When verification is required for an application, that application is said to have been “selected” for verification. Verification is the process used to check the accuracy of the information provided by the student applicant and family when applying for Federal Student Aid. Not all financial aid recipients will be selected for verification.
Applications for verification may be selected by one of the following methods:
- An applicant selected by the FAFSA Processor
- An applicant who UNC Asheville has reason to believe contains inaccurate information.
The verification procedures are governed by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and Subpart E of 34 CFR Part 668 “Verification of Student Aid Applicant Information Regulations,” published in Federal Register on April 29, 1994 and November 29, 1994.
Why is my file being verified?
- You did not use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA.
- You used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool but changed some of the data on the FAFSA.
- You were selected randomly by the Federal Government.
- The submitted FAFSA application has estimated, incomplete, or contradictory data.
How do I complete the verification process?
At UNC Asheville, our Office of Admissions & Financial Aid has partnered with the School Servicing Center to streamline and expedite the verification process for our students.
Who is the School Servicing Center?
The School Servicing Center is a partnership between the College Foundation, Inc (CFI) and Financial Aid Services, INC (FAS) to offer remote processing to institutions for the standard verification of the FAFSA.
If your FAFSA record is selected for verification, we will transmit your information electronically to the School Servicing Center, they will process it and determine what information they need to confirm the information you submitted on your FAFSA. After they have received your documentation, you will be able to log onto their website at sscwp.org and view what information they need and submit it electronically.
I need to submit Income tax documentation to the School Servicing Center. How do I do that?
There are two ways to get the School Servicing Center the tax documentation they need to complete verification.
- Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to update your and/or your parent or spouse income information; (OR)
- You and/or your parents or spouse may request a “Tax Return Transcript” from the IRS to submit to the School Servicing Center to verify your income information.
How to Obtain a Tax Transcript from the IRS
Do not have transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid. They must be submitted to the School Servicing Center to be processed.
There are a number of ways to obtain a copy of your Federal Tax Transcript from the IRS, but there are significant delays involved so please plan ahead:
Online Request
- Go to irs.gov.
- On the main page under Tools, Click “Get a Transcript of Your Tax Records”
- Select whether or not you would like to submit the request for information online or by mail.
- Provide the tax filer’s SSN, DOB, Street Address, and Zip Code (these must exactly match the data provided on your tax return).
- Click “Continue”.
- In the “Type of Transcript” field, select “Return Transcript” and appropriate year requested in the “Tax Year” field. – If successfully linked, tax filers can expect a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript to be mailed to the specified address within 5-10 days. Once received it must be signed and sent to the School Servicing Center.
IRS Telephone Request
- Automated attendant – 1.800.908.9946
- Live person (not recommended – long hold times) – 1.800.829.1040
Paper Request
- IRS Form 4506T – must be used if you moved since filing your taxes
Verification Forms
If the statement of educational purpose requirement appears on your OnePort account, print this form and either sign it in front of a notary or in front of a Financial Aid Counselor. You must have your drivers license with you at the time of signing: