Notice2022-14511
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information to be Verified for the 2023-2024 Award Year
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
For each award year, the Secretary publishes in the Federal Register a notice announcing the FAFSA information that an institution and an applicant may be required to verify, as well as the acceptable documentation for verifying FAFSA information. This is the notice for the 2023-2024 award year, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.007, 84.033, 84.063, and 84.268.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40826-40830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14511]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg])
Information to be Verified for the 2023-2024 Award Year
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: For each award year, the Secretary publishes in the Federal
Register a notice announcing the FAFSA information that an institution
and an applicant may be required to verify, as well as the acceptable
documentation for verifying FAFSA information. This is the notice for
the 2023-2024 award year, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.007, 84.033,
84.063, and 84.268.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vanessa Gomez, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C179, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 453-6708. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5503343b302626347b123a38302f1530317b323a23"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5503343b302626347b123a38302f1530317b323a23">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If the Secretary selects an applicant for
verification, the applicant's Institutional Student Information Record
(ISIR) includes flags that indicate (1) that the applicant has been
selected by the Secretary for verification and (2) the Verification
Tracking Group (VTG) in which the applicant has been placed. The VTG
indicates which FAFSA information needs to be verified for the
applicant and, if appropriate, for the applicant's parent(s) or spouse.
The Student Aid Report (SAR) provided to the applicant will indicate
that the applicant's FAFSA information has been selected for
verification and direct the applicant to contact the institution for
further instructions for completing the verification process.
To help institutions and applicants deal with the challenges
resulting from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the
Secretary has provided flexibilities to the verification regulations
through the end of the first payment period that begins after the date
that the COVID-19 national emergency is rescinded.
The following chart lists, for the 2023-2024 award year, the FAFSA
information that an institution and an applicant and, if appropriate,
the applicant's parent(s) or spouse may be required to verify under 34
CFR 668.56. The chart also lists the acceptable documentation that
must, under Sec. 668.57, be provided to an institution for that
information to be verified.
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FAFSA information Acceptable documentation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income information for tax filers: (1) 2021 tax account
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) information of the tax filer
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid that the Secretary has
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA identified as having been
Distributions and Pensions obtained from the Internal
d. IRA Deductions and Payments Revenue Service (IRS) through
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
f. Education Credits and that has not been changed
after the information was
obtained from the IRS;
(2) A transcript \1\ obtained
at no cost from the IRS or
other relevant tax authority
of a U.S. territory (Guam,
American Samoa, the U.S.
Virgin Islands) or
commonwealth (Puerto Rico and
the Northern Mariana Islands),
or a foreign government, that
lists 2021 tax account
information of the tax filer;
or
(3) A copy of the income tax
return \1\ and the applicable
schedules \1\ that were filed
with the IRS or other relevant
tax authority of a U.S.
territory, or a foreign
government that lists 2021 tax
account information of the tax
filer.
Income information for tax filers with (1) For a student, or the
special circumstances: parent(s) of a dependent
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) student, who filed a 2021
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid joint income tax return and
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA whose income is used in the
Distributions and Pensions calculation of the applicant's
d. IRA Deductions and Payments expected family contribution
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income and who at the time the FAFSA
f. Education Credits was completed was separated,
divorced, widowed, or married
to someone other than the
individual included on the
2021 joint income tax return--
(a) A transcript obtained from
the IRS or other relevant tax
authority that lists 2021 tax
account information of the tax
filer(s); or
(b) A copy of the income tax
return and the applicable
schedules that were filed with
the IRS or other relevant tax
authority that lists 2021 tax
account information of the tax
filer(s); and
(c) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of 2021
employment income received or
an equivalent document.\2\
[[Page 40827]]
(2) For an individual who is
required to file a 2021 IRS
income tax return and has been
granted a filing extension by
the IRS beyond the automatic
six-month extension for tax
year 2021--
(a) A copy of the IRS's
approval of an extension
beyond the automatic six-month
extension for tax year 2021;
\3\
(b) Verification of non-filing
\4\ from the IRS dated on or
after October 1, 2022;
(c) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of 2021
employment income received or
an equivalent document; \2\
and
(d) If self-employed, a signed
statement certifying the
amount of AGI and U.S. income
tax paid for tax year 2021.
