What is Financial Aid Verification? 

Verification is the process Ivy Tech uses to confirm that the data reported on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. Ivy Tech can contact students for documentation pertaining to the information reported. 

Why would I be selected for verification? 

A student might be selected for financial aid verification if there were discrepancies or mismatched data found with the information provided on the FAFSA. For example, income or tax information does not match what has been reported or a social security number or date of birth are different from what has been filed. The college wants to assist a student in clearing up a discrepancy so that financial aid can be packaged and awarded.  It is to the student's benefit to submit all requested items needed for the verification process as quickly as possible due to the fact that a student's financial aid file cannot be reviewed or completed until the verification process has been completed.

If you are selected for verification, don’t assume you’re being accused of doing anything wrong! Some people are selected at random; some schools verify all students' FAFSAs. All you need to do is provide the documentation your school asks for. This may include a request for additional tax information if your household size has changed, due to you or your parent marrying or remarrying.

What if my parent(s) or I did not file taxes?

If you were not required to file taxes, and your FAFSA was selected for verification, your school may request a signed statement or worksheet certifying:

  • That you were not required to file a tax return in the base year used on the FAFSA (for the 2024-2025 year, this is 2022; for 2025-2026, this is 2023);
  • The source and amount of earnings, other income, and resources that supported you in the base year; and
  • If you do not have an SSN, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or EIN, that you don’t have an SSN, ITIN, or EIN.

You will also need to provide a copy of your IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income during the base year.

A Verification of Non-filing letter is only required for non-filers who would have filed somewhere other than the United States. If this applies to you, please contact your campus’s financial aid office for assistance.

How do I get a copy of my IRS tax transcript?

To request a copy of your IRS tax transcript, follow the steps outlined on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.

The more you know…FAFSA Corrections

If a correction has been made to a student's FAFSA during the verification process, Ivy Tech will receive the updated FAFSA within 7 days. Once the updated FAFSA is received, the student's file will be reviewed again to ensure all information has been updated. This subsequent review will take up to 10 business days. If any additional information is needed after the subsequent review, the student will be notified at their Ivy Tech email address.

Verification Instructions & Help

  • Learn more about verification information and steps for students and parents below. To provide additional help, you can use these helpful checklists. 

    Unsure if you are a dependent or independent? Review this Dependency Status Overview.

  • Step 1: Log into MyIvy and click on the Email button. Find the missing information email.

    Step 2: The missing information email contains instructions and links to any required forms you and/or your contributors will need to complete.

    Step 3: Collect the required documents and complete any forms or worksheets indicated. If a form requires a signature, you will need to print it and sign in ink (a “wet” signature) or sign with a stylus or your finger. Typed signatures cannot be accepted.

    Step 4: Once you have all the required documentation, upload digital versions of them to the financial aid office using the Secure Financial Aid Drop Box. Please submit all your and your contributors’ (parent or spouse, if applicable) required documents, forms, and worksheets at the same time to reduce the processing time.

  • Step 1: Work with your student to log into their MyIvy account and click on the Email button. Find the missing information email.

    Step 2: The missing information email contains instructions and links to any required forms you (and your student) need to complete.

    Step 3: Collect the required documents and complete any forms or worksheets indicated. If a form requires a signature, you will need to print it and sign in ink (a “wet” signature) or sign with a stylus or your finger. Typed signatures cannot be accepted.

    Step 4: Once you have all the required documents, scan and upload digital versions of them to the financial aid office using the Secure Financial Aid Drop Box. Please submit all your and your student’s required documents, forms, and worksheets at the same time to reduce the processing time.

Helpful Links