Verification

• What tax year will be verified:

  You may be asked to provide tax documents to verify your FAFSA for the following tax years:

  • 2022-23 FAFSA: We will verify 2020 tax year information
  • 2023-24 FAFSA: We will verify 2021 tax year information
• If you filed an amended return:

  Submit ALL of the following:

  1. A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X, "Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return," that was filed with the IRS; AND
  2. IF you did not use IRS Data Retrieval when you filed your FAFSA or made changes to the information, you must submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript, a Record of Account Transcript, or a Return Transcript for Taxpayer (RTFTP) or a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040 and the applicable schedules that were filed with the IRS.

  If you did not file an amended return, but answered this question incorrectly on the FAFSA, you may correct your FAFSA or submit a signed, dated statement indicating you did not file an amended return.

• If you were a victim of identity theft:

  If you were a victim of identity theft and cannot obtain a tax transcript, submit BOTH of the following:

  1. A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript obtained from the IRS, or if unable to obtain a TRDBV, an equivalent document provided by the IRS or a copy of the signed income tax return and applicable schedules the individual filed with the IRS; AND
  2. A statement signed and dated by the tax filers indicating that they were victims of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.
• If you filed a foreign tax return:
  • A tax filer who filed an income tax return with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands may provide a signed copy of his or her income tax return that was filed with the relevant tax authority. However, if we question the accuracy of the information on the signed copy of the income tax return, the tax filer must provide us with a copy of the tax account information issued by the relevant tax authority before verification can be completed.
  • A tax filer who filed an income tax return with the tax authority for American Samoa must provide a copy of his or her tax account information.
  • A tax filer who filed an income tax return with tax authorities not mentioned above, i.e. a foreign tax authority, and who indicates that he or she is unable to obtain the tax account information free of charge, must provide documentation that the tax authority charges a fee to obtain that information, along with a signed copy of his or her income tax return that was filed with the relevant tax authority.
• If you were granted a filing extension:

  For verification of the 2023-24 FAFSA:

  • Submit a copy of IRS Form 4868, ''Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,'' that was filed with the IRS for tax year 2021; AND
  • Verification of Non-filing Letter (confirmation that the tax return has not yet been filed) from the IRS or other relevant tax authority dated on or after October 1, 2022; AND
  • A copy of W–2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2021 and, if self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and the U.S. income tax paid for tax year 2021.
• If you don't have a social security number:

  If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and therefore, you are unable to obtain a Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS, submit ALL of the following:

  1. A signed and dated statement certifying:

     • (a) that you do not have a SSN, an ITIN, or an EIN and

     • (b) that names each source and amount of earnings, other income, and resources that supported you during the tax year.

  2. If applicable, a copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of employment income received.

• Verification deadlines

  For the 2023-24 academic year, you are strongly encouraged to submit all requested documentation no later than May 30, 2023, in order to receive a timely award with all possible funding.

  The verification review process can range from two to six weeks. Submit copies of the requested documentation within 14 business days of the request.

  The last date to submit verification documents is 120 days after your last day of enrollment in the fall or winter semester. If you enroll in the spring-summer 2024 semester the last day to submit verification documents in order to have your documents processed, is 9/1/2024.

  Federal loan applicants: WSU requires verification to occur before confirming eligibility for student loans. A federal loan application cannot be originated for a period of enrollment that has already passed.

  Note: Failure to submit all requested documentation will result in the forfeiture of your financial aid eligibility.

• After verification is complete

  If the data reported on your FAFSA is verified, the financial aid office can confirm your eligibility for financial aid. 

  If we find differences between the data reported on your FAFSA and the information that you submitted to us, we may make corrections to your FAFSA. You can monitor your FAFSA verification status in Academica.

  We will send an email to your WSU account notifying you to review your document requests on Academica. All document requests must be completed before any financial aid can be disbursed to your account.

  Check your WSU email regularly for important correspondence.

  You will receive an email notifying you if your awards change through the verification process.

• How to avoid processing delays

  We strongly recommend that you submit all documents within 14 days of receiving the verification notice.

  The fastest way to submit documents is by using the electronic forms available in the Financial Aid Portal or on our website.

  You may mail documents to us at:

  Wayne State University
  Office of Student Financial Aid
  The Welcome Center
  P.O. Box 2340
  Detroit, MI 48202-0340
  
  You may also fax documents to our office at 313-577-6648. 

  Print your name and WSU ID on each page of the documents that you submit.