Verification

Length of Verification

Verification may take up to four weeks after all required documentation is received by the office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (FAS). The verification process cannot be completed until FAS receives all required documentation. A student will not be awarded financial aid until all required information is received and processed by KU FAS, completing the financial aid file.

Selection

​If a student is selected for verification, they will be sent a notification to their registered KU email account. The student may also check the items on their “To Do List’ in Enroll and Pay.

Acceptable Documentation

Discrepancies

• If information from documents submitted conflicts with a student’s FAFSA, FAS may require additional information to resolve the discrepancy.
• FAS will contact the student via email to request additional information when applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is acceptable Income and Tax Information?

• Use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
• A signed copy of the federal IRS tax return or IRS tax return transcript.
• Confirmation of non-filing from the IRS (if parent or independent student and non-tax filer) and copies of W-2s (if any work income)

How do I request a copy of my Federal Tax Return Transcript?

A student may Federal Tax Return Transcript at www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

What if I didn’t file an Income Tax Return?

If the student, student’s spouse and/or parent are required by the IRS to file an income tax return. A signed copy of the return must be submitted. Contact the IRS at www.irs.gov or 800-829-1040 regarding filing status. Students at the University of Kansas may visit Legal Services for Students at 2030 Burge Union for tax assistance.

If an independent student, spouse or parent indicate they did not file a tax return, they are required to submit the following:

1. A signed statement certifying that the individual has not filed and is not required to file an income tax return and has attempted to retrieve the Verification of Non Filing (VONF) from the IRS website (www.irs.gov) and was unsuccessful.

AND

2. A copy of IRS Form W-2 for each source of employment income received (or if W-2s were not received, a signed statement indicating the source of the income earned from work and the amount of income from each source).

What if I didn’t earn any income during the previous year?

• If the student, student’s spouse, and/or parent indicate that they did not earn any income in the previous year, they are required to submit a signed statement certifying that the individual has not filed and is not required to file an income tax return and has attempted to retrieve the Verification of Non Filing (VONF) from the IRS website (www.irs.gov) and was unsuccessful (parents and independent students only).

Possible Additional Required Documents (Depending on Type of Verification)

• Some students may be required to submit a notarized “Documentation of Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose” form.  If the student is selected for this type of verification, the form will be presented to them at https://ku.verifymyfafsa.com.  The student will need to submit the form (along with a copy of a valid, government-issued photo ID) to FAS at the KU Visitor Center.