Note: An institution may
require that, after the income
tax return is filed, an
individual granted a filing
extension beyond the automatic
6-month extension submit tax
information using the IRS Data
Retrieval Tool, by obtaining a
transcript from the IRS, or by
submitting a copy of the
income tax return and the
applicable schedules that were
filed with the IRS that lists
2021 tax account information.
When an institution receives
such information, it must be
used to reverify the income
and tax information reported
on the FAFSA.
(3) For an individual who was
the victim of IRS tax-related
identity theft--
(a) A Tax Return DataBase View
(TRDBV) transcript \1\
obtained from the IRS; and
(b) A statement signed and
dated by the tax filer
indicating that he or she was
a victim of IRS tax-related
identity theft and that the
IRS has been made aware of the
tax-related identity theft.
Note: Tax filers may inform the
IRS of the tax-related
identity theft and obtain a
TRDBV transcript by calling
the IRS's Identity Protection
Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 1-
800-908-4490. Unless the
institution has reason to
suspect the authenticity of
the TRDBV transcript provided
by the IRS, a signature or
stamp or any other validation
from the IRS is not needed.
(4) For an individual who filed
an amended income tax return
with the IRS, a signed copy of
the IRS Form 1040X that was
filed with the IRS for tax
year 2021 or documentation
from the IRS that include the
change(s) made to the tax
filer's 2021 tax information,
in addition to one of the
following--
(a) IRS Data Retrieval Tool
information on an ISIR record
with all tax information from
the original 2021 income tax
return;
(b) A transcript obtained from
the IRS that lists 2021 tax
account information of the tax
filer(s); or
(c) A signed copy of the 2021
IRS Form 1040 and the
applicable schedules that were
filed with the IRS.
Income information for non-tax filers: For an individual who has not
Income earned from work filed and, under IRS or other
relevant tax authority rules
(e.g., the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, the Republic
of Palau, the Federated States
of Micronesia, a U.S.
territory or commonwealth or a
foreign government), is not
required to file a 2021 income
tax return--
(1) A signed statement
certifying--
(a) That the individual has not
filed and is not required to
file a 2021 income tax return;
and
(b) The sources of 2021 income
earned from work and the
amount of income from each
source;
(2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of 2021
employment income received or
an equivalent document \2\;
and
(3) Except for dependent
students, verification of non-
filing \4\ from the IRS or
other relevant tax authority
dated on or after October 1,
2022.
Number of Household Members............ A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents, that
lists the name and age of each
household member for the 2023-
2024 award year and the
relationship of that household
member to the applicant.
Note: Verification of number of
household members is not
required if--
<bullet> For a dependent
student, the household size
indicated on the ISIR is two
and the parent is single,
separated, divorced, or
widowed, or the household size
indicated on the ISIR is three
if the parents are married or
unmarried and living together;
or
<bullet> For an independent
student, the household size
indicated on the ISIR is one
and the applicant is single,
separated, divorced, or
widowed, or the household size
indicated on the ISIR is two
if the applicant is married.
[[Page 40828]]
Number in College...................... (1) A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents listing
the name and age of each
household member, excluding
the parents, who is or will be
attending an eligible
postsecondary educational
institution as at least a half-
time student in the 2023-2024
award year in a program that
leads to a degree or
certificate and the name of
that educational institution.
(2) If an institution has
reason to believe that the
signed statement provided by
the applicant regarding the
number of household members
enrolled in eligible
postsecondary institutions is
inaccurate, the institution
must obtain documentation from
each institution named by the
applicant that the household
member in question is, or will
be, attending on at least a
half-time basis unless--
(a) The applicant's institution
determines that such
documentation is not available
because the household member
in question has not yet
registered at the institution
the household member plans to
attend; or
(b) The institution has
documentation indicating that
the household member in
question will be attending the
same institution as the
applicant.
Note: Verification of the
number of household members in
college is not required if the
number in college indicated on
the ISIR is ``1.''
