Verification of Federal Application Data

Verification is a quality assurance process used to ensure that the information on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. If you are selected for verification, the Financial Aid Office at Maria College is required to collect and review additional documents before your financial aid eligibility can be determined.

The US Department of Education has changed the verification process for the 2012 – 2013 academic year. Following are instructions and/or documents that may be needed to complete the verification process if you are selected:

  • If your application is selected for verification and it shows that you used the IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL and did not change any of the transferred data, you will be required to submit the following documents, if applicable:
  1. 2012-2013 Verification Worksheet
  2. 2011 W-2 Form(s) for all tax filers
  3. Documentation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) benefits
  4. Documentation of child support paid


  • If you do not or cannot use the IRS DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL when completing or correcting your FAFSA or you change the data transferred from the IRS and you are selected for verification, you will be required to submit the following documents, if applicable:
  1. 2012-2013 Verification Worksheet
  2. 2011 IRS tax return transcript for all tax filers *
  3. 2011 W-2 Form(s) for all tax filers
  4. Documentation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) benefits
  5. Documentation of child support paid

* To obtain an IRS tax transcript, you will need your Social Security Number, date of birth and the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when your 2011 federal tax return was filed). You can:

  • Go to www.irs.gov and click on “order a Return or Account Transcript” link – be sure to request the IRS tax return transcript
  • Call 1-800-908-9946 and request a 2011 IRS tax return transcript
  • You can also obtain a W-2 transcript from the IRS