Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2016-2017 Award Year, 36783-36788 [2015-15782]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices
meeting the goals and objectives of the
project; whether the grantee has
expended funds in a manner that is
consistent with its approved application
and budget; and, if the Secretary has
established performance measurement
requirements, the performance targets in
the grantee’s approved application. In
making a continuation grant, the
Secretary also considers whether the
grantee is operating in compliance with
the assurances in its approved
application, including those applicable
to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit
discrimination in programs or activities
receiving Federal financial assistance
from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shedita Alston, U.S. Department of
Education, Model Comprehensive and
Transition Programs for Students with
Intellectual Disabilities, 1990 K Street
NW., Room 6131, Washington, DC
20006–8524. Telephone: (202) 502–
7808, or by email: shedita.alston@
ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request to the program contact person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary
of Education has delegated authority to
Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under
Secretary, to perform the functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Postsecondary Education.
Dated: June 23, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–15781 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be
Verified for the 2016–2017 Award Year
Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Notice.
[CFDA Numbers: 84.007, 84.033, 84.038,
84.063, and 84.268.]
For each award year, the
Secretary publishes in the Federal
Register a notice announcing the
FAFSA information that an institution
and an applicant may be required to
verify, as well as the acceptable
documentation for verifying FAFSA
SUMMARY:
36783
information. This is the notice for the
2016–2017 award year.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jacquelyn C. Butler, U.S. Department of
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room
8053, Washington, DC 20006.
Telephone: (202) 502–7890.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain this document in an accessible
format (e.g., braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc) on request
to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
The
Secretary will include on the applicant’s
Institutional Student Information
Record (ISIR) flags that will indicate
that the applicant has been selected by
the Secretary for verification and the
Verification Tracking Group that the
applicant has been placed in, which in
turn indicates which FAFSA
information needs to be verified for that
applicant and, if appropriate, the
applicant’s parent(s) or spouse. The
Student Aid Report (SAR) provided to
the applicant will indicate that the
applicant’s FAFSA information has
been selected for verification and direct
the applicant to the institution for
further instructions for completing the
verification process.
The following chart lists, for the
2016–2017 award year, the FAFSA
information that an institution and an
applicant and, if appropriate, the
applicant’s parent(s) or spouse, may be
required to verify under 34 CFR 668.56.
The chart also lists the acceptable
documentation that must be provided
under § 668.57 to an institution for that
information to be verified.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Acceptable documentation
Income information for tax filers ...............................................................
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid.
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions.
d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions.
e. IRA Deductions and Payments.
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income.
g. Education Credits.
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FAFSA information
For income information listed under items a through g for tax filers—
(1) Tax year 2015 information that the Secretary has identified as
having been obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool 1 and that has not been
changed after the information was obtained from the IRS;
(2) A transcript 1 obtained from the IRS that lists tax account information of the tax filer for tax year 2015; or
(3) A transcript 1 that was obtained at no cost from the relevant
taxing authority of a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the
U.S. Virgin Islands) or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the
Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign central government that
lists tax account information of the tax filer for tax year 2015.
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FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
h. Other Untaxed Income ..................................................................
Income information for tax filers with special circumstances ...................
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid.
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions.
d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions.
e. IRA Deductions and Payments.
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income.
g. Education Credits.
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h. Other Untaxed Income ..................................................................
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For tax filers required to verify other untaxed income—
(1) A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a
dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents that lists
sources of other untaxed income as provided under section
480(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA),
and the amount of income from each source for tax year 2015;
and
(2) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2015 or an equivalent document.2
(1) For a student or the parent(s) of a dependent student who filed a
2015 joint income tax return and whose income is used in the calculation of the applicant’s expected family contribution and who at
the time the FAFSA was completed was separated, divorced, widowed, or married to someone other than the individual included on
the 2015 joint income tax return—
(a) A transcript 1 obtained from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority that lists tax account information of the tax filer(s) for tax
year 2015; and
(b) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2015 or an equivalent document.2
(2) For an individual who is required to file a 2015 IRS income tax return and has been granted a filing extension by the IRS—
(a) A copy of IRS Form 4868, ‘‘Application for Automatic Extension
of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,’’ that the individual filed with the IRS for tax year 2015;
(b) If applicable, a copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension if the individual requested an additional extension of the filing time for tax year
2015;
(c) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2015 or an equivalent document; 2
and
(d) If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of
AGI and U.S. income tax paid for tax year 2015.
