FAFSA Verification Process
On this page:
- About FAFSA Verification
- Verification Worksheet
- Providing Documentation for Tax-Filers (for those who filed a federal tax return)
- Providing Documentation for Non-Tax Filers (for those who did not file a federal tax return)
- Resources
- Submitting Documentation to Wright State University
- Submit Documentation Early (Tips and Deadlines)
About FAFSA Verification
FAFSA Verification is the process required by the U.S. Department of Education to confirm the information reported on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate and ensures all students receive the amount of financial aid for which they are eligible. The Department of Education often selects students randomly for the FAFSA verification process and requires schools such as Wright State University to verify certain FAFSA data elements for those selected.
Students selected for verification must complete a verification worksheet and submit additional documentation as requested by the Wright State Office of Financial Aid. Required documentation for verification will appear in WINGS for all students selected for the verification process. Below is a general overview of the various items that could be requested via WINGS.
For step-by-step instructions on how to view your financial aid and scholarship requirements in WINGS, visit the WINGS Support Page.
Verification Worksheet
On the Verification Worksheet, students list family members as determined by the FAFSA. There are also questions about you and your family’s tax filing status and earned income. Please refer to the Tips for completing the Verification Form at the end of the FAFSA Verification Form.
Submit all requested information to Enrollment Services. Make certain all appropriate signatures are provided.
Providing Documentation of Income
For students selected for FAFSA Verification, Wright State is required by law to verify income reported on your FAFSA.
Dependent students must provide documentation for the student and the parent(s) listed on the FAFSA. If the student’s parent on the FAFSA has remarried, the stepparent’s information is also required.
Independent students must provide documentation for both the student and spouse, if the student is married.
Please review the Providing Documentation for Tax Filers and Providing Documentation for Non-Tax Filers sections below to determine what documentation is needed. The tax year being verified depends on which FAFSA you have filed. For more information on what tax year information is needed, please view the chart below or visit your WINGS portal.
2024 - 25 FAFSA - Document the 2022 Tax Year.
2025 - 26 FAFSA - Document the 2023 Tax Year.
Providing Documentation for Tax-Filers (for those who filed a federal tax return)
If you filed a federal tax return for the year being verified, you can document income by submitting one of the following:
- Use the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) on the FAFSA and transfer IRS tax information into the FAFSA.
- Submit a signed copy of the federal 1040 Tax Return that the tax filer submitted to the IRS. Include schedules 1,2, and 3, if completed.
- Request an official Tax Return Transcript from the IRS and submit a copy of it to Wright State University. Refer to the resource section below on how to request a Tax Return Transcript.
Instructions for Providing Tax Documentation for Exceptional Circumstances
Amended Tax Return Filers
Amended tax return filers must provide a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X "Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return" for the appropriate tax year. In special circumstances, the IRS made the amendments, not the tax filer. In these cases, the tax filer will need to request a Tax Account Transcript from the IRS.
Forward your documentation to Enrollment Services. Be sure to include the student's name and UID on the documents you submit so they can be assigned to the student's record.
Victims of Identity Theft
Tax filers who are victims of identity theft must follow these steps to provide acceptable tax documents for the appropriate tax year:
2022 Tax Year (2024-2025 FAFSA)
- Request a copy of an alternative transcript known as the TRDBV (Transcript DataBase View) and submit a copy to Enrollment Services
- Write and sign a statement indicating the tax filer was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.
For additional assistance with the TRDBV form, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) by phone (800-908-4490) or go to the ID theft website on www.irs.gov.
2023 Tax Year (2025-2026 FAFSA)
- A copy of the signed 2023 income tax return and applicable schedules the individual filed with the IRS, or an equivalent document provided by the IRS; and
- An IRS 4674C letter (a letter from the IRS acknowledging the identity theft) or a statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that he or she was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft, and the IRS is aware of it.
Forward your documentation to Enrollment Services. Be sure to include the student's name and UID on the documents you submit so they can be assigned to the student's record.
Non-IRS Tax Return Filers
Tax filers who have filed an income tax return other than an IRS form, such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, must provide the following tax documents for the appropriate tax year:
- A tax filer who filed an income tax return with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may provide a signed copy of their income tax return that was filed with the relevant tax authority. However, if we question the accuracy of the information on the signed copy of the income tax return, the tax filer must provide us with a copy of the tax account information issued by the relevant tax authority before verification can be completed.
- A tax filer who filed an income tax return with the tax authority for American Samoa must provide a copy of his or her tax account information,
- A tax filer who filed an income tax return with the tax authorities not mentioned above (i.e., a foreign tax authority) and who indicates that they are unable to obtain the tax account information free of charge, must provide documentation that the tax authority charges a fee to obtain that information, along with a signed copy of their income tax return that was filed with the relevant tax authority.
Providing Documentation for Non-Tax Filers (for those who did not file and were not required to file a federal tax return)
If you did not file and are not required to file a federal tax return you still need to verify your income based on the FAFSA year.
Providing Documentation for Income Earned from Work
Copies of W-2s are required for student, spouse, or parent(s) who earned money from working, but were not required to file and did not file a federal tax return. If the income is from a business or miscellaneous income, a 1099 or business schedules may be requested.
Verification of Non-Filing Letter/Transcript
Independent students and parents of dependent students only need a non-filing letter or confirmation on non-filing if the nontax filer would have filed a tax return with a tax authority other than the IRS.
