What Is Verification?

Verification is the process of comparing the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application with documents provided by the student. 

The process is to verify the accuracy of the application information. The verification policies are used in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education verification guidelines.

  • The policy ensures that the information provided by the applicant is correct before any funds are awarded to the student.
  • All applications selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education will be verified. Others may be selected by the university's Financial Aid Office if inconsistent data information exists.
  • In accordance with federal guidelines, the university's financial aid policy is to withhold the awarding of federal student financial aid until the verification process is completed.

If you have been selected for verification, the student and/or parent will be required to submit requested documents. An e-mail will be sent to your Embry-Riddle e-mail account. The documents needed will be on your “To-Do” list in your “Student Center.” If documents were received but incomplete or illegible you will need to resubmit the requested document to the Prescott Financial Aid Office. You will be able to review the status on your “To-Do List” items by logging into your Student Center.

Please note: Verification processing time may take up to 4-6 weeks from the date the last required document is received. There are peak periods when processing times could be longer.

  • An e-mail reminder is sent to the student's university e-mail account if additional documents are requested.
  • The To-Do List in Student Center in your ERNIE will also list the additional documents requested.
  • The requested verification documents must be received within 45 days of the first notification that documents are needed. You will be sent three notifications.
  • The Financial Aid Office must receive all verification documents no later than 30 days before the last day of enrollment or the end of the school year, whichever is earlier.
Applicants and Students can review their financial aid To-Do List online:
  • Log on to ERNIE.
  • Click the “Student Services” tab at the top of the page.
  • Under Financial Aid, select "Visit the Financial Aid" page.
  • Visit the "Campus Solutions Student Center."
  • Review the items listed in your “To-Do List” section of the page.
  • Click the “Detail” hyperlink for detailed information on the item.
  • Review your items in your “To-Do Item Detail.”
  • Submit required items as stated in “To-Do Item Detail.” Prompt submission is strongly advised.

Financial aid will not be awarded until all requested documents are submitted and reviewed. If there are any discrepancies between your information provided on your FAFSA application and your submitted verification documents, the Financial Aid office may request additional documents to resolve the discrepancies. If additional documents are needed to complete verification, an email will be sent to your Embry-Riddle e-mail account.

Corrections made by the University: If the verification process results in corrections to any items on the FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office will submit those changes electronically to the Department of Education. The student will be notified by the FAFSA Central Processor of the changes through e-mail. The Financial Aid Office will also notify you by e-mail if corrections are needed.

Corrections made by the student: Students are not encouraged to make changes to their FAFSA after they submit their applications. However, in the event that the student must make changes or additions online:

Notifications: In addition to your results of your FAFSA (your Student Aid Report) from the Federal Student Aid Programs, ERAU will send an email to your ERAU ERNIE email account.

E-mail is an official means of communication for students at Embry-Riddle. All official university e-mail will be sent to each student’s assigned university e-mail address. Students are responsible for reading e-mails received from the university.

If you or your parent(s) indicated on the FAFSA that you hadn’t yet filed a tax return but planned to, the FAFSA will have asked you to provide estimated tax information. Here’s what you need to do in order to correct the estimated information:

  • Log in at www.fafsa.gov.
  • Click on “Make FAFSA Corrections.”
  • Change tax filing status from “Will File” to “Already Completed.”
  • Follow the FAFSA’s guidance to determine whether you’re eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import tax information from the federal tax return automatically.
  • If you aren’t eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you must manually enter your tax information to reflect the filed tax return.
  • Follow the FAFSA’s guidance to submit the corrections.

Remember, the sooner you provide correct information on your FAFSA, the sooner you’ll receive a final, accurate aid offer from the financial aid office you listed on the FAFSA.