Note: An institution may require that, after the income tax return is
filed, an individual granted a filing extension submit tax information
using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool 1 or by obtaining a transcript 1 from
the IRS that lists tax account information for tax year 2015. When an
institution receives such information, it must be used to reverify the
FAFSA information included on the transcript.1
(3) For an individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity
theft—
(a) A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript obtained
from the IRS; and
(b) A statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that he
or she was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the
IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.
Note: Tax filers may inform the IRS of the tax-related identity theft and
obtain a TRDBV transcript by calling the IRS’s Identity Protection
Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 1–800–908–4490. Tax filers who cannot
obtain a TRDBV transcript may instead submit another official IRS
transcript or equivalent document provided by the IRS if it includes
all of the income and tax information required to be verified. Unless
the institution has reason to suspect the authenticity of the TRDBV
transcript or an equivalent document provided by the IRS, a signature or stamp or any other validation from the IRS is not needed.
(4) For tax filers with special circumstances who are required to verify
other untaxed income, a statement signed by the applicant and, if
the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents, that lists the sources of other untaxed income as provided
under section 480(b) of the HEA and the amount of income from
each source for tax year 2015.
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FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
Income information for nontax filers .........................................................
a. Income earned from work.
b. Other Untaxed Income.
For an individual who has not filed and, under IRS or other relevant
taxing authority rules (e.g., the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the
Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, a U.S. territory or commonwealth or a foreign central government), is not required to file a 2015 income tax return—
(1) A signed statement certifying—
(a) That the individual has not filed and is not required to file
an income tax return for tax year 2015;
(b) The sources of income earned from work and the amount
of income from each source for tax year 2015;
(c) For nontax filers required to verify other untaxed income,
the source of income as provided under section 480(b) of
the HEA and the amount of income from each source for
tax year 2015; and
(2) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of employment income received for tax year 2015 or an equivalent document.2
Note: If an institution has reason to believe that the signed statement
provided by the applicant regarding whether the applicant has not
filed and is not required to file a 2015 income tax return is inaccurate, the institution must request that the applicant obtain confirmation of non-filing from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority.
A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents that lists the name and
age of each household member and the relationship of that household member to the applicant.
Note: Verification of number of household members is not required if—
• For a dependent student, the household size indicated on the
ISIR is two and the parent is single, separated, divorced, or widowed, or the household size indicated on the ISIR is three if the
parents are married or unmarried and living together; or
• For an independent student, the household size indicated on the
ISIR is one and the applicant is single, separated, divorced, or
widowed, or the household size indicated on the ISIR is two if
the applicant is married.
(1) A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents listing the name
and age of each household member who is or will be attending an
eligible postsecondary educational institution as at least a half-time
student in the 2016–2017 award year in a program that leads to a
degree or certificate and the name of that educational institution.
(2) If an institution has reason to believe that the signed statement provided by the applicant regarding the number of household members
enrolled in eligible postsecondary institutions is inaccurate, the institution must obtain documentation from each institution named by the
applicant that the household member in question is, or will be, attending on at least a half-time basis unless—
(a) The applicant’s institution determines that such documentation
is not available because the household member in question has
not yet registered at the institution the household member plans
to attend; or
(b) The institution has documentation indicating that the household
member in question will be attending the same institution as the
applicant.
Note: Verification of the number of household members in college is
not required if the number in college indicated on the ISIR is ‘‘1.’’
(1) A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents affirming that
SNAP benefits were received by someone in the household during
the 2014 and/or 2015 calendar year.
(2) If an institution has reason to believe that the signed statement provided by the applicant regarding the receipt of SNAP benefits is inaccurate, the applicant must provide the institution with documentation
from the agency that issued the SNAP benefits.
Note: Verification of the receipt of SNAP benefits is not required if the
receipt of SNAP benefits is not indicated on the applicant’s ISIR.
(1) A statement signed by the applicant and, if the applicant is a dependent student, by one of the applicant’s parents, as appropriate,
certifying—
(a) The amount of child support paid;
(b) The name of the person who paid the child support;
(c) The name of the person to whom child support was paid; and
(d) The names and ages of the children for whom child support
was paid.
Number of Household Members ..............................................................
Number in College ....................................................................................
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ..............................
