Please refer to your "To Do List" on My Finances for the required federal verification worksheet/forms and necessary supporting documentation.


Verification

Federal Verification is a review process in which the University of Delaware, as required by the U.S. Department of Education, must verify the accuracy of the information provided on a student's FAFSA.

To help facilitate completion of this review, Federal Student Aid (FSA) offers a new tool on the FAFSA that allows financial aid applicants and their parents to retrieve and transfer certain income information reported on their federal income tax return directly from the IRS using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT). This capability assures the most accurate information was used on the applicants FAFSA.

Student Financial Services encourages everyone to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Families who do not use the IRS Data Retrieval process may be required to submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript directly from the IRS to complete the federal verification process.

What is Verification?

The US Department of Education requires institutions to verify the accuracy of the information provided on a student's FAFSA in an effort to assure federal aid is distributed to those who are eligible. The process is referred to as verification, historically 30% of FAFSA applications are selected each year by the federal processor. Please be aware that the University is unable to process any need-based aid (Subsidized Loans, PELL, SEOG, Perkins, Federal Work Study, TEACH) until verification is complete.

Schools may be required to verify any or all of the following criteria:

  • Household size (number of people in your household)
  • Number enrolled in college (number of household members attending a post-secondary educational institution at least half time)
  • Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or income earned from work if income is below minimum required for income tax filing
  • U.S. Income Tax Paid for the base year, such as:
    • Education Credits
    • Untaxed IRA distributions
    • Untaxed pensions
    • IRA deductions
    • Interest on tax free bonds
  • Child Support Paid for the base year
  • Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP benefits for base and prior year
  • High School Completion Status
  • Identity/Statement of educationl purpose

Please remember that your initial financial aid award is determined using the FAFSAinformation we have for you at that time.

Steps to Verification
Step 1 - Notification

Any student selected for Federal Verification that is attending UD will receive an email communication listing the appropriate federal verification worksheet/form that must be completed as well as required supporting documentation that must be submitted.

While your Student Aid Report sent by the Department of Education will confirm you have been selected please wait for our communication to confirm what we require before submitting documents.

Returning Students: Will be notified starting in April
New Students: Will be notified starting in May after the admissions deadline

Step 2 - Review the "To Do List"

All students are able to view their federal verification worksheet/form and required supporting documentation on their "To Do List" in UDSIS and through their My Finances account.

New Students: You will be able to view your federal verification worksheet/form and required supporting documentation on their Blue Hen Home Portal under Checklist until you receive the additional systems access that will be provided around New Student Orientation.

If the IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) is a requirement on your "To Do List" then complete the IRS Data Retrieval option via the FAFSA or submit a copy of 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcript.*

*The IRS tax transcript is not a copy of your income tax return. To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the "order a Return or Account Transcript" link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the "IRS tax return transcript" and not the "IRS tax account transcript." You will need your Social security Number, date of birth, and the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when your 2011 IRS tax return was filed. It takes up to two weeks for IRS information to be available for electronic IRS tax return filers and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers. If you are married and you and your spouse filed separate 2011 tax returns, you must submit tax return transcripts for both you and your spouse.

PLEASE NOTE: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

Step 3 - Submitting Documentation
  • We strongly encourage all parents and students to email scanned documents (exception noted below)* to finaid-verif@udel.edu as it greatly reduces the amount of time required to complete a review (pdf format preferred).
  • If you do not have access to a scanner, please fax documentation to (302) 831-3041.
  • Documents may also be mailed to our office at the address below; however this considerably lengthens the completion timeframe.

*If you are required to complete the Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose then the original notarized statement must be mailed to the University of Delaware along with a legible copy of Government Identification if you are not able to complete in person.

Student Financial Services
30 Lovett Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
Attn: Document Processing

Step 4 - Verification Completion

Once your Verification Review has been completed an email communication is issued to the student's University of Delaware email address as well as the parent's email as listed on FAFSA.

What am I required to submit for Verification?

Requirements for verification can be found on the students "To Do List"

All students are able to view their federal verification worksheet/form and required supporting documentation on their "To Do List" in UDSIS and through their My Finances

New Students: You will be able to view your federal verification worksheet/form and required supporting documentation on their Blue Hen Home Portal under Checklist until you receive the additional systems access that will be provided around New Student Orientation.

