Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2022-2023 Award Year, 49002-49006 [2021-18864]
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49002
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
Greg Dodson, Deputy Commissioner
for Trademark Administration, USPTO.
Andrew Hirshfeld,
Commissioner for Patents, Performing the
Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary
of Commerce for Intellectual Property and
Director of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2021–18893 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–15–P
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Application Package for Childcare
Benefit Forms
The Corporation for National
and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice of Information
Collection; request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Corporation for National and
Community Service (operating as
AmeriCorps) is proposing to renew an
information collection.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted to the individual and office
listed in the ADDRESSES section by
November 1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by the title of the information
collection activity, by any of the
following methods:
(1) By mail sent to: AmeriCorps,
Attention Courtney Russell, 250 E Street
SW, Washington, DC 20525.
(2) By hand delivery or by courier to
the AmeriCorps mailroom at the mail
address given in paragraph (1) above,
between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday, except
federal holidays.
(3) Electronically through
www.regulations.gov.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice may be made available to the
public through regulations.gov. For this
reason, please do not include in your
comments information of a confidential
nature, such as sensitive personal
information or proprietary information.
If you send an email comment, your
email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public
docket and made available on the
internet. Please note that responses to
this public comment request containing
any routine notice about the
confidentiality of the communication
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SUMMARY:
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will be treated as public comment that
may be made available to the public,
notwithstanding the inclusion of the
routine notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Courtney Russell, 202–380–7825, or by
email at crussell@cns.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Childcare Benefit
Forms.
OMB Control Number: 3045–0142.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Respondents/Affected Public:
AmeriCorps members and their
childcare providers.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 700 AmeriCorps members
and 1,400 childcare providers.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 1,225.
Abstract: AmeriCorps is soliciting
comments concerning its Child Care
application forms. These forms are
submitted by members of AmeriCorps
and by the childcare providers
identified by the member for the
purpose of applying for, and receiving
payment for, the care of children during
the day while the member is in service.
Completion of this information is
required to be approved and required to
receive payment for invoices.
AmeriCorps also seeks to continue using
the currently approved information
collection until the revised information
collection is approved by OMB. The
currently approved information
collection is due to expire on 12/31/
2021.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval. Comments are invited on: (a)
Whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology;
and (e) estimates of capital or start-up
costs and costs of operation,
maintenance, and purchase of services
to provide information. Burden means
the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to
generate, maintain, retain, disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal
agency. This includes the time needed
to review instructions; to develop,
acquire, install and utilize technology
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and systems for the purpose of
collecting, validating and verifying
information, processing and
maintaining information, and disclosing
and providing information; to train
personnel and to be able to respond to
a collection of information, to search
data sources, to complete and review
the collection of information; and to
transmit or otherwise disclose the
information. All written comments will
be available for public inspection on
regulations.gov.
Dated: August 23, 2021.
Erin Dahlin,
Chief of Program Operations.
[FR Doc. 2021–18813 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050–28–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be
Verified for the 2022–2023 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
and an applicant may be required to
verify, as well as the acceptable
documentation for verifying FAFSA
information. This is the notice for the
2022–2023 award year, Assistance
Listing Numbers 84.007, 84.033, 84.063,
and 84.268.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Vanessa Gomez, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Room 2C179, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 453–6708. Email:
Vanessa.Gomez@ed.gov.
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.
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
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
information has been selected for
verification and direct the applicant to
contact the institution for further
instructions for completing the
verification process.
To help institutions and applicants
deal with the challenges resulting from
the novel coronavirus disease (COVID–
19) pandemic, the Secretary has
provided flexibilities to the verification
regulations through the end of the first
payment period that begins after the
date that the COVID–19 national
emergency is rescinded.
The following chart lists, for the
2022–2023 award year, the FAFSA
FAFSA information
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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
and Pensions
d. IRA Deductions and Payments
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income
f. Education Credits
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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.
Acceptable documentation
Income information for tax filers:
a. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
b. U.S. Income Tax Paid
c. Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions
and Pensions
d. IRA Deductions and Payments
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income
f. Education Credits
Income information for nontax filers:
Income earned from work
49003
(1) 2020 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;
(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 2020 tax account information of the tax filer; or
(3) A copy of the income tax return 1 and the applicable schedules 1 that were filed with the
IRS or other relevant tax authority of a U.S. territory, or a foreign government that lists 2020
tax account information of the tax filer.
(1) For a student, or the parent(s) of a dependent student, who filed a 2020 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 2020 joint income tax return—
(a) A transcript obtained from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that lists 2020 tax account information of the tax filer(s); or
(b) A copy of the income tax return and the applicable schedules that were filed with the
IRS or other relevant tax authority that lists 2020 tax account information of the tax
filer(s); and
(c) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2020 employment income received or
an equivalent document.2
(2) For an individual who is required to file a 2020 IRS income tax return and has been granted a filing extension by the IRS beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year
2020—
(a) A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2020; 3
(b) Verification of nonfiling 4 from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2021;
(c) A copy of IRS Form W–2 2 for each source of 2020 employment income received or
an equivalent document; 2 and
(d) If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of AGI and U.S. income tax
paid for tax year 2020.
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, by obtaining a transcript from the IRS, or by submitting a copy of
the income tax return and the applicable schedules that were filed with the IRS that lists
2020 tax account information. When an institution receives such information, it must be used
to reverify the income and tax information reported on the FAFSA.
(3) For an individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft—
(a) A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript 1 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.
