Verification

Yes. If you have been selected for verification, you will have to turn in the requested documents and materials, and you will have to complete the verification process before you will be able to receive federal and need-based financial aid (if eligible).

Requested documents will vary, based upon your individual circumstances, but may include copies of tax returns, tax return transcripts, or Form W-2s; other completed IRS forms; completed institutional forms; personal statements, etc.

There are three different methods for requesting your Tax Return Transcript:

• Request online by going to www.IRS.gov. Under Tools, click on the “Get your tax record” link and follow the instructions.  Delivery options for an online-requested transcript include electronically* (fastest option) or by mail (takes between 5-10 calendar days).  Be sure to request your tax return transcript rather than a tax account transcript.
• You can contact the IRS’ automated phone transcript service by calling 1-800-908-9946. This method may require you to follow prompts and enter the social security number, date of birth, street address, and zip code of the tax filer. Delivery option will be by mail.
• A paper form (IRS Form 4506-T) can be completed to request a tax return transcript via the mail (takes between 5-10 calendar days). Delivery option will be by mail.

*Requesting the electronic delivery option requires you have (1) access to a valid email address, (2) a text-enabled mobile phone in the user’s name (pay-as-you-go plans cannot be used), and (3) specific financial account numbers (i.e., a credit card number or an account number for a home mortgage or auto loan).

Your Tax Return is what you submitted to the IRS, whereas your Tax Return Transcript is created by the IRS and is a record of your tax filing. Your Tax Return Transcript is normally required for the verification process and can only be obtained from the IRS.

In lieu of the Tax Return Transcript, you can submit a copy of your federal tax return that is signed by either you or a tax preparer.  You will also need to include copies of Schedules 1, 2, and 3 if required at the time you filed your taxes.

If you filed an amended return (IRS Form 1040X), please also submit a signed copy of your Form 1040X in addition to your IRS Tax Return Transcript.  Further information can be found on the IRS Transcript FAQ page.

• Dependent students who did not file taxes, and were not required to file taxes, must provide a Form W-2 for all sources of income. See the next FAQ below if you can’t find your W-2(s).
• Independent students (and spouse, if applicable) who did not file taxes, and were not required to file taxes, must provide a Form W-2 for all sources of income. See the next FAQ below if you can’t find your W-2(s).  Additionally you must provide a copy of the Verification of Nonfiling from the IRS.  (See the fourth bullet point in this FAQ.)
• Parents of dependent students who did not file taxes, and were not required to file taxes, must provide a copy of the Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS.
• To request a Verification of Nonfiling from the IRS, you either need to request online or by submitting an IRS Form 4506-T.
  • Online: Go to www.IRS.gov. Under Tools, click on the “Get your tax record” link and follow the instructions, making sure to request your “Verification of Nonfiling”.  Requesting online requires you have (1) access to a valid email address, (2) a text-enabled mobile phone in the user’s name (pay-as-you-go plans cannot be used), and (3) specific financial account numbers (i.e., a credit card number or an account number for a home mortgage or auto loan).  This information is required to confirm your identity?
  • IRS Form 4506-T: Be sure to complete the top section, check Box 7 for Verification of Nonfiling, note the requested year in Box 9, sign and date the form, and either fax it or mail it to the appropriate location on Page 2, based upon the state you lived in when you filed taxes.

First contact your employer(s) to obtain a copy.

If the employer(s) cannot provide a copy, you can obtain a copy from the IRS either online or by submitting an IRS Form 4506-T.

• Online: Go to www.IRS.gov. Under Tools, click on the “Get your tax record” link and following the instructions, making sure to request your “Form W-2”.  Requesting online requires you have (1) access to a valid email address, (2) a text-enabled mobile phone in the user’s name (pay-as-you-go plans cannot be used), and (3) specific financial account numbers (i.e., a credit card number or an account number for a home mortgage or auto loan).  This information is required to confirm your identity?
• IRS Form 4506-T: Be sure to complete the top section, check Box 8 for W-2 request, note the requested year in Box 9, sign and date the form, and either fax it or mail it to the appropriate location on Page 2 based, upon the state you lived in when you filed taxes.

Because each FAFSA is open for a total of 21 months, federal regulations require the form use prior-prior year taxes because taxes for the prior tax year may not be filed yet at the time of FAFSA submission.

Spouse: Per Federal Regulations, the FAFSA requires you to list your marital status as of the date you sign and submit your FAFSA.  In addition, federal regulations require you to include spousal income information if you are married as of the date you sign and submit the FAFSA, regardless of whether or not you were married in the tax year used for FAFSA.

Parent/Step-parent: As a dependent student, the FAFSA requires you list the parental information of the parent you lived with more during the 12 months preceding the date you filed the FAFSA*.  If that parent is remarried as of the date you filed the FAFSA, you must include your step-parent’s information, even if they were not married to your parent in the tax year used for FAFSA.

*If you lived with both parents equally, you will include the parent’s (and step- parent’s) information from whom you received more financial support in the past 12 months preceding the date you filed the FAFSA.

In order to receive some types of aid, most financial aid programs (including Federal Direct Loans) require that verification documents must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the last day of the term or your last day of attendance for that term, whichever is earlier. 

For a Federal Pell Grant, verification documents must be submitted within 120 days after the last day of enrollment for the respective aid year, or by the date published annually by the U.S. Department of Education, whichever is earlier.

Simply put, we strongly encourage you to submit your documents without delay!

See the Verification Materials section of this page for methods to submit your verification documents and materials.  Include any Tax Return Transcripts or Forms W-2 that you have requested/received from the IRS, through any delivery method listed.

Generally, the verification process takes 2-3 weeks once you submit all the requested documents and materials, depending on peak processing times. Incomplete files cannot be verified, so the verification process will not begin until all required items have been received and are fully completed.

Each specific verification document will be reviewed by our staff upon submission. If a document is received incomplete, the status flag will change from “Requested” to “Incomplete”, and it will remain on WyoRecords as an outstanding requirement.

Once our office receives all requested and completed documentation, the verification status flag in WyoRecords will be changed from “Requested” to “In Review”.  The status flag will change to “Complete” once the verification process is finalized by our staff. 

Students will be notified via email after verification is finalized with a message to review your WyoRecords account for adjustments or additions to your financial aid awards.