Child Support Paid ...................................................................................
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FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
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High School Completion Status ...............................................................
Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose ..............................................
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(2) If the institution has reason to believe that the information provided
in the signed statement is inaccurate, the institution must obtain documentation such as—
(a) A statement from the individual receiving the child support
showing the amount received; or
(b) Documentation that the child support payments were made
(e.g., copies of the child support checks, money order receipts,
or similar records of electronic payments having been made).
Note: Verification of child support paid is not required if child support
paid is not indicated on the applicant’s ISIR.
(1) High School Diploma
(a) A copy of the applicant’s high school diploma;
(b) A copy of the applicant’s final official high school transcript that
shows the date when the diploma was awarded; or
(c) A copy of the ‘‘secondary school leaving certificate’’ (or other
similar document) for students who completed secondary education in a foreign country and are unable to obtain a copy of
their high school diploma or transcript.
Note: Institutions that have the expertise may evaluate foreign secondary school credentials to determine their equivalence to U.S. high
school diplomas. Institutions may also use a foreign diploma evaluation service for this purpose.
(2) Recognized Equivalent of a High School Diploma
(a) General Educational Development (GED) Certificate or GED
transcript;
(b) A State certificate or transcript received by a student after the
student has passed a State-authorized examination (HiSET,
TASC, or other State-authorized examination) that the State recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma;
(c) An academic transcript that indicates the student successfully
completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full
credit toward a bachelor’s degree at any participating institution;
or
(d) For a person who is seeking enrollment in an educational program that leads to at least an associate degree or its equivalent
and who excelled academically in high school but did not finish,
documentation from the high school that the student excelled
academically and documentation from the postsecondary institution that the student has met its written policies for admitting
such students.
(3) Homeschool
(a) If the State where the student was homeschooled requires by
law that such students obtain a secondary school completion
credential for homeschool (other than a high school diploma or
its recognized equivalent), a copy of that credential; or
(b) If State law does not require the credential noted in 3a), a transcript or the equivalent signed by the student’s parent or guardian that lists the secondary school courses the student completed and documents the successful completion of a secondary
school education in a homeschool setting.
Note: In cases where documentation of an applicant’s completion of a
secondary school education is unavailable, e.g., the secondary
school is closed and information is not available from another
source, such as the local school district or a State Department of
Education, or in the case of homeschooling, the parent(s)/guardian(s) who provided the homeschooling is deceased, an institution
may accept alternative documentation to verify the applicant’s high
school completion status. An institution may not accept a student’s
self-certification nor the DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty as alternative documentation.
When documenting an applicant’s high school completion status, an institution may rely on documentation it has already collected for purposes other than the Title IV verification requirements if the documentation meets the criteria outlined above (e.g., high school transcripts maintained in the admissions office).
Verification of high school completion status is not required if the institution successfully verified and documented the applicant’s high
school completion status for a prior award year.
(1) An applicant must appear in person and present the following documentation to an institutionally authorized individual to verify the applicant’s identity—
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices
FAFSA information
36787
Acceptable documentation
(a) An unexpired valid government-issued photo identification such
as, but not limited to, a driver’s license, non-driver’s identification
card, other State-issued identification, or passport. The institution must maintain an annotated copy of the unexpired valid
government-issued photo identification that includes—
i. The date the identification was presented; and
ii. The name of the institutionally authorized individual who reviewed the identification; and
(b) A signed statement using the exact language as follows, except that the student’s identification number is optional if collected elsewhere on the same page as the statement:
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I llllllll (Print Student’s Name) am the individual signing this Statement of Educational Purpose and that the
Federal student financial assistance I may receive will only be used
for educational purposes and to pay the cost of attending
lllllllllllllfor 2016–2017.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Student’s Signature)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Date)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Student’s ID Number)
(2) If an institution determines that an applicant is unable to appear in
person to present an unexpired valid photo identification and execute
the Statement of Educational Purpose, the applicant must provide
the institution with—
(a) A copy of an unexpired valid government-issued photo identification such as, but not limited to, a driver’s license, non-driver’s identification card, other State-issued identification, or passport that is acknowledged in a notary statement or that is presented to a notary; and
(b) An original notarized statement signed by the applicant using
the exact language as follows, except that the student’s identification number is optional if collected elsewhere on the same
page as the statement:
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I llllllll(Print Student’s Name)
vidual signing this Statement of Educational Purpose
Federal student financial assistance I may receive will
for educational purposes and to pay the cost
llllllllllllllllllfor 2016–2017.
