What Is Verification?

Verification is the process of comparing the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application with documents provided by the student. 

The process is to verify the accuracy of the application information. The verification policies are used in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education verification guidelines.

  • The policy ensures that the information provided by the applicant is correct before any funds are awarded to the student.
  • All applications selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education will be verified. Others may be selected by the university's Financial Aid Office if inconsistent data information exists.
  • In accordance with federal guidelines, the university's financial aid policy is to withhold the awarding of federal student financial aid until the verification process is completed.

If you have been selected for verification, the student and/or parent will be required to submit requested documents. An e-mail will be sent to your Embry-Riddle e-mail account. The documents needed will be on your “To do” list in your “Student Center.” If documents were received but incomplete or illegible you will need to resubmit the requested document to the Financial Aid Office. You will be able to review the status on your “To do List” items by logging into your Student Center.

Please note: Verification processing time may take up to 4-6 weeks from the date the last required document is received. There are peak periods when processing times could be longer.

  • An e-mail reminder is sent to the student's university e-mail account if additional documents are requested.
  • The To Do List in Student Center in your ERNIE will also list the additional documents requested.
  • The requested verification documents must be received within 45 days of the first notification that documents are needed. You will be sent three notifications.
  • The Financial Aid Office must receive all verification documents no later than 30 days before the last day of enrollment or the end of the school year, whichever is earlier.
Applicants and Students can review their financial aid To-Do List online:
  • Log on to ERNIE.
  • Click the “Student Services” tab at the top of the page.
  • Under Financial Aid select "Visit the Financial Aid page"
  • Visit the "Campus Solutions Student Center"
  • Review the items listed in your “To Do List” section of the page.
  • Click the “Detail” hyperlink for detailed information on the Item.
  • Review your items in your “To Do Item Detail.”
  • Submit required Items as stated in “To Do Item Detail.” – Prompt submission is strongly advised

Financial aid will not be awarded until all requested documents are submitted and reviewed. If there are any discrepancies between your information provided on your FAFSA application and your submitted verification documents, the Financial Aid office may request additional documents to resolve the discrepancies. If additional documents are needed to complete verification, an email will be sent to your Embry-Riddle e-mail account.

Corrections made by the University: If the verification process results in corrections to any items on the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will submit those changes electronically to the Department of Education. The student will be notified by the FAFSA Central Processor of the changes through e-mail. The Financial Aid Office will also notify you by e-mail if corrections are needed.

Corrections made by the student: Students are not encouraged to make changes to their FAFSA after they submit their applications. However, in the event that the student must make changes or additions online:

Notifications: In addition to your results of your FAFSA (your Student Aid Report) from the Federal Student Aid Programs, ERAU will send an email to your ERAU ERNIE email account.

E-mail is an official means of communication for students at Embry-Riddle. All official university e-mail will be sent to each student’s assigned university e-mail address. Students are responsible for reading e-mails received from the university.

If you or your parent(s) indicated on the FAFSA that you hadn’t yet filed a tax return but planned to, the FAFSA will have asked you to provide estimated tax information. Here’s what you need to do in order to correct the estimated information:

  • Log in at the FAFSA site
  • Click on “Make FAFSA Corrections”
  • Change tax filing status from “Will File” to “Already Completed”
  • Follow the FAFSA’s guidance to determine whether you’re eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import tax information from the federal tax return automatically
  • If you aren’t eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you must manually enter your tax information to reflect the filed tax return
  • Follow the FAFSA’s guidance to submit the corrections

Remember, the sooner you provide correct information on your FAFSA, the sooner you’ll receive a final, accurate aid offer from the financial aid office you listed on the FAFSA.

Get more information about providing financial information on your FAFSA and about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Online Immediate Access to Your Electronic Federal Income Tax Return Transcript

  1. Available on the IRS Web site
  2. Click on “Get Transcript by Mail”
  3. 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.
  4. Click “Continue”
  5. In the Type of Transcript field, select “Return Transcript” and in the Tax Year field, select “year”.
  6. 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.
  7. IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Telephone Request for Mailed Transcript

  1. Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946
  2. 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.
  3. Select “Option 2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter ““year””.
  4. 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.
  5. IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Online Immediate Access to Your Electronic Federal Income Tax Return Transcript

  1. Available on the IRS Web site
  2. Click on “Get Transcript Online,” and from the next page click on “Create an Account” 3. Complete steps 1-6 to set up an account
    • Step 1—Apply for and retrieve your temporary account confirmation code. Enter your name and email address and click “Send Email Confirmation Code.”
    • Step 2—Enter and verify the temporary account confirmation code that was emailed to you
    • Step 3—Enter account demographic data
    • Step 4—Answer questions to verify your identity
    • Steps 5 & 6—Create a security profile and user ID and password
  3. Select “Higher Education/Student Aid” as your reason for requesting the Tax Return Transcript
  4. Select the “year” Tax Return Transcript
  5. When the Tax Return Transcript displays you may use your browser’s tools to print a copy or to save the file. Remember to change the file type to PDF when saving.

Options via the IRS2Go App

  1. Apple Online Store at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/irs2go/id414113282?mt=8
  2. Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.irs

Exceptions

  1. Amended Return – If you filed an amended IRS tax return you must provide: a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript and the IRS Tax Account Transcript or your signed IRS 1040 Tax Return form and IRS 1040X form for the tax year requested
  2. Extension Filers – Students or Parent(s) who filed for an extension of the tax deadline must submit he following to our office: IRS Form 4868 - Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension if additional time is requested Copies of all W2’s or if self-employed – a signed statement certifying the amount of adjusted gross income (AGI) and U.S. income tax paid for the tax year requested Note: You must provide documentation of actual tax filing (DRT, Transcript or Tax Return as listed above) later in the year in order to verify tax return data
  3. Foreign Returns - Parent(s) who filed taxes in Puerto Rico or another foreign country should submit a signed copy of their tax return converted to U.S. dollars to our office. Note: Federal, State, and Institutional financial aid amounts are subject to change pending review of final tax return.

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