Identity/Statement of Educational (1) An applicant must appear in
Purpose. person and present the
following documentation to an
institutionally authorized
individual to verify the
applicant's identity:
(a) An unexpired valid
government-issued photo
identification \5\ such as,
but not limited to, a driver's
license, non-driver's
identification card, other
State-issued identification,
or U.S. passport. The
institution must maintain an
annotated copy of the
unexpired valid government-
issued photo identification
that includes--
i. The date the identification
was presented; and
ii. The name of the
institutionally authorized
individual who reviewed the
identification; and
(b) A signed statement using
the exact language as follows,
except that the student's
identification number is
optional if collected
elsewhere on the same page as
the statement:
Statement of Educational
Purpose
I certify that I ______ am
(Print Student's Name)
the individual signing this
Statement of Educational
Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I
may receive will only be used
for educational purposes and
to pay the cost of attending
______ for 2023-2024.
(Name of Postsecondary
Educational Institution)
__________ ___
(Student's Signature) (Date)
__________
(Student's ID Number)
(2) If an institution
determines that an applicant
is unable to appear in person
to present an unexpired valid
government-issued photo
identification and execute the
Statement of Educational
Purpose, the applicant must
provide the institution with--
(a) A copy of an unexpired
valid government-issued photo
identification,\5\ such as,
but not limited to, a driver's
license, non-driver's
identification card, other
State-issued identification,
or U.S. passport that is
acknowledged in a notary
statement or that is presented
to a notary; and
(b) An original notarized
statement signed by the
applicant using the exact
language as follows, except
that the student's
identification number is
optional if collected
elsewhere on the same page as
the statement:
Statement of Educational
Purpose
I certify that I ______ am
(Print Student's Name)
the individual signing this
Statement of Educational
Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I
may receive will only be used
for educational purposes and
to pay the cost of attending
______ for 2023-2024.
(Name of Postsecondary
Educational Institution)
__________ ___
(Student's Signature) (Date)
[[Page 40829]]
__________
(Student's ID Number)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This footnote applies, where applicable, whenever an income tax
return, the applicable schedules, or transcript is mentioned in the
above chart.
The copy of the 2021 income tax return must include the signature of the
tax filer, or one of the filers of a joint income tax return, or the
signed, stamped, typed, or printed name and address of the preparer of
the income tax return and the preparer's Social Security number,
Employer Identification Number, or Preparer Tax Identification Number.
For a tax filer who filed an income tax return other than an IRS form,
such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, the institution must use
the income information (converted to U.S. dollars) from the lines of
that form that correspond most closely to the income information
reported on a U.S. income tax return.
An individual who did not retain a copy of his or her 2021 tax account
information, and for whom that information cannot be located by the
IRS or other relevant tax authority, must submit to the institution--
(a) Copies of all IRS Form W-2s for each source of 2021 employment
income or equivalent documents; or
(b) If the individual is self-employed or filed an income tax return
with a government of a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign
government, a signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and income
taxes paid for tax year 2021; and
(c) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that
indicates the individual's 2021 tax account information cannot be
located; and
(d) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain
a copy of his or her 2021 tax account information.
If an individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft is
unable to obtain a TRDBV, the institution may accept an equivalent
document provided by the IRS or a copy of the signed 2021 income tax
return the individual filed with the IRS.
\2\ An individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W-2 or an
equivalent document but did not maintain a copy should request a
duplicate from the employer who issued the original or from the
government agency that issued the equivalent document. If the
individual is unable to obtain a duplicate W-2 or an equivalent
document in a timely manner, the institution may permit that
individual to provide a signed statement, in accordance with 34 CFR
668.57(a)(6), that includes--
(a) The amount of income earned from work;
(b) The source of that income; and
(c) The reason why the IRS Form W-2, or an equivalent document, is not
available in a timely manner.
\3\ For an individual who was called up for active duty or for
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military
operation or national emergency, an institution must accept a
statement from the individual certifying that he or she has not filed
an income tax return or a request for a filing extension because of
that service.
\4\ If an individual is unable to obtain verification of non-filing from
the IRS or other relevant tax authority and, based upon the
institution's determination, it has no reason to question the
student's or family's good-faith effort to obtain the required
documentation, the institution may accept a signed statement
certifying that the individual attempted to obtain the verification of
non-filing from the IRS or other relevant tax authority and was unable
to obtain the required documentation.
