FINANCIAL AID

Verification

Verification is a review process required by the U.S. Department of Education that requires institutions to determine the accuracy of the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This process requires NAU to request additional documentation to determine a student’s eligibility for federal grants and loans. Students selected for verification will be notified via email. The verification process must be completed before financial aid can be awarded or disbursed.

Required Documentation

Selected students will need to provide documentation that will be compared to the information reported on the FAFSA. If errors are found, NAU must correct those errors before a student’s eligibility can be determined. Required verification forms vary by student. To review the specific verification documentation assigned to you, log in to the Financial Aid Student Portal. All documents must be uploaded via the portal for review.

Commonly requested forms include the following:

There are three options available to verify tax and income data:  

Eligible tax filers can use the IRS DRT to automatically transfer their tax information from the IRS on to the FAFSA. This is the easiest method and is highly recommended to ensure accuracy. Follow the steps below to use the IRS DRT: 

  1. Log in to your FAFSA. 
  2. In the finances section of the FAFSA, you will see a “Link to IRS” button (if you are eligible to use the IRS DRT). 
  3. Click the “Link to IRS” button and log in with your FSA ID to be transferred to the IRS to retrieve your information.  
  4. Once on the IRS site, enter your information exactly as it appears on your federal income tax return and click the “Submit” button. 
  5. Check the “Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA form” box and click the “Transfer Now” button. 

Tax filers can request a copy of their IRS Tax Return Transcript online or via mail from the IRS. Non-tax filers should request the IRS Verification of Non-Filing Letter. 

Tax filers can provide a signed copy of tax return with all accompanying schedules (Schedule 1,2, and 3 if applicable). 

Deadline

Timely submission of verification documents is essential for financial aid packaging. Verification document submissions are accepted throughout the aid year. However, it is in the student’s best interest to submit all documents as soon as possible. Students are responsible for satisfying their balance due by the first day of each term regardless of the status of the verification process. 

Per federal regulations for Federal Grants, applicants must complete verification within 120 days of the student’s last date of enrollment or by the date published in the federal register, whichever is earlier. For Direct Loan programs, applicants must complete verification by the last date of enrollment. 

Awarding

Verification is complete once NAU has reviewed all required documentation and the data reported on the FAFSA accurately reflects the documentation received. Once verification is complete, students will be awarded via the Financial Aid Student Portal and notified via email within 5 business days.