am the indiand that the
only be used
of attending
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(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Student’s Signature)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Date)
lllllllllllllllllll
(Student’s ID Number)
1 An institution may accept a copy of the original 2015 income tax return for tax filers who are—
(a) Consistent with guidance that the Secretary may provide following the period after the IRS processes 2015 income tax returns, unable to
use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or obtain a transcript from the IRS;
(b) Unable to obtain a transcript at no cost from the taxing authority of a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands) or
commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign central government that lists tax account information of the tax filer
for tax year 2015;
(c) Individuals who filed an amended tax return with the IRS. In addition to the copy of the original 2015 income tax return that was filed with
the IRS, the individual must submit the following documents to the institution:
1. A transcript obtained from the IRS that lists tax account information of the tax filer(s) for tax year 2015; and
2. A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that was filed with the IRS.
The copy of the 2015 income tax return must include the signature of the tax filer or one of the filers of a joint income tax return or the signed,
stamped, typed, or printed name and address of the preparer of the income tax return and the preparer’s Social Security Number, Employer
Identification Number, or Preparer Tax Identification Number.
For a tax filer who filed an income tax return other than an IRS form, such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, the institution must use the
income information (converted to U.S. dollars) from the lines of that form that correspond most closely to the income information reported on a
U.S. income tax return.
An individual who did not retain a copy of his or her 2015 tax account information and that information cannot be located by the IRS or other
relevant taxing authority, must submit to the institution—
(a) Copies of all IRS Form W–2s or an equivalent document;
(b) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority that indicates the individual’s 2015 tax account information cannot be located; and
(c) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain a copy of his or her 2015 tax account information.
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2 An individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W–2 or an equivalent document but did not maintain his or her copy should request a
duplicate from the employer who issued the original or from the government agency that issued the equivalent document. If the individual is unable to obtain a duplicate W–2 or an equivalent document in a timely manner, the institution may permit that individual to provide a signed statement, in accordance with 34 CFR 668.57(a)(6), that includes—
(a) The amount of income earned from work;
(b) The source of that income; and
(c) The reason why the IRS Form W–2 and an equivalent document is not available in a timely manner.
Other Sources for Detailed Information
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
We provide a more detailed
discussion on the verification process in
the following resources:
• 2016–2017 Application and
Verification Guide.
• 2016–2017 ISIR Guide.
• 2016–2017 SAR Comment Codes
and Text.
• 2016–2017 COD Technical
Reference.
• Program Integrity Information—
Questions and Answers on Verification
at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/
reg/hearulemaking/2009/
verification.html.
These publications are on the
Information for Financial Aid
Professionals Web site at
www.ifap.ed.gov.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
[Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0082]
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Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a,
1070a–1, 1070b—1070b–4, 1070c—1070c–4,
1070g, 1071—1087–2, 1087a–1087j, and
1087aa–1087ii; 42 U.S.C. 2751–2756b.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary
of Education has delegated authority to
Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under
Secretary, to perform the functions and
duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Postsecondary Education.
Dated: June 23, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–15782 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
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Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
GEAR UP Applications for Partnership
and State Grants
Office of Postsecondary
Education (OPE), Department of
Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is
proposing a revision of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 27,
2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in
response to this notice should be
submitted electronically through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov by selecting
Docket ID number ED–2015–ICCD–0082
or via postal mail, commercial delivery,
or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov
site is not available to the public for any
reason, ED will temporarily accept
comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov.
Please note that comments submitted by
fax or email and those submitted after
the comment period will not be
accepted; ED will ONLY accept
comments during the comment period
in this mailbox when the regulations.gov
site is not available. Written requests for
information or comments submitted by
postal mail or delivery should be
addressed to the Director of the
Information Collection Clearance
Division, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ,
Mailstop L–OM–2–2E319, Room 2E103,
Washington, DC 20202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact James Davis,
202–502–7802.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Department of Education (ED), in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
SUMMARY:
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revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records.
Title of Collection: GEAR UP
Applications for Partnership and State
Grants.
OMB Control Number: 1840–0821.
Type of Review: A revision of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 545.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 30,460.