For IRS extension filers, the signed statement must also indicate that
the individual has not filed a 2021 income tax return and list the
sources of any 2021 income, and the amount of income from each source.
Since individuals without a Social Security number, an Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer Identification Number
are unable to obtain a verification of non-filing from the IRS, these
individuals whose income is below the IRS filing threshold must submit
to the institution a signed and dated statement--
(a) Certifying that the individual(s) does not have a Social Security
number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer
Identification Number; and
(b) Listing the sources and amounts of earnings, other income, and
resources that supported the individual(s) for the 2021 tax year.
\5\ An unexpired valid government-issued photo identification is one
issued by the U.S. government, any of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a federally recognized
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe, American Samoa, Guam, the
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia,
or the Republic of Palau.
Verification Requirements for Individuals Who Are Eligible for an Auto-
Zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Only the following FAFSA/ISIR information must be verified:
For dependent students--
<bullet> The parents' AGI if the parents were tax filers;
<bullet> The parents' income earned from work if the parents were
non-tax filers; and
<bullet> The student's identity/statement of educational purpose,
if required.
For independent students--
<bullet> The student's and spouse's AGI if they were tax filers;
<bullet> The student's and spouse's income earned from work if they
were non-tax filers;
<bullet> The student's identity/statement of educational purpose,
if required; and
<bullet> The number of household members to determine if the
independent student has one or more dependents other than a spouse.
Note: Verification of non-filing \4\ from the IRS (or other
relevant tax authority, if applicable) dated on or after October 1,
2022, must be provided for (1) independent students (and spouses, if
applicable) and parents of dependent students who did not file and are
not required to file a 2021 income tax return, and (2) individuals who
are required to file a 2021 IRS income tax return but have not filed
because they have been granted a tax filing extension by the IRS beyond
the automatic 6-month extension for the 2021 tax year.
The individual FAFSA items that an applicant must verify are based
upon the Verification Tracking Group to which the applicant is assigned
as outlined in the following chart.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA information
Verification tracking flag Verification required to be
tracking group name verified
------------------------------------------------------------------------
V1.......................... Standard Tax Filers:
Verification Group. <bullet> Adjusted
Gross Income.
<bullet> U.S. Income
Tax Paid.
<bullet> Untaxed
Portions of IRA
Distributions and
Pensions.
<bullet> IRA
Deductions and
Payments.
<bullet> Tax Exempt
Interest Income.
<bullet> Education
Tax Credits.
Non-Tax Filers:
<bullet> Income
Earned from Work.
[[Page 40830]]
Tax Filers and Non-
Tax Filers:
<bullet> Number of
Household Members.
<bullet> Number in
College.
V2.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
V3.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
V4.......................... Custom Verification <bullet> Identity/
Group. Statement of
Educational
Purpose.
V5.......................... Aggregate Tax Filers:
Verification Group. <bullet> Adjusted
Gross Income.
<bullet> U.S. Income
Tax Paid.
<bullet> Untaxed
Portions of IRA
Distributions and
Pensions.
<bullet> IRA
Deductions and
Payments.
<bullet> Tax Exempt
Interest Income.
<bullet> Education
Tax Credits.
Non-Tax Filers:
<bullet> Income
Earned from Work.
Tax Filers and Non-
Tax Filers:
<bullet> Number of
Household Members.
<bullet> Number in
College.
<bullet> Identity/
Statement of
Educational
Purpose.
V6.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process
in the following resources that will be available on the Knowledge
Center web page at <a href="https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center:">https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center:</a>
<bullet> 2023-2024 Application and Verification Guide.
<bullet> 2023-2024 ISIR Guide.
<bullet> 2023-2024 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
<bullet> 2023-2024 COD Technical Reference.
<bullet> Program Integrity Information--Questions and Answers on
Verification at <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html">www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html</a>.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file,
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc or other accessible
format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="http://www.govinfo.gov">www.govinfo.gov</a>. At this site you can view this
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You may also access documents of the Department published in the
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by the Department.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a, 1070b-1070b-4, 1087a-1087j, and
20 U.S.C. 1087-51-1087-58.
Annmarie Weisman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Office
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2022-14511 Filed 7-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.