Federal Aid Verification
What is Verification?
Verification is a process to confirm that the information you or your parents provided on your FAFSA is accurate. The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects about 30% of FAFSAs to be verified. The PBSC Office of Financial Aid may also select your FAFSA for Verification to clarify potential discrepancies.
If you have been selected for Verification, the Office of Financial Aid will request documentation to verify the information provided on the FAFSA. Documentation needed to complete Verification may include a Verification Worksheet, Federal Tax Returns, and other forms that verify information on the FAFSA. Documentation needed for Verification may be different for each student.
Applicable for students attending Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025
All forms and documentation will be submitted through your Workday student
portal.
General documentation requirements are:
- 2024-2025 Verification worksheet
- 2022 Federal income tax information from those who did not or could not transfer their
Federal Tax Information (FTI) or for those whose information did not transfer properly.
The tax information can be provided via:
- Submitting a copy of your 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript, which can be ordered from the IRS website. | Watch tutorial
- Submitting a signed and dated copy of your 2022 income tax return (1040 form) with all appropriate schedules.
- Other forms of documentation (such as W2s) may be requested to resolve any conflicting information discovered during the federal verification process.
Applicable for students attending Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024
All forms and documentation will be submitted through your Workday student
portal.
General documentation requirements are:
- 2023-2024 Verification worksheet
- 2021 Federal income tax information which can be provided via:
- Transferring tax information directly to the FAFSA by using the IRS
Data Retrieval Tool. - Providing a copy of your 2021 IRS Tax Return Transcript which can
be ordered from the IRS website. | Watch tutorial - Providing a signed and dated copy of your 2021 income tax return
(1040 form) with all appropriate schedules
- Transferring tax information directly to the FAFSA by using the IRS
- For individuals who were not required to file taxes, a 2021 IRS non-filing
statement will be required for parent(s) and independent students which
can be ordered from the IRS website
The US Department of Education selects certain applicants to verify their identity and complete a Statement of Educational Purpose. These students are identified by being selected for V4 or V5 Verification.
If selected for V4 or V5 Verification, you must finalize the Identity Verification and Statement of Educational Purpose before a financial aid representative. You must provide a valid, unexpired, government-issued photo identification such as a passport or driver's license.
If you cannot present yourself to a financial aid representative, you may complete the Identity Verification and Statement of Education Purpose in the physical presence of a notary (online notaries are not allowed). Once the form is completed, you can mail the original form and a copy of the photo identification to the address below. Copies or scans of the form cannot be accepted.
Palm Beach State College
Office of Financial Aid
4200 Congress Avenue
MS#07
Lake Worth, FL 33461
For the 2023-2024 year, you (or your parents) may elect to make a correction to your processed FAFSA to link to the IRS instead of requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript. Individuals that choose this option should notify the FAO to ensure the correct FAFSA transaction is reviewed. To link to the IRS, log into studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid and "Make a correction to a processed FAFSA." Under the income sections for students and parents there are questions that enable the use of the IRS DRT.
Watch a video on how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
The IRS DRT will no longer be available starting with the 2024-2025 application.
The deadline to submit verification documents is dependent on the type of federal student aid you are eligible to receive. If the deadline is not met, you become ineligible for that aid program. This cannot be appealed and is a federal requirement. (Click here for federal verification deadlines)