Abstract: Gaining Early Awareness
and Readiness for Undergraduate
Programs (GEAR UP), created in the
Higher Education Act Amendments of
1998 (Title IV, section 404A–404H), is a
discretionary grant program which
encourages applicants to provide
support and maintain a commitment to
eligible low-income students, including
students with disabilities, to assist the
students in obtaining a secondary
school diploma and preparing for and
succeeding in postsecondary education.
GEAR UP provides grants to states and
partnerships to provide services at highpoverty middle and high schools. GEAR
UP grantees serve an entire cohort of
students beginning no later than the
seventh grade and follow them through
E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM
26JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36783-36788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15782]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg])
Information To Be Verified for the 2016-2017 Award Year
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[CFDA Numbers: 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, and 84.268.]
SUMMARY: For each award year, the Secretary publishes in the Federal
Register a notice announcing the FAFSA information that an institution
and an applicant may be required to verify, as well as the acceptable
documentation for verifying FAFSA information. This is the notice for
the 2016-2017 award year.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn C. Butler, U.S. Department
of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8053, Washington, DC 20006.
Telephone: (202) 502-7890.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact
disc) on request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary will include on the
applicant's Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) flags that
will indicate that the applicant has been selected by the Secretary for
verification and the Verification Tracking Group that the applicant has
been placed in, which in turn indicates which FAFSA information needs
to be verified for that applicant and, if appropriate, the applicant's
parent(s) or spouse. The Student Aid Report (SAR) provided to the
applicant will indicate that the applicant's FAFSA information has been
selected for verification and direct the applicant to the institution
for further instructions for completing the verification process.
The following chart lists, for the 2016-2017 award year, the FAFSA
information that an institution and an applicant and, if appropriate,
the applicant's parent(s) or spouse, may be required to verify under 34
CFR 668.56. The chart also lists the acceptable documentation that must
be provided under Sec. 668.57 to an institution for that information
to be verified.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA information Acceptable documentation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income information for tax filers...... For income information listed
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)......... under items a through g for
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid................ tax filers--
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA (1) Tax year 2015 information
Distributions.. that the Secretary has
d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions........ identified as having been
e. IRA Deductions and Payments......... obtained from the Internal
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income.......... Revenue Service (IRS) through
g. Education Credits................... the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
\1\ and that has not been
changed after the information
was obtained from the IRS;
(2) A transcript \1\ obtained
from the IRS that lists tax
account information of the tax
filer for tax year 2015; or
(3) A transcript \1\ that was
obtained at no cost from the
relevant taxing authority of a
U.S. territory (Guam, American
Samoa, the U.S. Virgin
Islands) or commonwealth
(Puerto Rico and the Northern
Mariana Islands), or a foreign
central government that lists
tax account information of the
tax filer for tax year 2015.
[[Page 36784]]
h. Other Untaxed Income............ For tax filers required to
verify other untaxed income--
(1) A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents that lists
sources of other untaxed
income as provided under
section 480(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA), and the amount
of income from each source for
tax year 2015; and
(2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of employment
income received for tax year
2015 or an equivalent
document.\2\
Income information for tax filers with (1) For a student or the
special circumstances. parent(s) of a dependent
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)......... student who filed a 2015 joint
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid................ income tax return and whose
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA income is used in the
Distributions.. calculation of the applicant's
d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions........ expected family contribution
e. IRA Deductions and Payments......... and who at the time the FAFSA
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income.......... was completed was separated,
g. Education Credits................... divorced, widowed, or married
to someone other than the
individual included on the
2015 joint income tax return--
(a) A transcript \1\ obtained
from the IRS or other relevant
taxing authority that lists
tax account information of the
tax filer(s) for tax year
2015; and
(b) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of employment
income received for tax year
2015 or an equivalent
document.\2\
(2) For an individual who is
required to file a 2015 IRS
income tax return and has been
granted a filing extension by
the IRS--
(a) A copy of IRS Form 4868,
``Application for Automatic
Extension of Time to File
U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return,'' that the
individual filed with the
IRS for tax year 2015;
(b) If applicable, a copy of
the IRS's approval of an
extension beyond the
automatic six-month
extension if the individual
requested an additional
extension of the filing
time for tax year 2015;
(c) A copy of IRS Form W-2
\2\ for each source of
employment income received
for tax year 2015 or an
equivalent document; \2\
and
(d) If self-employed, a
signed statement certifying
the amount of AGI and U.S.
income tax paid for tax
year 2015.
