Federal Verification

Federal Verification is a review process in which Miami University, as required by the U.S. Department of Education, must verify the accuracy of the information provided on a student's FAFSA. Approximately 30% of all FAFSAs are selected for verification, and the reason for selection can vary:

  • You can be chosen at random.
  • Your FAFSA contains estimated information.
  • Your FAFSA was incomplete.
  • There were inconsistencies found in the information you provided on the FAFSA.

Federal programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work Study and the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program have strict eligibility requirements. University and state funding awarded based on need may also be affected.

Initial financial aid awards are based on the information we have on file for you by March 15. If the tax and household information differs from the information reported on the student's FAFSA, financial aid could be increased, decreased or canceled altogether.

All verification documents should be forwarded to the Office of Student Financial Assistance as soon as possible after they are requested. Failure to do so may result in reduction and/or cancellation of any need-based federal, state, or University-funded financial aid. Students will be notified via email if any other documents are needed.

Schools are required to verify:

  • Number of household members
  • Number enrolled in college (excluding parents, number of household members attending a post-secondary educational institution at least half time)
  • Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or income earned from work if income is below minimum required for income tax filing
  • U.S. income tax paid for the base year
  • Child support paid (for child not in household)
  • Receipt of SNAP benefits
  • Certain untaxed income and benefits, such as:
      o Untaxed IRA distributions
      o Untaxed pension distributions
      o Education credits
      o IRA deductions
      o Tax exempt interest

Most of these items are verified using your IRS tax information. If you and/or your parent (and/or spouse, if applicable) are not required to file a tax return for the year in question, you will indicate this on the Federal Verification Worksheet and list all sources of income received.

2013-2014 Academic Year
Requirements for Verification
Dependent students are required to submit:
Independent students are required to submit:
  • 2013-2014 Federal Verification Worksheet
  • Student's 2012 IRS documentation (See below)
  • Spouse's 2012 IRS documentation, if filed separately (See below)

    • If you are divorced or separated but filed a joint return, also attach a copy of your W-2 forms with a copy of your signed tax return transcript.

Acceptable IRS Documentation


IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) (PREFERRED METHOD)

- This option is recommended by Miami University and provides you with the fastest, easiest and most secure way to verify your tax data. To go to the instructions, access irs-data-retrieval.

 

IRS Tax Return Transcript  (Alternate Method)

- Use only if you are unable to use the IRS DRT. There are three ways to request an IRS tax return transcript:

1. Online Request
  • Available on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov
  • In the Online Services section of the homepage click "Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript"
  • Click "Order a Transcript"
  • Enter the tax filer's Social Security Number, date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
  • Click "Continue"
  • In the Type of Transcript field, select "Return Transcript" and in the Tax Year field, select "2012"
  • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the on-line request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.
  • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

2. Telephone Request
  • Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946
  • Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their social security number and the numbers in their street address. Generally this will be numbers of the street address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
  • Select "Option 2" to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter "2012"
  • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request, within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
  • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

3. Paper Request -- IRS Form 4506T-EZ
  • IRS Form 4506T-EZ should be used instead of IRS Form 4506-T because it is sufficient to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
  • Download at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf
  • Complete lines 1 - 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form. Note that line 3 should be the most current address as filed with the IRS. It is the address where the IRS Tax Return Transcript will be sent. If the address has recently changed, include the address listed on the latest tax return filed on Line 4. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
  • Line 5 provides tax filers with the option to have their IRS Tax Return Transcript mailed directly to a third party by the IRS.
  • On line 6, enter "2012" to receive IRS tax information for the 2012 tax year that is required for the 2013-2014 FAFSA.
  • The tax filers (or spouse if requesting information from a joint tax return) must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required to request a transcript for a joint return.
  • Mail or fax the completed IRS Form 4506T-EZ to the appropriate address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506T-EZ.

    • Tax filers can expect to receive their transcript within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives and processes their signed request. NOTE: Processing form 4506T-EZ means verifying/validating the information provided on the form. If any information does not match the IRS records, the IRS will notify the tax filer that it was not able to provide the transcript.

Signed Copy of IRS Tax Return

- Acceptable only when the student/parent has filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return.

Amended Tax Returns

- If you have amended your tax return, you must submit both a signed copy of the original IRS Tax Return and an IRS Form 1040X (which will provide the updated information).