Get more information about providing financial information on your FAFSA and about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Online Request for Mailed Transcript

  1. Go to the IRS Get Transcript website.
  2. Click on “Get Transcript by Mail."
  3. Enter the tax filer’s Social Security Number or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN), date of birth, street address, and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS.
  4. Click “Continue."
  5. Under "Select Transcript Type," choose “Return Transcript” and the appropriate tax year (i.e., 2020 for the 22-23 academic year).
  6. If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request within 5 to 10 days from the time the online request was successfully transmitted to the IRS.
  7. IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Telephone Request for Mailed Transcript

  1. Call the IRS at 1-800-908-9946.
  2. Tax filers will follow the prompts and enter their Social Security Number or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN) and the numbers in their street address. Generally, this will be numbers of the street address that was listed on the last tax return filed.
  3. Select “Option 2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript and then enter the appropriate tax year (i.e., 2020 for the 22-23 academic year).
  4. If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request within 5 to 10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
  5. IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.

Online Immediate Access to IRS Tax Return Transcripts

To access IRS records online, users must create an IRS Online Account and verify their identity. Users must have a Social Security Number, acceptable photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport or passport card), and a smartphone or computer with a webcam.

  1. Go to the IRS Get Transcript website.
  2. Click on the “Get Transcript Online" button.
  3. If a new user, create a new account with ID.me:
    • Enter your email address and create a password.
    • Confirm your email address.
    • Secure your account — choose an MFA option (multi-factor authentication, such as text message or phone call).
    • Verify selected MFA option.
    • Take front and back picture of your photo ID.
    • Take a selfie.
    • Enter your Social Security Number.
    • Confirm your personal information is correct.
  4. If a returning user, sign in using an existing account with ID.me or an existing IRS username.
  5. Select a reason you need a transcript (i.e., Higher Education/Student Aid).
  6. Enter your ERAU student ID number in the "Customer File Number" field. Then, click "Go."
  7. In the "Return Transcript" box, select the appropriate tax year (i.e., 2020 for the 22-23 academic year).
  8. When the Tax Return Transcript displays, print a copy and save the file. Remember to change the file type to PDF when saving.

Options via the IRS2Go App

  1. Apple App Store
  2. Google Play Store

How to Request a Verification of Non-Filing Letter (VONF) – Independent Students and Parents

  1. Instantly retrieve a VONF by visiting the IRS Get Your Tax Record website and clicking the "Get Transcript Online" button:
    • The online tool requires the user to create an IRS Online Account before accessing their tax records.
    • If the individual is unable to create an IRS Online Account or retrieve their VONF, use option 2.
  2. Submit the IRS Form 4506-T to the IRS:
    • Print Form 4506-T from the IRS website and fill in the necessary information on lines 1-4.
    • To assist with identification, list the student’s ERAU ID number on line 5 (customer file number); however, this is not required.
    • Check box 7: "Verification of Non-Filing."
    • On line 9, enter 12/31/20 for the 22-23 academic year.
    • Then, sign and mail or fax it to the IRS. If faxing, be sure to get a fax confirmation to ensure successful transmission.
    • The VONF is mailed to the individual usually within 10 calendar days.

Exceptions

  1. Amended Return – If you filed an amended IRS tax return, you must provide:
    • A copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript and the IRS Tax Account Transcript, or
    • Your signed IRS 1040 Tax Return Form and IRS 1040X Form for the tax year requested

  2. Extension Filers – Students or Parent(s) who filed for an extension of the tax deadline must submit the following to our office:
    • IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
    • A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension if additional time is requested
    • Copies of all W-2s or, if self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of adjusted gross income (AGI) and U.S. income tax paid for the tax year requested.

    Note: You must provide documentation of actual tax filing (DRT, Transcript or Tax Return, as listed above) later in the year in order to verify tax return data.


  3. Foreign Returns – Parent(s) who filed taxes in Puerto Rico or another foreign country should submit a signed copy of their tax return converted to U.S. dollars to our office. Note: Federal, State and Institutional financial aid amounts are subject to change pending review of final tax return.