Note: An institution may
require that, after the income
tax return is filed, an
individual granted a filing
extension submit tax
information using the IRS Data
Retrieval Tool \1\ or by
obtaining a transcript \1\
from the IRS that lists tax
account information for tax
year 2015. When an institution
receives such information, it
must be used to reverify the
FAFSA information included on
the transcript.\1\
(3) For an individual who was
the victim of IRS tax-related
identity theft--
(a) A Tax Return DataBase
View (TRDBV) transcript
obtained from the IRS; and
(b) A statement signed and
dated by the tax filer
indicating that he or she
was a victim of IRS tax-
related identity theft and
that the IRS has been made
aware of the tax-related
identity theft.
Note: Tax filers may inform the
IRS of the tax-related
identity theft and obtain a
TRDBV transcript by calling
the IRS's Identity Protection
Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 1-
800-908-4490. Tax filers who
cannot obtain a TRDBV
transcript may instead submit
another official IRS
transcript or equivalent
document provided by the IRS
if it includes all of the
income and tax information
required to be verified.
Unless the institution has
reason to suspect the
authenticity of the TRDBV
transcript or an equivalent
document provided by the IRS,
a signature or stamp or any
other validation from the IRS
is not needed.
h. Other Untaxed Income............ (4) For tax filers with special
circumstances who are required
to verify other untaxed
income, a statement signed by
the applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents, that
lists the sources of other
untaxed income as provided
under section 480(b) of the
HEA and the amount of income
from each source for tax year
2015.
[[Page 36785]]
Income information for nontax filers... For an individual who has not
a. Income earned from work............. filed and, under IRS or other
b. Other Untaxed Income................ relevant taxing authority
rules (e.g., the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the
Republic of Palau, the
Federated States of
Micronesia, a U.S. territory
or commonwealth or a foreign
central government), is not
required to file a 2015 income
tax return--
(1) A signed statement
certifying--
(a) That the individual has not
filed and is not required to
file an income tax return for
tax year 2015;
(b) The sources of income
earned from work and the
amount of income from each
source for tax year 2015;
(c) For nontax filers required
to verify other untaxed
income, the source of income
as provided under section
480(b) of the HEA and the
amount of income from each
source for tax year 2015; and
(2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\
for each source of employment
income received for tax year
2015 or an equivalent
document.\2\
Note: If an institution has
reason to believe that the
signed statement provided by
the applicant regarding
whether the applicant has not
filed and is not required to
file a 2015 income tax return
is inaccurate, the institution
must request that the
applicant obtain confirmation
of non-filing from the IRS or
other relevant taxing
authority.
Number of Household Members............ A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents that lists
the name and age of each
household member and the
relationship of that household
member to the applicant.
Note: Verification of number of
household members is not
required if--
For a dependent
student, the household size
indicated on the ISIR is
two and the parent is
single, separated,
divorced, or widowed, or
the household size
indicated on the ISIR is
three if the parents are
married or unmarried and
living together; or
For an independent
student, the household size
indicated on the ISIR is
one and the applicant is
single, separated,
divorced, or widowed, or
the household size
indicated on the ISIR is
two if the applicant is
married.
Number in College...................... (1) A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents listing
the name and age of each
household member who is or
will be attending an eligible
postsecondary educational
institution as at least a half-
time student in the 2016-2017
award year in a program that
leads to a degree or
certificate and the name of
that educational institution.
(2) If an institution has
reason to believe that the
signed statement provided by
the applicant regarding the
number of household members
enrolled in eligible
postsecondary institutions is
inaccurate, the institution
must obtain documentation from
each institution named by the
applicant that the household
member in question is, or will
be, attending on at least a
half-time basis unless--
(a) The applicant's
institution determines that
such documentation is not
available because the
household member in
question has not yet
registered at the
institution the household
member plans to attend; or
(b) The institution has
documentation indicating
that the household member
in question will be
attending the same
institution as the
applicant.
Note: Verification of the
number of household members in
college is not required if the
number in college indicated on
the ISIR is ``1.''
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (1) A statement signed by the
Program (SNAP). applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents affirming
that SNAP benefits were
received by someone in the
household during the 2014 and/
or 2015 calendar year.
(2) If an institution has
reason to believe that the
signed statement provided by
the applicant regarding the
receipt of SNAP benefits is
inaccurate, the applicant must
provide the institution with
documentation from the agency
that issued the SNAP benefits.
