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. There are various reasons a FAFSA might be selected for verification including:
- 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 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 by the FAFSA priority deadline date. 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 submitted to the One Stop 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 if additional documents are needed.
Dependent students are required to submit the following:
Visit "Who is considered a parent?" for the definition of a parent for financial aid purposes.
- Verification Worksheet (Dependent) Form
- Student and Parent(s) Untaxed Income & Additional Financial Information Form
- Student and Parent(s) applicable IRS documentation
- IRS Tax Return Transcript or signed Federal 1040
- IRS Non-Filing Letter (only needed if student and/or spouse did not file taxes)
- Amended Tax Returns
- If the FAFSA parent is now divorced or separated but filed a joint return, also attach a copy of the FAFSA parent’s IRS W-2, Schedule C, and/or 1099 (or equivalent documentation) with a copy of your Tax Return Transcript or signed 1040.
- Non Tax Filers: Student's and/or Parent(s) IRS W-2 and/or 1099 (or equivalent documentation)
Independent students are required to submit the following:
- Verification Worksheet (Independent) Form
- Student’s Untaxed Income & Additional Financial Information Form
- Student’s applicable IRS documentation. Spouse’s applicable IRS documentation is also required if filed separately.
- IRS Tax Return Transcript or signed Federal 1040
- IRS Non-Filing Letter (only needed if student and/or spouse did not file taxes)
- Amended Tax Returns
- If divorced or separated but filed a joint return, also attach a copy of your IRS W-2, Schedule C, and/or 1099 (or equivalent documentation) with a copy of your Tax Return Transcript or signed 1040.
- Non Tax Filers: Student and/or spouse's (if applicable) IRS W-2 and/or 1099 (or equivalent documentation)