also be exact as the year your parents/guardians filed their taxes.

For instance, if you put "AVE" for your address on the return but write "Avenue" on the FAFSA, it won't link up. If you leave out a middle initial, it won't link up. If you type in your mother on the FAFSA but your father was listed first on the tax return...well, you know by now it won't automatically link your tax results.

What do I do if I can't link to the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on my FAFSA? 

The student and parent/guardian must fill out a form called the 4506T from the IRS to retrieve their tax information by mail. If a student didn't work in the tax year requirement of the FAFSA form, they need proof that they didn't file taxes.  They'll fill out the form to prove this to their colleges. If a student worked but didn't make enough to file, they still need to complete the form. In this case, the student would fill out the FAFSA, state "will not file," and use their W2s from the company they worked for that tax year. If they didn't keep their W2, they must contact the company and retrieve the W2 from them. Their social security number will state they made money.

If the parent or guardian didn't work in that tax year, they fill out the 4506 T form and state the same information. If the parent did work, it will have a space to check stating the tax form they used in that tax year. Then, they'd check the box that states they requested a tax transcript.

For verification purposes, both the student and parent need a tax transcript (if they live in the same household). All information must be filled out correctly on this form. If you miss a checkmark or fill in the year incorrectly, the federal government will not process the request. Double-check to ensure everything is filled out completely and correctly before sending it to the correct address on page 2 of the form.

How can high school counselors assist students who are chosen for verification? 

Most of my students are FLI students, so I try to simplify this confusing process for families. I personally download copies of the 4506 T form online and fill them out as much as possible (correct dates, checkmarks) for both non-filers and those requesting tax transcripts. I keep these FAFSA verification documents in my office so they are ready to give to the student. 

I explain that everything must match up (address changes from the tax year can trip up families who move often or are in transition/homeless). They must also have their social security number correct.

Next, I have the main office print the correct address labels to send completed 4506 T form requests. The correct address for your state is on the second page (it changes by state). I place these on envelopes and give them to the students along with the 4506T form.  

I also have stamps for students to purchase (our district cannot afford to give them out for free) in my office.  Students rarely send mail via the post office and they have no idea where to purchase stamps. They also rarely have cash but they'll find the money to have their financial aid information processed. I personally believe anything and everything I can do to break down the barriers for my students to get to college is part of my job. These little steps have assisted my students to have a higher completion rate for verification. To me, it is worth the little extra effort.

Should all students who have a zero SAI fill out a 4506 T even if they don't have an * on their FAFSA form?

A very wise nonprofit friend of mine suggests: yes. She has noticed over the years that high numbers of students with a zero SAI are either chosen by the federal government or the college. This process takes time to complete, so working ahead is a good idea. A FLI student who ignores the request and has to complete the process alone during the summer with no assistance is likely to be a victim of summer melt.

This article was originally published on November 15, 2019. It was updated on April 15, 2024 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.