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Beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year, FEDERAL TAX RETURNS WILL NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED A VALID FORM OF DOCUMENTATION (this excludes foreign tax returns). Instead, applicants are strongly encouraged to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool as a means of completing their application. In instances where this is not possible, and the use of financial documentation is necessary to complete verification, ONLY IRS Tax Transcripts requested directly from the IRS will be accepted as documentation. IRS Tax Transcripts may be requested by phone, by mail, or online at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.html

Do NOT submit IRS Tax Transcripts to our office unless specifically requested to do so.

What is verification?

Verification is a process in which information on a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is reviewed by a school for accuracy and completeness.

Each year, the federal Department of Education selects approximately 30% of all Free Applications of Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs) received each year for verification. The verification process requires the Office of Student Financial Aid Services (OSFAS) to confirm the data supplied by the applicant and/or parent(s). Documentation of the information provided is required for verification.

Although the University cannot determine who will be selected for verification each year, students should anticipate selection and compile the documents required to complete the verification process, in order to immediately respond to any request.

Delay in sending the documents required to complete the federally mandated verification process may impact your financial aid award package.

How will I know if I am selected for verification?

Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will indicate whether or not your file has been selected for verification. The Student Aid Report (SAR) is typically accessed via a link sent to you by the Department of Education after you file your FAFSA. If you are selected for verification, there will be an asterisk next to your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure on your SAR.

You will also receive notification via your University email account from the Office of Student Financial Aid Services alerting you to check the Student Administration System to determine what additional documentation you will be required to submit before your financial aid application will be processed. New Graduate Students will also be notified by mail.

Do NOT send any financial documentation, such as tax returns, unless requested to do so by our office. UConn only verifies the FAFSA information of selected students, or in special cases when inconsistent information is found.

Why was I selected for verification?

Many students selected for verification are chosen randomly. However, you are more likely to be selected for verification if the data you provided on the FAFSA was inconsistent, if the FAFSA you submitted was incomplete, or if the FAFSA contained estimated information.

If I am selected for verification, what do I need to do?

If your FAFSA was selected, participation in the verification process is not optional and must occur before receiving federal student financial aid. You must submit the required documentation to verify the information on your FAFSA. Remember, do not send documentation to UConn unless you have been selected.

During the process of verification, new or additional information may be required in order to clarify any inconsistencies. The Office of Financial Aid Services will contact you via your University email account if clarification is needed. It is important to submit any requested documentation immediately. If you do not have copies of your tax documents, please contact the IRS. You can obtain a tax return transcript by calling 1 (800) 829-1020 or by completing and mailing Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.

Verification is completed only when all required information is received. However, your financial aid cannot be disbursed until your submitted documentation has been verified by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services, and the Department of Education has received and accepted changes to the original FAFSA information.

The required documentation to be sent in is listed below.

Dependent Students Selected for the 2011-2012 School Year

• Signed copies of student and parent(s)’ 2010 federal tax return
• A 2011-2012 Verification Worksheet (Dependent Student) signed by both student and parent

Independent Students Selected for the 2011-2012 School Year

• Signed copies of student and spouse 2010 federal tax return
• A signed 2011-2012 Verification Worksheet (Independent Student)

NOTE: Students and parents who elect to use the IRS DATA RETRIEVAL tool within the online FAFSA for 2011-2012, and who do not change the information imported within it, are exempted from submitting the tax return.

If an extension has been filed, you may provide our office with a copy of the 2010 IRS Form 4868 along with W-2 forms. Once the tax return has been filed, a copy must be sent to our office.

When do I need to submit the verification documents?

In general, the Office of Student Financial Aid Services will not award Federal Title IV or need-based institutional aid until the verification process has been completed. Thus it is extremely important for students to send in the required documentation as soon as possible, as many forms of aid are limited and awarded on first-come, first-served basis. However, an exception is made for incoming freshmen. Financial aid for incoming freshmen is based on FAFSA results, but these awards are considered estimates until the verification process is completed.

Freshmen and continuing students selected for verification, after initial financial aid packaging, should adhere to the posted verification deadlines posted by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services via the http://financialaid.uconn.edu website. Failure to comply with deadlines may result in cancellation of financial aid awards. If the Office of Student Financial Aid Services does not receive all required verification documents by November 1st, financial aid previously awarded may be canceled all together.

Remember, students should NOT send in documentation unless they receive specific requests from the OSFAS or through the Student Administration System.

Will my financial aid change due to verification?

During the verification process, information is compared to the original data on the FAFSA and corrections may be made. These corrections may lower or raise the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure. Because financial need is determined by the EFC, aid eligibility may be impacted when changes occur during the verification process.

If the verification process is completed after a student is initially awarded financial aid, as in the case of incoming Freshmen, changes to the original aid package may occur. The Office of Student Financial Aid Services will notify you of any changes to aid via your University email account and the Student Administration system.

In some cases, when financial aid has already been disbursed but the EFC increases after a late verification process, certain forms of aid must be returned by UConn to the Department of Education. Students who owe a refund of federal student aid may be ineligible for additional Title IV aid and/or may be considered in default status.

Will being selected for verification prevent my aid from disbursing?

Your financial aid cannot be disbursed until you have submitted all requested documents and the information has been verified by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services, and the Department of Education has received and accepted changes to the original FAFSA information.

How can I be considered to receive the maximum amount of aid each year?

Financial aid packages are based upon many factors, including financial need, available funding, federal and state regulations, and UConn policies. However, there are ways you can help yourself get access to the most aid possible.

In Order to Maximize Your Financial Aid

• File your FAFSA each year before our March 1st deadline.
• Upon notification of your selection of verification, immediately submit all requested documentation to our office for review.
• Complete your taxes as quickly as possible.
• Be sure all documents you submit to our office are signed.
• Be sure your name and Student ID number is on all documents you submit.
• Keep legible photocopies of all information you submit, and record the date you send in the documents.
• Submit documents by fax to 1 (860) 486-6629.
• If you need copies of your IRS forms, call the IRS at 1 (800) 829-1040 or complete and mail to the IRS Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. Available at http://www.irs.gov
• Check your University email account frequently. All requests for information and changes to your financial aid package will be communicated via your University email account.
• Regularly check your financial aid status through the Student Administration System.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to complete your FAFSA by UConn’s March 1st deadline will result in a “late” application. Some forms of aid require “on-time” applications.
• Assuming you’ve submitted your FAFSA without double-checking is risky. Be sure to sign the online form with your PIN (parents too!). Ensure that your FAFSA has been submitted successfully via the confirmation page. Once your receive the link to your Student Aid Report, verify that the information is correct and check your EFC.
• Delays in submitting verification documents can be costly, because many forms of aid have limited funding and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. By the time your verification is completed, our office may have run out of some types of assistance
• If you submit incomplete or illegible documents, they will be returned to you with a request for acceptable forms. This will cause delays in processing your aid.
• Sending copies of income tax forms with information covered up by another form will result in a request for a legible form. This will cause delays in processing your aid as well.
• Submitting documentation not requested by the Office of Student Financial Aid Services may result in delays in processing your application for aid.
• Forgetting to sign your required forms will also cause delays. You should sign your tax form(s) by hand even if you sent them to the IRS electronically.