Resources
How to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript for tax filers
An IRS Tax Return Transcript is a typed copy of what was entered on a tax filer's original federal tax return. There is no cost to obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript. It can be ordered for FREE. The IRS will allow a tax filer to request only one IRS Tax Return Transcript each tax year. Therefore, you should retain the original IRS Tax Return Transcript you receive from the IRS and send a copy to Wright State.
Get a Tax Return Transcript by Mail
The IRS provides three methods for requesting a Tax Return Transcript be sent by mail.
Online Request
- Go to the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.
- Select Get Transcript by MAIL.
- Enter all requested personal information," click on the Continue button.
- Under “Type of Transcript”, select Return Transcript.
- Under “Tax Year”, select the appropriate tax year indicated on your verification worksheet. Then click on the Continue button.
- The request should be complete. Allow 5-10 business days to receive your Tax Return Transcript in the mail.
- Forward a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript to Enrollment Services. Be sure to include the student's UID on the copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript so it can be assigned to the student's record.
Paper Request
- Download the IRS Form 4506-T.
- 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. The IRS Tax Return Transcript will be sent to this address.
- Line 5 provides tax filers with the option to have their IRS Tax Return Transcript mailed directly to a third party by the IRS. A tax filer could list the address for Enrollment Services and have the IRS mail his/her IRS Tax Return Transcript directly to Wright State; however, Wright State cannot guarantee the transcript will be matched to the student's record. Therefore, tax filers are encouraged to leave line 5 blank.
- On line 6, enter the appropriate tax year.
- 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 4506-T to the appropriate address (or fax number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506-T.
- 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 4506-T 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.
Phone Request
- Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.
- Follow the prompts to enter the tax filer's Social Security Number and the numbers in his/her street address. Use the address on file with the IRS.
- Select Option 2 to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript, and then enter the appropriate tax year.
- 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.
- Once received, forward a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript to Enrollment Services. Be sure to include the student's name and UID on the copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript so it can be assigned to the student's record.
Request Tax Return Transcript Online
- Go to the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.
- Select Get Transcript Online.
- Log In with your existing username and password.
- On the next screen, click on Continue.
- To use the online request form you will need the following: (1) your social security number and date of birth, (2) your filing status and mailing address from your latest tax return, (3) an email account, (4) your credit card number or an account number from an auto loan, mortgage, home equity loan or home equity line of credit, and (5) a mobile phone with your name on the account. If you choose to use a credit card number for identity verification it will not be charged.
- A page will appear to "Get Transcript;" select Higher Education/Student Aid from the drop box, then click Go.
- Inside the green highlighted box, select the appropriate tax year under the Return Transcript.
- Save/Print a PDF copy of your Tax Return Transcript to your computer. (Be sure your pop-up blocker is off or your transcript may not display)
- Forward a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript to Enrollment Services. Be sure to include the student's UID on the copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript so it can be assigned to the student's record.
- Click the Sign Out button.
Submitting Documentation to Wright State
Any documentation or PDF document required by the Office of Financial Aid can be submitted using this Document Upload. This is also true if you have already submitted a DocuSign form and now need to provide supporting documentation. To start the process click the "Upload Financial Aid Document" button below then follow these steps:
- Enter your name and Wright State or personal email account. Click Begin Signing.
- Complete the form.
- Click the paperclip icon to upload your documents.
- Click Upload a File.
- Browse and select the document you need to upload.
- You can click Upload a File multiple times to submit more than one document, but please keep in mind that the maximum size per submission is 25 MB.
- Once all of your documents are attached, click Done.
- You can scroll down to see all of your attachments.
- Once you have verified your documentation is attached, click Finish at the top of the page.
- After you submit the form, a confirmation email will be sent to the address provided on the previous page.
Submit Documentation Early (Tips and Deadlines)
You will not receive an Award Notice until Verification is complete. It is highly encouraged that you complete verification well in advance of your fee payment due dates. This will allow any offered financial aid you are eligible to receive to show as pending credit towards you bill. Wright State receives limited funding from the federal government for the federal student aid's campus-based programs (e.g. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-Study, etc.). If you are selected for FAFSA Verification and filed your FAFSA by Wright State's FAFSA priority deadline date, you are encouraged to submit verification documentation as soon as possible. Otherwise, funding for the campus-based programs may be depleted, prohibiting the inclusion of any campus-based programs on your Award Notice.
The Department of Education can select you for Verification at any time. If you were already awarded federal and state financial aid prior to being selected for Verification, no additional federal or state aid will pay to your student account until Verification is complete. This includes earning Federal Work-Study wages. In addition, failure to complete Verification within 120 days from the end of your last term of enrollment may result in the return of federal aid already paid to your student account. For a list of Verification deadlines for each term, please see the table below.
| Term | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| Summer 2024 | November 15, 2024 |
| Fall 2024 | April 1, 2025 |
| Spring 2025 | August 15, 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | November 15, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | April 1, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 | August 15, 2026 |
See our Important Dates page for information regarding processing timelines for Verification and other financial aid processes. You are encouraged to check your WINGS account frequently and to complete all financial aid requirements in a timely manner. Remember, if you are selected for FAFSA Verification, your Award Notice will not be made available to you until the FAFSA Verification process has been completed, nor will federal student aid awards disburse to your account if you are selected for FAFSA Verification after having received your Award Notice.
