The Central Processing System (CPS) randomly selects applications to undergo the verification process each year. Approximately 30 percent of all applications are picked for verification. This means that your aid award cannot be finalized until your counselor reviews your submitted verification documents. If your application is chosen for verification, you and your parents/spouse (if applicable) will need to submit complete, signed copies of your most recent Federal 1040 Tax Returns, including any Schedule Cs and all W-2 forms. Learn more about required verification documents. You will also need to submit a completed Federal Verification Worksheet (independent | dependent ). VERIFICATION PROCESS A student’s application for federal financial aid may be selected for review by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) in a process called “Verification.” Financial aid regulations say that schools have the right to ask for financial information and other information, as it applies to your application, before awarding federal aid. The verification process requires that a student’s application be reviewed based on specific pre-determined criteria set by the Department of Education. The federal verification process is a random selection process. It is usually a more in-depth review of the student’s application data, as set according to the Department of Education’s Student Aid Handbook. APPLICATION REVIEW The verification process requires that information from the student’s application be compared with copies of the student’s, spouse’s (if married) and parents’ (if dependent) federal tax forms or financial documents. Other documentation may be required as it applies to the information on the application. Notification to students is sent via email stating that there are outstanding requirements. The student’s Genisys account will also list the document requirements and status. VERIFICATION SELECTION Each year about 30 percent of students’ financial aid applications nationwide are chosen for verification. The main reasons for being selected for verification include that you were chosen randomly, the FAFSA you submitted was incomplete, your FAFSA contains estimated information or the data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent. Verification is a federal regulation. Students who are selected for verification are not being punished; rather verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified. VERIFICATION ITEMS If you are selected for verification, the Student Financial Aid Office is required to verify the accuracy of some or all of the following items found on the FAFSA: • Household size • Number enrolled in college • Adjusted gross income (AGI) • S. income tax paid • Certain untaxed income and benefits • Child Support • Educational Purpose • Household Resources VERIFICATION DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS To assist in the verification of the items above, the following documents are required. You should only provide tax documents if we request them. • Current year Verification Worksheet • Federal Income Tax Return Transcript for prior prior tax year, if filed • Student W2s for prior prior tax year • Spouse’s Federal Income Tax Return Transcript for prior prior tax (if married) • Spouse W2s for prior prior tax year (if married) • Parent federal Income Tax Return Transcripts for prior prior tax year (if a dependent student), if filed • Parent W2s for prior prior tax year (if a dependent student) • Schedule C/CEZ for prior prior tax year (if self-employed)