Verification Process

What is Verification?

Verification is the confirmation of the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects students for verification. NCCC may select others if we find conflicting information. It is important information requested is submitted for processing.  If not submitted, federal eligibility will be deemed ineligible.  

What Information is Needed?

The Financial Aid Office will notify you, in writing and email, if you are selected and will inform and provide you of the documents needed.  Requested information will include:

  • Verification Worksheets
  • IRS Data Retrieval Tool (on the FAFSA) (recommended) or
  • Tax return transcripts or a SIGNED completed/processed with the IRS Federal Tax Return
  • W-2 forms
  • Verification of untaxed income
  • Other information as requested

When completing or correcting the income sections of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the applicant (and parent of a dependent student) should always use the FAFSA 2021 - 2022 IRS DRT - YouTube. This is the FASTEST and most ACCURATE way to complete the verification process.

If you are unable to use the data retrieval process or you decide not to use the IRS data retrieval process, you (and your parents) will be required to submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript.

Requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript

Important!  Please request a TAX RETURN (not account) TRANSCRIPT.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript 

Telephone

Contact the IRS at (800) 908-9946.  A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days.  Please note: This cannot be sent directly to North Country Community College from the IRS.  Once received, please submit to the Financial Aid Office.

Mail

Complete IRS FORM 4506T at www.irs.gov or go to https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.  A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days.  Transcripts ordered using this method can be mailed directly to The Financial Aid Office only if the tax filer requests this on line five of the paper form.

If an IRS tax return will not and is not required to be filed

The filer must attest on the Verification Worksheet that an IRS tax form has not and will not be filed and that an IRS tax form is not required to be filed. If the non-filer worked in that tax year, all sources and amounts of earned income must be reported on the Verification Worksheet and copies of all W-2 forms from all employers must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

What Happens Next?

  • Students selected for verification will not be awarded financial aid until the Financial Aid Office has received all requested documentation and the verification process has been completed.
  • The Financial Aid Office will verify the information on your FAFSA application with the submitted documents to ensure that all the information is correct and consistent. If the Financial Aid Office makes any corrections to your FAFSA, the corrected information will be sent back to the federal processor to be revised. You will receive notification of the changes by the federal processor.
  • Once reviewed and verified, an award offer will be email to the student.

Recommended Dates

Since aid cannot be finalized until the verification process has been completed, we recommend that you submit all requested documents as soon as possible. In order to receive a timely award, you are strongly encouraged to submit all requested documentation by the following dates:

  • Fall Semester: August 1
  • Spring Semester: December 1

Loan Certifications

Verification must be completed before a federal student loan can be certified. The last day a loan can be certified is the last day of the term or last date of enrollment, whichever is earlier.