Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2018-2019 Award Year, 21204-21208 [2017-09167]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
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,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
226–62, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
specific questions related to collection
activities, please contact James Billy,
202–245–7273.
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: Independent
Living Services for Older Individuals
Who are Blind.
OMB Control Number: 1820–0608.
Type of Review: An extension of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 56.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 336.
Abstract: Section 752(h)(2) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
and the corresponding regulations in 34
CFR 367.31(c) require each grantee
under the Independent Living Services
for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
(IL–OIB) program to submit an annual
report to the Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration
(RSA) on essential demographic,
service, and outcome information. There
is no difference between this and the
previously approved data collection
instrument which will expire on August
31, 2017. RSA therefore requests an
extension of the approval to use this
data collection instrument.
Dated: May 1, 2017
Tomakie Washington,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2017–09048 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be
Verified for the 2018–2019 Award Year
Office of Postsecondary
Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
For each award year, the
Secretary publishes in the Federal
Register a notice announcing the
FAFSA information that an institution
SUMMARY:
and an applicant may be required to
verify, as well as the acceptable
documentation for verifying FAFSA
information. This is the notice for the
2018–2019 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.
If the
Secretary selects an applicant for
verification, the applicant’s Institutional
Student Information Record (ISIR)
includes flags that indicate (1) that the
applicant has been selected by the
Secretary for verification and (2) the
Verification Tracking Group in which
the applicant has been placed. The
Verification Tracking Group indicates
which FAFSA information needs to be
verified for the 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
2018–2019 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
§ 668.57, be provided to an institution
for that information to be verified.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
FAFSA 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 ........................................
(1) 2016 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
and that has not been changed after the information was obtained from the IRS; or
(2) A transcript 1 obtained at no cost from the IRS or other relevant tax 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 government that lists 2016 tax account information of the tax filer.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
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FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
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 ........................................
(1) For a student, or the parent(s) of a dependent student, who filed a 2016 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 2016 joint income tax return—
(a) A transcript obtained from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that lists 2016 tax account information of the tax filer(s); and
(b) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2016 employment income received or an
equivalent document.2
(2) For an individual who is required to file a 2016 IRS income tax return and has been granted a filing extension by the IRS beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year
2016—
(a) A copy of IRS Form 4868,3 ‘‘Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,’’ the individual filed with the IRS for tax year 2016;
(b) A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension
for tax year 2016;
(c) Confirmation of nonfiling from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2017;
(d) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2016 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 2016.
Note: An institution may require that, after the income tax return is filed, an individual granted
a filing extension beyond the automatic six-month extension submit tax information using the
IRS Data Retrieval Tool or by obtaining a transcript from the IRS that lists 2016 tax account
information. When an institution receives such information, it must be used to reverify the
FAFSA information included on the transcript.
(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 2016 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 ...................
Income earned from work ...................................
For an individual who has not filed and, under IRS or other relevant tax 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 government), is not required to file a
2016 income tax return—
(1) A signed statement certifying—
(a) That the individual has not filed and is not required to file a 2016 income tax return; and
(b) The sources of 2016 income earned from work and the amount of income from each
source;
(2) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2016 employment income received or an
equivalent document; 2 and
(3) Except for dependent students, confirmation of nonfiling from the IRS or other relevant tax
authority dated on or after October 1, 2017.
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 2018–
2019 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.
(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 2018–2019 award year in a program that leads to a degree or certificate and the
name of that educational institution.
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Number of Household Members ........................
Number in College ..............................................
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
(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.’’
The applicant’s high school completion status when the applicant attends the institution in
2018–2019.
(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 twoyear 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 complete high school, 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 such 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 (e.g., high school transcripts maintained in the admissions office) if the documentation meets the criteria outlined above.
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 Purpose ........
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
High School Completion Status ..........................
(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 4 such as, but not limited to, a
driver’s license, non-driver’s identification card, other State-issued identification, or U.S.
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:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
FAFSA information
21207
Acceptable documentation
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I llllllllll
(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 2018–2019.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
llllllllllllllllll 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 instituton with—
(a) A copy of an unexpired valid government-issued photo identification 4 such as, but not
limited to, a driver’s license, non-driver’s identification card, other State-issued identification, or U.S. 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 llllllllll
(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 2018–2019.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
llllllllllllllllll llllll
(Student’s Signature) (Date)
llllllllll
(Student’s ID Number)
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
1 In lieu of obtaining a transcript whenever mentioned in the above chart, an institution may accept from the tax filer a copy of the 2016 income
tax return that was submitted to the IRS or other tax authority only—
(a) When the Secretary issues guidance permitting such submission; or
(b) When the tax 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 government does not provide the required information at no charge to the tax filer.
The copy of the 2016 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 2016 tax account information and for whom that information cannot be located by the IRS
or other relevant tax authority, must submit to the institution—
(a) Copies of all IRS Form W–2s for each source of 2016 employment income or equivalent documents; or
(b) If self-employed or filed an income tax return with a government of a U. S. territory or commonwealth, or a foreign government, a signed
statement certifying the amount of AGI and income taxes paid for tax year 2016; and
(c) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that indicates the individual’s 2016 tax account information cannot be located;
and
(d) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain a copy of his or her 2016 tax account information.