Note: Verification of the
receipt of SNAP benefits is
not required if the receipt of
SNAP benefits is not indicated
on the applicant's ISIR.
Child Support Paid..................... (1) A statement signed by the
applicant and, if the
applicant is a dependent
student, by one of the
applicant's parents, as
appropriate, certifying--
(a) The amount of child
support paid;
(b) The name of the person
who paid the child support;
(c) The name of the person
to whom child support was
paid; and
(d) The names and ages of
the children for whom child
support was paid.
[[Page 36786]]
(2) If the institution has
reason to believe that the
information provided in the
signed statement is
inaccurate, the institution
must obtain documentation such
as--
(a) A statement from the
individual receiving the
child support showing the
amount received; or
(b) Documentation that the
child support payments were
made (e.g., copies of the
child support checks, money
order receipts, or similar
records of electronic
payments having been made).
Note: Verification of child
support paid is not required
if child support paid is not
indicated on the applicant's
ISIR.
High School Completion Status.......... (1) High School Diploma
(a) A copy of the
applicant's high school
diploma;
(b) A copy of the
applicant's final official
high school transcript that
shows the date when the
diploma was awarded; or
(c) A copy of the
``secondary school leaving
certificate'' (or other
similar document) for
students who completed
secondary education in a
foreign country and are
unable to obtain a copy of
their high school diploma
or transcript.
Note: Institutions that have
the expertise may evaluate
foreign secondary school
credentials to determine their
equivalence to U.S. high
school diplomas. Institutions
may also use a foreign diploma
evaluation service for this
purpose.
(2) Recognized Equivalent of a
High School Diploma
(a) General Educational
Development (GED)
Certificate or GED
transcript;
(b) A State certificate or
transcript received by a
student after the student
has passed a State-
authorized examination
(HiSET, TASC, or other
State-authorized
examination) that the State
recognizes as the
equivalent of a high school
diploma;
(c) An academic transcript
that indicates the student
successfully completed at
least a two-year program
that is acceptable for full
credit toward a bachelor's
degree at any participating
institution; or
(d) For a person who is
seeking enrollment in an
educational program that
leads to at least an
associate degree or its
equivalent and who excelled
academically in high school
but did not finish,
documentation from the high
school that the student
excelled academically and
documentation from the
postsecondary institution
that the student has met
its written policies for
admitting such students.
(3) Homeschool
(a) If the State where the
student was homeschooled
requires by law that such
students obtain a secondary
school completion
credential for homeschool
(other than a high school
diploma or its recognized
equivalent), a copy of that
credential; or
(b) If State law does not
require the credential
noted in 3a), a transcript
or the equivalent signed by
the student's parent or
guardian that lists the
secondary school courses
the student completed and
documents the successful
completion of a secondary
school education in a
homeschool setting.
Note: In cases where
documentation of an
applicant's completion of a
secondary school education is
unavailable, e.g., the
secondary school is closed and
information is not available
from another source, such as
the local school district or a
State Department of Education,
or in the case of
homeschooling, the parent(s)/
guardian(s) who provided the
homeschooling is deceased, an
institution may accept
alternative documentation to
verify the applicant's high
school completion status. An
institution may not accept a
student's self-certification
nor the DD Form 214
Certificate of Release or
Discharge From Active Duty as
alternative documentation.
When documenting an applicant's
high school completion status,
an institution may rely on
documentation it has already
collected for purposes other
than the Title IV verification
requirements if the
documentation meets the
criteria outlined above (e.g.,
high school transcripts
maintained in the admissions
office).
Verification of high school
completion status is not
required if the institution
successfully verified and
documented the applicant's
high school completion status
for a prior award year.
Identity/Statement of Educational (1) An applicant must appear in
Purpose. person and present the
following documentation to an
institutionally authorized
individual to verify the
applicant's identity--
[[Page 36787]]
(a) An unexpired valid
government-issued photo
identification such as, but
not limited to, a driver's
license, non-driver's
identification card, other
State-issued
identification, or
passport. The institution
must maintain an annotated
copy of the unexpired valid
government-issued photo
identification that
includes--
i. The date the
identification was
presented; and
ii. The name of the
institutionally
authorized individual who
reviewed the
identification; and
(b) A signed statement using
the exact language as
follows, except that the
student's identification
number is optional if
collected elsewhere on the
same page as the statement:
Statement of Educational
Purpose
I certify that I ________
(Print Student's Name) am the
individual signing this
Statement of Educational
Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I
may receive will only be used
for educational purposes and
to pay the cost of attending
--------------------------for
2016-2017.
