How to proceed if you have been selected for verification randomly by the federal processor
Document submission
For your personal security and to meet federal regulations, all documents must be submitted using our online E-forms, in person or by mail or fax. Documents cannot be submitted by email.
E-Forms
Most forms related to Verification of FAFSA data are available in an electronic format. E-Forms are easy to complete and can even be completed on mobile devices. If you prefer to use the paper version, those are still available by contacting A$KFA$.
Verification requirements
If your FAFSA application is selected for Verification, make sure you understand what documents and whose information you need to submit. Log in to MySPC to see if there are any documents that you need to submit. Documents you need to submit will show as "initiated" or "returned." Documents you do not need to submit will show as "waived." Not all applicants will be asked to submit the same documents.
NOTE: Being selected for Verification does not mean you did anything wrong when completing the FAFSA.
The Department of Education has regulations to ensure that only eligible students receive financial aid. Verification is the process used to confirm the data you provided on the FAFSA. It is to your benefit to submit all requested items as quickly as possible since your financial aid file cannot be reviewed or completed until verification is complete. If there are any differences found between information reported on the FAFSA and the actual figures provided in the verification documents, SPC will submit the corrections on your behalf. Your financial aid award will be based on the corrected information.
Your financial aid file may have been selected for verification randomly by the federal processor, or because your file appears to have errors or conflicting information.
If you are a dependent student and both biological and/or adoptive parents reside in the same household, you will need to provide both parents' information regardless of their marital status or gender.
If you are an independent student and your marital status on the date the FAFSA was completed was "married," you will need to provide your spouse's information regardless of gender.
A student/parent is considered "married" if the student/parent was legally married in any domestic or foreign jurisdiction that recognizes that relationship as a legal marriage, regardless of where the couple resides. This determination applies to same sex or opposite sex couples. This determination does not apply to domestic partnership, civil unions, or similar formal relationships recognized under state law.
Tips for Verification
To expedite the processing of your financial aid file if it is selected for verification:
- Start early and check the accuracy of your answers against the documents you used to complete any form.
- Submit all requested verification documents in a timely manner. Ample processing time is needed to ensure adherence to federal regulations. The longer you wait to submit required documentation, the longer verification will take.
- Your file will not be complete until all requested documents are received and processed.
What documents do I need to submit?
If your financial aid file has been selected for Verification, SPC will send a written request for documentation by mail and by your MySPC student email. In addition, log in to TitanHub, go to MySPC and review your MySPC To Do List for a list any required documents. Not all applicants will be asked to submit the same documents. You may be asked to provide different documents than you have submitted in previous years. Some students may not be selected for verification for several years, while others may be selected during their first year.
Requested documents vary. Any contributor unable to successfully use the FAFSA Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX) to transfer their tax information onto the FAFSA may be required to provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript or equivalent document (such as a signed 1040 tax return and all application Schedules for the required year).
You may no longer submit copies of tax returns (IRS 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ).
If you filed an income tax return with Puerto Rico, another U.S. territory, commonwealth, or with a foreign central government, you must provide a transcript that was obtained at no cost from the relevant taxing authority. If this cannot be obtained at no cost, then provide a signed copy of that tax return.
How do I submit the requested documents?
Log in to TitanHub, go to MySPC and review your MySPC To Do List for links to any required documents, which will automatically be delivered to SPC when you select "Submit."
You may request fillable PDF versions of our Verification forms by contacting ASKFAS, calling 727-791-2485 or speaking with an FA Counselor. For documents that you must submit in paper format, be sure to include your full name and SPC ID written clearly at the top of each page. Do not submit original documents unless you are told to do so. Make copies of what you submit.
For your personal security and to meet federal regulations, we cannot accept student Verification documents by email. Documents submitted by email will be returned to you.
Financial aid awards
Your file will not be complete until all requested documents are received and processed by Financial Assistance Services. The verification process may delay the awarding of financial assistance if corrections need to be submitted to the federal processor.
Verification questions?
We are here to help with any questions. Contact us by going to ASKFA$ and choose from our virtual assistant, PETE; Online, Virtual; On Campus by By Phone.