2 An individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W–2 or an equivalent document but did not maintain a 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.
3 For an individual who was called up for active duty or for qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military operation or national
emergency, in lieu of IRS Form 4868, an institution must accept a statement from the individual certifying that he or she has not filed an income
tax return or a request for a filing extension because of that service.
4 An unexpired valid government-issued photo identification is one issued by the U.S. government, any of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.
Verification Requirements for
Individuals Who Are Eligible for an
Auto Zero Expected Family
Contribution (EFC)
Only the following FAFSA/ISIR
information must be verified:
For dependent students—
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• The parents’ AGI if the parents were
tax filers;
• The parents’ income earned from
work if the parents were nontax filers;
and
• The student’s high school
completion status and identity/
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statement of educational purpose, if
selected.
For independent students—
• The student’s and spouse’s AGI if
they were tax filers;
• The student’s and spouse’s income
earned from work if they were nontax
filers;
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 86 / Friday, May 5, 2017 / Notices
• The student’s high school
completion status and identity/
statement of educational purpose, if
selected; and
• The number of household members
to determine if the independent student
has one or more dependents other than
a spouse.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Other Sources for Detailed Information
AGENCY:
We provide a more detailed
discussion on the verification process in
the following resources:
• 2018–2019 Application and
Verification Guide.
• 2018–2019 ISIR Guide.
• 2018–2019 SAR Comment Codes
and Text.
• 2018–2019 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.
SRADOVICH on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
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.
CFDA Numbers: 84.007, 84.033, 84.038,
84.063, and 84.268.
Dated: May 2, 2017.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education.
[FR Doc. 2017–09167 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
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[Docket No. ED–2017–ICCD–0059]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Comment Request; William
D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program,
Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request for
Supplemental Information
Federal Student Aid (FSA),
Department of Education (ED).
ACTION: Notice.
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
proposing an extension of an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before July 5,
2017.
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–
2017–ICCD–0059. 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,
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room
224–84, 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
SUMMARY:
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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, Federal
Direct PLUS Loan Request for
Supplemental Information.
OMB Control Number: 1845–0103.
Type of Review: An extension of an
existing information collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals or Households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 1,230,000.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 615,000.
Abstract: The Federal Direct PLUS
Loan Request for Supplemental
Information serves as the means by
which a parent or graduate/professional
student Direct PLUS Loan applicant
may provide certain information to a
school that will assist the school in
originating the borrower’s Direct PLUS
Loan award, as an alternative to
providing this information to the school
by other means established by the
school.
Dated: May 2, 2017.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2017–09092 Filed 5–4–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
State Energy Advisory Board
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of cancellation of open
teleconference.
AGENCY:
On April 19, 2017, the
Department of Energy (DOE) published
a notice of open teleconference
scheduled for May 18, 2017, of the State
Energy Advisory Board. This notice
announces the cancellation of this
meeting. The next regular meeting will
be held at a date to be determined.
DATES: The meeting scheduled for May
18, 2017, announced in the April 19,
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21204-21208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09167]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg])
Information To Be Verified for the 2018-2019 Award Year
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 2018-2019 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: If the Secretary selects an applicant for
verification, the applicant's Institutional Student Information Record
(ISIR) includes flags that indicate (1) that the applicant has been
selected by the Secretary for verification and (2) the Verification
Tracking Group in which the applicant has been placed. The Verification
Tracking Group indicates which FAFSA information needs to be verified
for the 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 2018-2019 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.
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FAFSA information Acceptable documentation
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Income information for tax (1) 2016 tax account information of the
filers. tax filer that the Secretary has
a. Adjusted Gross Income identified as having been obtained from
(AGI). the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid...... through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA that has not been changed after the
Distributions. information was obtained from the IRS;
d. Untaxed Portions of or
Pensions. (2) A transcript \1\ obtained at no cost
e. IRA Deductions and from the IRS or other relevant tax
Payments. authority of a U.S. territory (Guam,
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands)
g. Education Credits......... or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the
Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign
government that lists 2016 tax account
information of the tax filer.
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[[Page 21205]]
Income information for tax (1) For a student, or the parent(s) of a
filers with special dependent student, who filed a 2016
circumstances. joint income tax return and whose income
a. Adjusted Gross Income is used in the calculation of the
(AGI). applicant's expected family contribution
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid...... and who at the time the FAFSA was
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA completed was separated, divorced,
Distributions. widowed, or married to someone other
d. Untaxed Portions of than the individual included on the 2016
Pensions. joint income tax return--
e. IRA Deductions and (a) A transcript obtained from the IRS or
Payments. other relevant tax authority that lists
f. Tax Exempt Interest Income 2016 tax account information of the tax
g. Education Credits......... filer(s); and
(b) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for each
source of 2016 employment income
received or an equivalent document.\2\
(2) For an individual who is required to
file a 2016 IRS income tax return and
has been granted a filing extension by
the IRS beyond the automatic six-month
extension for tax year 2016--
(a) A copy of IRS Form 4868,\3\
``Application for Automatic Extension of
Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax
Return,'' the individual filed with the
IRS for tax year 2016;
(b) A copy of the IRS's approval of an
extension beyond the automatic six-
month extension for tax year 2016;
(c) Confirmation of nonfiling from the
IRS dated on or after October 1, 2017;
(d) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for each
source of 2016 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
2016.