If the IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) is a requirement on your "To Do List" then complete the IRS Data Retrieval option via the FAFSA or submit a copy of 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcript.*

If the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is on your "To Do List" then complete the IRS Data Retrieval option via the FAFSA or submit a copy of 2012 IRS Tax Return Transcript.*

  • IRS Data Retrieval (DRT) - This option is recommended by the University of Delaware and provides you with the fastest, easiest and most secure way to verify your tax data.
  • IRS Tax Return Transcript - Use if you have updated your IRS data on your SAR after using the IRS DRT. There are three ways to request an IRS tax return transcript:

*The IRS tax transcript is not a copy of your income tax return. To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the "order a Return or Account Transcript" link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the "IRS tax return transcript" and not the "IRS tax account transcript." You will need your Social security Number, date of birth, and the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when your 2011 IRS tax return was filed. It takes up to two weeks for IRS information to be available for electronic IRS tax return filers and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers. If you are married and you and your spouse filed separate 2011 tax returns, you must submit tax return transcripts for both you and your spouse.

PLEASE NOTE: 1040 TAX RETURNS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

What should I do if I did not use the DRT and it is a requirement on my "To Do List"

If the DRT is on your "To Do List" we strongly encourage you to use the IRS DRT. Those who are unable to use this tool must send an IRS tax return transcript to the University. Please note this may result in a processing delay.

Please do not send us your tax return transcripts unless:

  • it is listed as a requirement on your "To Do List", and
  • you have been selected for Federal Verification or
  • you are unable to use the IRS DRT
What do I do if I have the DRT or Tax Return Transcript as a requirement on my "To Do List" and I have an amended return?

If you have amended your tax return, you must submit both an IRS Tax Return Transcript (which will provide the original information) and an IRS Record of Account (which will provide the updated information). You must use IRS Form 4506-T (option 6a and 6c) to request these documents, carefully following the instructions on the form. Documents should be sent within 30 days of request. Do not use IRS Form 4056-EZ.

Where should I submit documents?
  • We strongly encourage all parents and students to email scanned documents (exception noted below)* to finaid-verif@udel.edu as it greatly reduces the amount of time required to complete a review (pdf format preferred).
  • If you do not have access to a scanner, please fax documentation to (302) 831-3041.
  • Documents may also be mailed to our office at the address below; however this considerably lengthens the completion timeframe.

*If you are required to complete the Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose then the original notarized statement must be mailed to the University of Delaware along with a legible copy of Government Identification if you are not able to complete in person.

Student Financial Services
30 Lovett Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
Attn: Document Processing

Are there deadlines?
  • Yes, once you receive our email notifying you of your open items. We request submission within 3 weeks. We will send reminders to your e-mail until such time as all requests have been met. Please note, failure to complete verification by the start of classes will delay disbursement of aid.
  • If you leave school (drop below half-time, graduate, transfer, etc.) you have 60 days from the last day of attendance to have verification completed and any aid disbursed to your account. This deadline is set by federal law and no exceptions can be made by the school.
  • After the third reminder, we reserve the right to revoke your federal aid and issue those funds to another student. If you re-enter verification by submitting the requested documents, Pell Grants and Direct Student loans would be restored. Your other aid may not be available if those funds have been awarded to other students.
How will I know when Verification is completed?

Once we finalize your Verification Review the University will send an email confirmation. You will also be notified by the Department of Education if there has been a change made to your FAFSA, also usually done via e-mail. You can at any time access your FAFSA through www.fafsa.ed.gov and review your data. Changes are usually marked by a pound sign ("#") at each question affected.

What happens if Verification is not completed?
  • You would forfeit your federal aid. Any outstanding University charges would become your responsibility. Therefore, we encourage you to respond to documentation requests in a timely manner so that we can successfully review your FAFSA and post, verified, eligible aid to your student account as quickly as possible.
  • Thousands of students successfully complete verification every year, and you can, too! If you have any questions, or need some guidance, we are here to help.
  • Please use our web inquiry form to allow us to assist you with any questions at www.udel.edu/SFShelp and use Verification Audit review as the topic or call us at 302-831-2126 to speak with an SFS Advisor. We wish you all the best in your academic endeavors, and we don't want financial aid worries to affect your progress. Please help us meet these federal requirements as quickly as possible so that your experience here at the University will be trouble-free.