(Name of Postsecondary
Educational Institution)
-------------------------------
-------
(Student's Signature)
-------------------------------
-------
(Date)
-------------------------------
-------
(Student's ID Number)
(2) If an institution
determines that an applicant
is unable to appear in person
to present an unexpired valid
photo identification and
execute the Statement of
Educational Purpose, the
applicant must provide the
institution with--
(a) A copy of an unexpired
valid government-issued
photo identification such
as, but not limited to, a
driver's license, non-
driver's identification
card, other State-issued
identification, or passport
that is acknowledged in a
notary statement or that is
presented to a notary; and
(b) An original notarized
statement signed by the
applicant using the exact
language as follows, except
that the student's
identification number is
optional if collected
elsewhere on the same page
as the statement:
Statement of Educational
Purpose
I certify that I ________(Print
Student's Name) am the
individual signing this
Statement of Educational
Purpose and that the Federal
student financial assistance I
may receive will only be used
for educational purposes and
to pay the cost of attending --
------------------------------
---for 2016-2017.
...............................
(Name of Postsecondary
Educational Institution)
-------------------------------
-------
(Student's Signature)
-------------------------------
-------
(Date)
-------------------------------
-------
(Student's ID Number)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ An institution may accept a copy of the original 2015 income tax
return for tax filers who are--
(a) Consistent with guidance that the Secretary may provide following
the period after the IRS processes 2015 income tax returns, unable to
use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or obtain a transcript from the IRS;
(b) Unable to obtain a transcript at no cost from the taxing authority
of a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands) or
commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands), or a
foreign central government that lists tax account information of the
tax filer for tax year 2015;
(c) Individuals who filed an amended tax return with the IRS. In
addition to the copy of the original 2015 income tax return that was
filed with the IRS, the individual must submit the following documents
to the institution:
1. A transcript obtained from the IRS that lists tax account information
of the tax filer(s) for tax year 2015; and
2. A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that was filed with the IRS.
The copy of the 2015 income tax return must include the signature of the
tax filer or one of the filers of a joint income tax return or the
signed, stamped, typed, or printed name and address of the preparer of
the income tax return and the preparer's Social Security Number,
Employer Identification Number, or Preparer Tax Identification Number.
For a tax filer who filed an income tax return other than an IRS form,
such as a foreign or Puerto Rican tax form, the institution must use
the income information (converted to U.S. dollars) from the lines of
that form that correspond most closely to the income information
reported on a U.S. income tax return.
An individual who did not retain a copy of his or her 2015 tax account
information and that information cannot be located by the IRS or other
relevant taxing authority, must submit to the institution--
(a) Copies of all IRS Form W-2s or an equivalent document;
(b) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority that
indicates the individual's 2015 tax account information cannot be
located; and
(c) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain
a copy of his or her 2015 tax account information.
[[Page 36788]]
\2\ An individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W-2 or an
equivalent document but did not maintain his or her copy should
request a duplicate from the employer who issued the original or from
the government agency that issued the equivalent document. If the
individual is unable to obtain a duplicate W-2 or an equivalent
document in a timely manner, the institution may permit that
individual to provide a signed statement, in accordance with 34 CFR
668.57(a)(6), that includes--
(a) The amount of income earned from work;
(b) The source of that income; and
(c) The reason why the IRS Form W-2 and an equivalent document is not
available in a timely manner.
Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process
in the following resources:
2016-2017 Application and Verification Guide.
2016-2017 ISIR Guide.
2016-2017 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
2016-2017 COD Technical Reference.
Program Integrity Information--Questions and Answers on
Verification at https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html.
These publications are on the Information for Financial Aid
Professionals Web site at www.ifap.ed.gov.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070a, 1070a-1, 1070b--1070b-4,
1070c--1070c-4, 1070g, 1071--1087-2, 1087a-1087j, and 1087aa-1087ii;
42 U.S.C. 2751-2756b.
Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated
authority to Jamienne S. Studley, Deputy Under Secretary, to perform
the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
Dated: June 23, 2015.
Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-15782 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