Note: An institution may require that,
after the income tax return is filed, an
individual granted a filing extension
beyond the automatic six-month extension
submit tax information using the IRS
Data Retrieval Tool or by obtaining a
transcript from the IRS that lists 2016
tax account information. When an
institution receives such information,
it must be used to reverify the FAFSA
information included on the transcript.
(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 2016 tax account
information of the tax filer(s); and
(b) A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X
that was filed with the IRS.
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Income information for nontax For an individual who has not filed and,
filers. under IRS or other relevant tax
Income earned from work...... 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 government),
is not required to file a 2016 income
tax return--
(1) A signed statement certifying--
(a) That the individual has not filed
and is not required to file a 2016
income tax return; and
(b) The sources of 2016 income earned
from work and the amount of income
from each source;
(2) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for each
source of 2016 employment income
received or an equivalent document; \2\
and
(3) Except for dependent students,
confirmation of nonfiling from the IRS
or other relevant tax authority dated on
or after October 1, 2017.
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 2018-2019 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 2018-2019 award
year in a program that leads to a degree
or certificate and the name of that
educational institution.
[[Page 21206]]
(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.''
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High School Completion Status The applicant's high school completion
status when the applicant attends the
institution in 2018-2019.
(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 complete high school,
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 such 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
(e.g., high school transcripts
maintained in the admissions office) if
the documentation meets the criteria
outlined above.
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.
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Identity/Statement of (1) An applicant must appear in person
Educational Purpose. and present the following documentation
to an institutionally authorized
individual to verify the applicant's
identity--
(a) An unexpired valid government-
issued photo identification \4\ such
as, but not limited to, a driver's
license, non-driver's identification
card, other State-issued
identification, or U.S. 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:
[[Page 21207]]
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I __________
(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 2018-2019.
(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 instituton with--
(a) A copy of an unexpired valid
government-issued photo identification
\4\ such as, but not limited to, a
driver's license, non-driver's
identification card, other State-
issued identification, or U.S.
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)
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 2018-2019.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational
Institution)
__________________ ______
(Student's Signature) (Date)
__________
(Student's ID Number)
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\1\ In lieu of obtaining a transcript whenever mentioned in the above
chart, an institution may accept from the tax filer a copy of the 2016
income tax return that was submitted to the IRS or other tax authority
only--
(a) When the Secretary issues guidance permitting such submission; or
(b) When the tax 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 government does not provide the
required information at no charge to the tax filer.
The copy of the 2016 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 2016 tax account
information and for whom that information cannot be located by the IRS
or other relevant tax authority, must submit to the institution--
(a) Copies of all IRS Form W-2s for each source of 2016 employment
income or equivalent documents; or
(b) If self-employed or filed an income tax return with a government of
a U. S. territory or commonwealth, or a foreign government, a signed
statement certifying the amount of AGI and income taxes paid for tax
year 2016; and
(c) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that
indicates the individual's 2016 tax account information cannot be
located; and
(d) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain
a copy of his or her 2016 tax account information.
\2\ An individual who is required to submit an IRS Form W-2 or an
equivalent document but did not maintain a 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.
\3\ For an individual who was called up for active duty or for
qualifying National Guard duty during a war or other military
operation or national emergency, in lieu of IRS Form 4868, an
institution must accept a statement from the individual certifying
that he or she has not filed an income tax return or a request for a
filing extension because of that service.
\4\ An unexpired valid government-issued photo identification is one
issued by the U.S. government, any of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a federally recognized
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe, American Samoa, Guam, the
Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia,
or the Republic of Palau.
Verification Requirements for Individuals Who Are Eligible for an Auto
Zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Only the following FAFSA/ISIR information must be verified:
For dependent students--
The parents' AGI if the parents were tax filers;
The parents' income earned from work if the parents were
nontax filers; and
The student's high school completion status and identity/
statement of educational purpose, if selected.
For independent students--
The student's and spouse's AGI if they were tax filers;
The student's and spouse's income earned from work if they
were nontax filers;
[[Page 21208]]
The student's high school completion status and identity/
statement of educational purpose, if selected; and
The number of household members to determine if the
independent student has one or more dependents other than a spouse.
Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process
in the following resources:
2018-2019 Application and Verification Guide.
2018-2019 ISIR Guide.
2018-2019 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
2018-2019 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.
CFDA Numbers: 84.007, 84.033, 84.038, 84.063, and 84.268.
Dated: May 2, 2017.
Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-09167 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
