<p>Hi all,
I'm a mom of two college students and since 2005 I've completed the FAFSA 18 times (so many because I am a student as well). We just completed the FAFSA for the 18th time - this time for my daughter who is transferring to a local community college, and instead of an award letter, we got a letter from the school requesting 1040 tax forms and W-2's for us (the parents) and for my daughter. </p>
<p>I called to ask why we have to provide this since its all already on the FAFSA (which this year pulls the data directly from the IRS anyway), and I was told that the federal government requires colleges to do this as an audit to 20% of financial aid applicants. I have never heard of this before and have gone through this process at four different institutions. The person I spoke to was unable to direct me to anything/anyone authoritative who could verify this "requirement."</p>
<p>I'm just wondering if anyone of you has run into this before, or if you are involved with college admissions and have knowledge of it. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Hi Lynne,
I have done the FAFSA about 5 times…small number compared to you. Each time I have completed the FAFSA the schools have asked for our 1040 tax forms, W-2’s and other information pertaining to our taxes. I don’t know if it makes a difference but both of my D’s are attending private colleges.</p>
<p>I’ve done 8 FAFSAs and one was pulled for audit by a school that my daughter had listed as a recipient for information. As you were told, colleges are required to audit a percentage of the forms they receive. By the time Kings requested the tax forms, my daughter had decided to attend elsewhere, so we did not comply. Some other poor parent then probably had to take our place.</p>
<p>You aren’t being held hostage, just to accountability.</p>
<p>This is from Sallie Mae’s website (note the first reason for selection):</p>
<p>Student Financial Aid </p>
<p>FAFSA: Verification </p>
<p>Verification is a process to confirm information you provided on the FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education selects some FAFSAs for verification. Others are selected by schools due to discrepancies in their data. </p>
<p>These are the main reasons for being selected: </p>
<p>You were chosen randomly.
The FAFSA you submitted was incomplete.
Your FAFSA contains estimated information.
The data you provided on the FAFSA is inconsistent.
If you are selected for FAFSA verification, you must provide specific documentation. Not all students selected for verification have to submit the same documents. Save the records and materials that you used to complete the FAFSA. </p>
<p>Verification ensures that the information students and parents report is accurate. Verification prevents ineligible students from receiving aid by reporting false information and ensures that eligible students receive all of the aid for which they are qualified.</p>
<p>The sooner you verify your information, the sooner you’ll be able to receive financial aid if you’re eligible.</p>
<p>I’ve been verified once in the 6 FAFSAs I’ve filled out. But boy does it seem silly to verify a FAFSA that was generated by pulling from the tax form and then require a copy of the same tax form as verificiation. Duh??? W-2s yes but the actual form not so much.</p>
<p>We filled out the FAFSA and Profile for the first time this year. Tax forms (1040’s and W-2’s) were requested for DH and DS. We figured it was SOP and sent them without delay. I don’t know if this was random or because the school uses the Profile, but we figured it wasn’t in our best interest to quibble.</p>
<p>I think they are 2 different things - there are a percentage of applications (FAFSAs) that are randomly chosen for verification each year, and in addition (at least where I work) we have an annual audit of our Financial Aid area to make sure we are in compliance with federal regulations. It’s my understanding if you distribute federal aid you have to be audited annually.</p>
<p>We have had auditors here starting in June. Before they came I was required to provide a whole lot of data. I know they select a sample population and do further stuff. I work in IT (not Financial Aid) so don’t know everything involved, but do know it’s a big deal and we try very hard not be “out of compliance” (at least not intentionally). </p>
<p>The federal regulations are constantly changing, in fact, a whole bunch of new regulations went into effect July 1. We’re scrambling to figure out 1) what the new regulations mean; and 2) how on earth to comply with them.</p>
<p>We have automated processes to deal with so many aspects, and some of the regulations are so convoluted that we’re still figuring out how to even program something to consider what we think the new regulation is requiring.</p>
<p>18 times filling out the FAFSA and never been picked to send in info for verification? You seem like a lucky person…how are you with lottery tickets?</p>
<p>Yes, schools are required to do verification on 30% of FAFSAs submitted to them. Some verify just up to the 30%, some verify more (The CC my son attended verified 100%). We have been verified several times between 3 students at 2 schools. It is extremely surprising you have never been selected before. It is no big deal. Just provide the data they asked for. if you do not, you will not be able to get any financial aid.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks everybody for the informational responses. I guess I am extremely fortunate that I’ve never been audited before…maybe I will go buy a lottery ticket, but then again, maybe my luck has finally run out…</p>