If your financial aid file is selected for verification, your financial aid package will not be awarded until ALL outstanding issues are resolved. If a signature is required, documents are not considered complete unless they are signed. Please note requirements vary for each academic year. Not all applicants will be asked to submit the same documents. You may be asked to provide different documents than you have submitted in previous years. Some students may not be selected for verification for several yar, while others may be selected during their first year.
Verification documents for fall 2024, spring 2025 and summer 2025
If you are an INDEPENDENT student, you may be required to provide:
- A completed and signed 2024-25 Verification Worksheet
- A copy of your and your spouse's 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript (no signature required) OR a copy of your and your spouse’s 1040 with all schedules (signed)
- In some instances, IRS Wage & Income Transcripts and/or W-2's may be required
- Other documents as required by the federal processor in order to determine financial aid eligibility
If you are a DEPENDENT student, you may be required to provide:
- A completed and signed (by the student and parent) 2024-25 Verification Worksheet
- A copy of your 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript (no signature required) OR a copy of your 1040 with all schedules (signed)
- A copy of your parent(s) 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript (no signature required) OR a copy of your parents’ 1040 with all schedules (signature required)
- In some instances, IRS Wage & Income Transcripts and/or W-2's may be required
- Other documents as required by the federal processor in order to determine financial aid eligibility
If you are an INDEPENDENT student and you and/or your spouse DID NOT FILE, you and they may be required to provide:
- A 2022 Verification of Non-Filing
- Documentation of sources of income for the 2022 year
- If the FA-DDX indicates "No Return on File," but manually entered income indicates that the student or spouse would have been required to file taxes, the individual will be required to file taxes for the applicable year before further financial aid file processing continues AND must provide SPC with a copy of their 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript OR 1040 with all Schedules (signed).
- Other documents as required by the federal processor in order to determine financial aid eligibility
If you are a DEPENDENT student, and your parent(s) DID NOT FILE, the parent(s) will be required to provide:
- A 2022 Verification of Non-Filing
- Documentation of sources of income for the 2022 year
- If the FA-DDX indicates "No Return on File," but manually entered income indicates that the student/parent/stepparent would have been required to file taxes, the individual will be required to file taxes for the applicable year before further financial aid file processing continues AND must provide SPC with a copy of their 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript OR 1040 with all Schedules (signed).
- Other documents as required by the federal processor in order to determine financial aid eligibility
Tax Return Transcript, Record of Account Transcripts and Wage & Income Transcripts
- Request a Tax Return Transcript or Record of Account Transcript
- Online - www.IRS.gov - select "Get Your Tax Record" and sign in/create an account
- Mail - www.IRS.gov - select “Get Your Tax Record" and scroll down to "Get transcript by mail"
Amended tax returns
If selected for verification and you, your spouse, or your parent(s) filed an amended tax return (1040X), you may need to provide:
- A copy of the 2022 Tax Return Transcript or equivalent
- A signed copy of the 2022 IRS Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Identity Theft
A victim of IRS identity theft who is not able to obtain a 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) must sign and submit the following documents to complete verification:
- A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript obtained from the IRS AND
- A statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicated that they were victims of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft
Tax filers who are denied an IRS Tax Return Transcript using one of the regular IRS request processes due to IRS identity theft must call the Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 800-908-4490.
SPC reserves the right to request additional documents. Check your MySPC To Do List.
Other Verification Documents
Other documents might be needed before financial aid eligibility can be determined. You might be requested to provide one or more of the following:
- A copy of your Marriage Certificate
- Asset information
- Documentation of dependents
- Clarification of income sources
For Citizenship or Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose documentation, the student must appear in person and allow the school to review the original document. Electronic submission is not allowed for these documents and cannot be accepted. SPC will make a copy for your financial aid file. if you are unable to appear in person, you complete and mail the Citizenship/Immigration Documentation Affidavit and/or the Identity and Education Purpose Affidavit along with required documentation to SPC. Please ensure that all directions are followed as this is required by the U.S. Department of Education since both are identity documents.
