Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2017-2018 Award Year, 18843-18847 [2016-07411]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices Dated: March 28, 2016. C. Pan, Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Meeting of the Board of Advisors (BOA) to The President of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Subcommittee [FR Doc. 2016–07422 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P Department of the Navy, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the provisions of The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the following meeting of the Board of Advisors to the President of the Naval Postgraduate School will be held. This meeting will be open to the public. DATES: The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time Zone. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Naval Postgraduate School, Executive Briefing Center, Herrmann Hall, 1 University Circle, Monterey, CA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jaye Panza, Designated Federal Official, 1 University Circle, Code 00H, Monterey, CA 93943–5001, telephone number 831–656–2514. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Board is to advise and assist the President, NPS, in educational and support areas, providing independent advice and recommendations on items such as, but not limited to, organizational management, curricula, methods of instruction, facilities, and other matters of interest. The agenda for the meeting will include the following: —Administrative Matters —Updates on end-strength issue —Recap and closing out 2012 IG report —Routine 2016 IG Visit Recap —Command climate survey results —Faculty morale and retention rates —Discussions with faculty members; faculty leaders; students —Update on Navy investments in the infrastructure (buildings, classrooms, labs, test equipment) —Campus tours Individuals without a DoD Government Common Access Card require an escort at the meeting location. For access, information, or to send written statements for consideration at the committee meeting contact Ms. Jaye Panza, Designated Federal Officer, Naval Postgraduate School, 1 University Circle, Monterey, CA 93943–5001 or by fax 831–656–2789 by March 31, 2016. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Availability of GovernmentOwned Inventions; Available for Licensing Department of the Navy, DoD. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The inventions listed below are assigned to the United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy and are available for domestic and foreign licensing by the Department of the Navy. The following patents are available for licensing: Patent No. 8,904,736: VEHICLE AND MAST MOUNTING ASSEMBLY//Patent No. 8,902,801: ARRAY SYSTEM FOR SEGMENTING SIGNALS AND GENERATING A COMPLEX WAVEFORM AT A FOCAL POINT USING RECOMBINATION OF SEGMENTED SIGNALS//Patent No. 9,001,864: USE OF WAVELET TRANSFORMS TO PRODUCE COMPLEX WAVEFORMS FROM A REDUCED NUMBER OF DISCRETE FREQUENCY TRANSMITTERS//Patent No. 9,083,418: VERSATILE ANTENNA RECEIVED SIGNAL STRENGHT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM NOT AFFECTING ANTENNA PATTERN AND RECEIVER PERFORMANCE// Patent No. 8,973, 502: SIMULTANEOUS NONELECTRIC PRIMING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD//Patent No. 8,907,225: STRUCTURES AND METHODS RELATED TO DETECTION, SENSING AND/OR MITIGATING UNDESIREABLE STRUCTURES OR INTRUSION EVENTS ON STRUCTURES//Patent No. 9,080,989 WHISKER MANUFACTURING, DETECTION, RESPONSE, AND COMPOUND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD//Patent No. 9,244,791 FUSION OF MULTIPLE MODALITIES FOR DETERMING A UNIQUE MICROELECTRONIC DEVICE SIGNATURE//Patent No. 9,079,211 INTERGRANULAR CORROSION AND INTERGRANULAR STRESS CORROSION CRACKING RESISTANCE IMPROVEMENT METHOD FOR METALLIC ALLOYS//Patent No. 9,263,139 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE RADIATION SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18843 TOLERANCE OF FLOATING GATE MEMORIES. Requests for copies of the patents cited should be directed to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Div, Code OOL, Bldg 2, 300 Highway 361, Crane, IN 47522–5001. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Monsey, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Div, Code OOL, Bldg 2, 300 Highway 361, Crane, IN 47522–5001, telephone 812–854–4100. ADDRESSES: Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR part 404. Dated: March 28, 2016. C. Pan, Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2016–07431 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2017–2018 Award Year Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: [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 information. This is the notice for the 2017–2018 award year. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn C. Butler, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 6W232, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453–6088. 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. SUMMARY: The Secretary includes on the applicant’s Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) flags that indicate (1) that the applicant has been selected by the Secretary for verification and (2) the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 18844 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices Verification Tracking Group in which the applicant has been placed. This, in turn, indicates which FAFSA information needs to be verified for that applicant and, if appropriate, for 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 contact the institution for further instructions for completing the verification process. The following chart lists, for the 2017–2018 award year, the FAFSA information that an institution and an FAFSA Information 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, under § 668.57, be provided to an institution for that information to be verified. Acceptable documentation For income information listed under items a through g for tax filers— (1) 2015 tax account information of the tax filer 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 2015 tax account information of the tax filer; 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 2015 tax account information of the tax filer. 