Federal Verification
As of May 19th, 2022, most requirements for federal verification for the 2022-2023 academic year have been waived.
If you are unsure if you should respond to our request(s) for documentation for either academic year, please contact our counselors at (937) 229-4141.
Federal verification is a process which requires institutions to verify the accuracy of information provided on a student's FAFSA in an effort to assure federal aid is distributed to those who are eligible. Approximately 20% of FAFSA applications are selected by the federal processor for verification each year.
Schools may be required to verify any or all of the following criteria:
- Household size (number of people in your household)
- Number enrolled in college (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
- Certain Untaxed Income and Benefits, such as education credits; untaxed IRA distributions; untaxed pensions; IRA deductions; and interest on tax free bonds
- Other Untaxed Income, such as: payments to tax-deferred pension and savings; child support received housing; food and other living allowances paid to members of the military, clergy and others; veterans noneducation benefits; other untaxed income; and money received or paid on the applicant’s behalf
- Child Support Paid
- Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP benefits
- High school completion status
- Identity/Statement of educational purpose
University of Dayton students selected for verification will be notified via email. Instructions for completing the process will be detailed in that email correspondence. All requested documentation should be submitted within 30 days of request. Failure to do so may result in the reduction and/or cancellation of any need-based federal, state, or university aid.
Visit our Financial Aid Forms Process page for more information about how to complete and submit this information.
Documentation Requirements
The verification worksheet is used to verify self-reported household size and household number in college.
All financial aid forms are now provided electronically through Adobe Sign. The Verification Worksheet will be emailed to students and parents (if dependent for aid purposes) that are required to complete federal verification.
To satisfy our request for IRS documentation*, please read the options below, then select one:
- IRS Data Retrieval Tool - Allows for transfer of IRS tax year data directly into FAFSA (recommended)
- IRS Tax Return Transcript
To request an IRS tax return transcript, call the IRS at1-800-908-9946 - the tax filer was deemed ineligible to use the IRS DRT, or
- the tax filer originally transferred the IRS data to the FAFSA using DRT but then updated the IRS data manually, or
- the tax filer filed an amended tax return. In this case, the filer must also submit a signed copy of IRS Form 1040X to us.
- Signed Copies of IRS Federal Tax Returns (Form 1040)
- If selected for verification for the 2023-24 aid year, we may accept signed copies of your 2021 return, including all schedules.
- 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 his or her 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 tax authorities not mentioned above, i.e. a foreign tax authority, and who indicates that he or she is 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 his or her income tax return that was filed with the relevant tax authority.
If you did not file a federal return for the required tax year, you will still be required to submit wage statements (W-2, 1099, etc) from all entities for which you had earned income, in addition to the Student and/or Parent IRS Tax Information form, which is emailed to you directly.
In addition, independent students and parents of dependent students must request the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter (VONF).
If you attempted to request the VONF but were unsuccessful, please contact our office for further instructions.