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 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 (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 2015 tax account information of the tax filer(s); and (b) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2015 employment income received 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 sixmonth extension if the individual requested an additional extension of the filing time for tax year 2015; (c) Confirmation of non-filing from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority dated on or after October 1, 2016; (d) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2015 employment income received or an equivalent document;2 and (e) 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 2015 tax account information. 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 an individual who filed an amended tax return with the IRS— (a) A transcript obtained from the IRS that lists 2015 tax account information of the tax filer(s); and (b) A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that was filed with the IRS. Income information for nontax filers: a. Income earned from work 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 a 2015 income tax return; and (b) The sources of 2015 income earned from work and the amount of income from each source; VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:10 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices FAFSA Information 18845 Acceptable documentation (2) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2015 employment income received or an equivalent document;2 and (3) Confirmation of non-filing from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority dated on or after October 1, 2016. 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 for the 2017– 2018 award year 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 2017–2018 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 halftime 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.’’ High School Completion Status .......................... asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Number of Household Members ......................... The applicant’s high school completion status when the applicant attends the institution in 2017–2018. (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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:10 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 18846 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices FAFSA Information Acceptable documentation (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 (e.g., DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty that indicates the individual is a high school graduate or equivalent. 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. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose ......... (1) An applicant must appear in person and present the following documentation to an institutionally authorized individual to verify the applicant’s identity— (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 am (Print Student’s Name) 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 llllllll for 2017–2018. (Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution) llllllllll llllll (Student’s Signature) (Date) llllllllll (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 am (Print Student’s Name) 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 llllllll for 2017–2018. (Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution) llllllllll llllll (Student’s Signature) (Date) llllllllll (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 2015 tax account information of the tax filer; VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:10 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices 18847 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 equivalent documents; (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. 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 or an equivalent document is not available in a timely manner. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Other Sources for Detailed Information We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process in the following resources: • 2017–2018 Application and Verification Guide. • 2017–2018 ISIR Guide. • 2017–2018 SAR Comment Codes and Text. • 2017–2018 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:25 Mar 31, 2016 Jkt 238001 Dated: March 29, 2016. Lynn B. Mahaffie, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Delegated the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2016–07411 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0038] Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations Federal Student Aid (FSA), 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 May 31, 2016. ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED– 2016–ICCD–0038. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. 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, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E–103, Washington, DC 20202–4537. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, 202–377–4018. 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, 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: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) Regulations OMB Control Number: 1845–0021 Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18843-18847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07411]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg]) 
Information To Be Verified for the 2017-2018 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 2017-2018 award year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Jacquelyn C. Butler, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 6W232, Washington, DC 
20202. Telephone: (202) 453-6088.
    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 includes on the applicant's 
Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) flags that indicate (1) 
that the applicant has been selected by the Secretary for verification 
and (2) the

[[Page 18844]]

Verification Tracking Group in which the applicant has been placed. 
This, in turn, indicates which FAFSA information needs to be verified 
for that applicant and, if appropriate, for 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 contact the institution for 
further instructions for completing the verification process.
    The following chart lists, for the 2017-2018 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, under Sec.  668.57, be provided to an institution for that 
information to be verified.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        FAFSA Information                 Acceptable documentation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income information for tax         For income information listed under
 filers:                            items a through g for tax filers--
 a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)    (1) 2015 tax account information of
 b. U.S. Income Tax Paid            the tax filer that the Secretary has
 c. Untaxed Portions of IRA         identified as having been obtained
 Distributions                      from the Internal Revenue Service
 d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions    (IRS) through the IRS Data Retrieval
 e. IRA Deductions and Payments     Tool \1\ and that has not been
 f. Tax Exempt Interest Income      changed after the information was
 g. Education Credits               obtained from the IRS;
                                   (2) A transcript \1\ obtained from
                                    the IRS that lists 2015 tax account
                                    information of the tax filer; 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 2015
                                    tax account information of the tax
                                    filer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income information for tax filers  (1) For a student or the parent(s) of
 with special circumstances:        a dependent student who filed a 2015
 a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)     joint income tax return and whose
 b. U.S. Income Tax Paid            income is used in the calculation of
 c. Untaxed Portions of IRA         the applicant's expected family
 Distributions                      contribution and who at the time the
 d. Untaxed Portions of Pensions    FAFSA was completed was separated,
 e. IRA Deductions and Payments     divorced, widowed, or married to
 f. Tax Exempt Interest Income      someone other than the individual
 g. Education Credits               included on the 2015 joint income
                                    tax return--
                                   (a) A transcript \1\ obtained from
                                    the IRS or other relevant taxing
                                    authority that lists 2015 tax
                                    account information of the tax
                                    filer(s); and
                                   (b) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for
                                    each source of 2015 employment
                                    income received 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) Confirmation of non-filing from
                                    the IRS or other relevant taxing
                                    authority dated on or after October
                                    1, 2016;
                                   (d) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for
                                    each source of 2015 employment
                                    income received or an equivalent
                                    document;\2\ and
                                   (e) 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 2015 tax account information.
                                    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 an individual who filed an
                                    amended tax return with the IRS--
                                   (a) A transcript obtained from the
                                    IRS that lists 2015 tax account
                                    information of the tax filer(s); and
                                   (b) A signed copy of the IRS Form
                                    1040X that was filed with the IRS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income information for nontax      For an individual who has not filed
 filers:                            and, under IRS or other relevant
 a. Income earned from work         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 a 2015
                                    income tax return; and
                                   (b) The sources of 2015 income earned
                                    from work and the amount of income
                                    from each source;

[[Page 18845]]

 
                                   (2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for
                                    each source of 2015 employment
                                    income received or an equivalent
                                    document;\2\ and
                                   (3) Confirmation of non-filing from
                                    the IRS or other relevant taxing
                                    authority dated on or after October
                                    1, 2016.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 for the
                                    2017-2018 award year 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 2017-2018 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.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
High School Completion Status....  The applicant's high school
                                    completion status when the applicant
                                    attends the institution in 2017-
                                    2018.
                                   (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.

[[Page 18846]]

 
                                   (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 (e.g., DD Form 214
                                    Certificate of Release or Discharge
                                    From Active Duty that indicates the
                                    individual is a high school graduate
                                    or equivalent.
                                   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--
                                   (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 ________ am
                                   (Print Student's Name)
                                   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 2017-
                                    2018.
                                   (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 ________ am
                                   (Print Student's Name)
                                   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 2017-
                                    2018.
                                   (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 2015 tax account information of
  the tax filer;

[[Page 18847]]

 
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 equivalent documents;
(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.
\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 or 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:
     2017-2018 Application and Verification Guide.
     2017-2018 ISIR Guide.
     2017-2018 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
     2017-2018 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.

    Dated: March 29, 2016.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, 
Delegated the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary 
Education.
[FR Doc. 2016-07411 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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