Unless the institution has reason to suspect the authenticity of the TRDBV transcript 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 income tax return with the IRS, a signed copy of
the IRS Form 1040X that was filed with the IRS for tax year 2020 or documentation from the
IRS that include the change(s) made to the tax filer’s 2020 tax information, in addition to
one of the following—
(a) IRS Data Retrieval Tool information on an ISIR record with all tax information from the
original 2020 income tax return;
(b) A transcript obtained from the IRS that lists 2020 tax account information of the tax
filer(s); or
(c) A signed copy of the 2020 IRS Form 1040 and the applicable schedules that were
filed with the IRS.
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
2020 income tax return—
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Notices
FAFSA information
Acceptable documentation
Number of Household Members ........................
Number in College ..............................................
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Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose ........
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(1) A signed statement certifying—
(a) That the individual has not filed and is not required to file a 2020 income tax return;
and
(b) The sources of 2020 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 2020 employment income received or an
equivalent document 2; and
(3) Except for dependent students, verification of nonfiling 4 from the IRS or other relevant tax
authority dated on or after October 1, 2021.
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 2022–
2023 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, excluding the
parents, who is or will be attending an eligible postsecondary educational institution as at
least a half-time student in the 2022–2023 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.’’
(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 5 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:
Statement of Educational Purpose
I certify that I llllllllllll 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 llllllllll for 2022–2023.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
llllllllllllllllll lllll
(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 government-issued 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 5 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 am
(Print Student’s Name)
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FAFSA information
49005
Acceptable documentation
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 llllllllll for 2022–2023.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational Institution)
llllllllllllllllll lllll
(Student’s Signature)
(Date)
llllllllll
(Student’s ID Number)
1 This footnote applies, where applicable, whenever an income tax return, the applicable schedules, or transcript is mentioned in the above
chart.
The copy of the 2020 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 2020 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 2020 employment income or equivalent documents; or
(b) If the individual is 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 2020; and
(c) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that indicates the individual’s 2020 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 2020 tax account information.
If an individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft is unable to obtain a TRDBV, the institution may accept an equivalent document provided by the IRS or a copy of the signed 2020 income tax return the individual filed with the IRS.
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, 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 If an individual is unable to obtain verification of nonfiling from the IRS or other relevant tax authority and, based upon the institution’s determination, it has no reason to question the student’s or family’s good-faith effort to obtain the required documentation, the institution may accept a
signed statement certifying that the individual attempted to obtain the verification of nonfiling from the IRS or other relevant tax authority and was
unable to obtain the required documentation.
For IRS extension filers, the signed statement must also indicate that the individual has not filed a 2020 income tax return and list the sources
of any 2020 income, and the amount of income from each source.
Since individuals without a Social Security Number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer Identification Number are
unable to obtain a verification of nonfiling from the IRS, these individuals whose income is below the IRS filing threshold must submit to the institution a signed and dated statement—
(a) Certifying that the individual(s) does not have a Social Security Number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer
Identification Number; and
(b) Listing the sources and amounts of earnings, other income, and resources that supported the individual(s) for the 2020 tax year.
5 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.
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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 identity/statement of
educational purpose, if selected.
For independent students—
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• 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;
• The student’s 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.
Note: Verification of nonfiling 4 from
the IRS (or other relevant tax authority,
if applicable) dated on or after October
1, 2021, must be provided for (1)
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independent students (and spouses, if
applicable) and parents of dependent
students who did not file and are not
required to file a 2020 income tax
return, and (2) individuals who are
required to file a 2020 IRS income tax
return but have not filed because they
have been granted a tax filing extension
by the IRS beyond the automatic sixmonth extension for the 2020 tax year.
The individual FAFSA items that an
applicant must verify are based upon
the Verification Tracking Group to
which the applicant is assigned as
outlined in the following chart.
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Verification
tracking flag
Verification tracking
group name
FAFSA information required to be verified
V1 .......................................................................
Standard Verification ........................................
Group ...............................................................
V2
V3
V4
V5
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
.......................................................................
Reserved ..........................................................
Reserved ..........................................................
Custom Verification Group ...............................
Aggregate Verification Group ..........................
V6 .......................................................................
Reserved ..........................................................
Tax Filers:
• Adjusted Gross Income.
• U.S. Income Tax Paid.
• Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions
and Pensions.
• IRA Deductions and Payments.
• Tax Exempt Interest Income.
• Education Tax Credits.
Nontax Filers:
• Income Earned from Work.
Tax Filers and Nontax Filers:
• Number of Household Members.
• Number in College.
N/A.
N/A.
• Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose.
Tax Filers:
• Adjusted Gross Income.
• U.S. Income Tax Paid.
• Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions
and Pensions.
• IRA Deductions and Payments.
• Tax Exempt Interest Income.
• Education Tax Credits.
Nontax Filers
• Income Earned from Work.
Tax Filers and Nontax Filers:
• Number of Household Members.
• Number in College.
• Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose.
N/A.
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Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed
discussion on the verification process in
the following resources:
• 2022–2023 Application and
Verification Guide.
• 2022–2023 ISIR Guide.
• 2022–2023 SAR Comment Codes
and Text.
• 2022–2023 COD Technical
Reference.
• Program Integrity Information—
Questions and Answers on Verification
at www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/
hearulemaking/2009/verification.html.
These publications are on the
Information for Financial Aid
Professionals website at
www.ifap.ed.gov.
Accessible Format: On request to the
program contact person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT,
individuals with disabilities can obtain
this document in an accessible format.
The Department will provide the
requestor with an accessible format that
may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or
text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3
file, braille, large print, audiotape, or
compact disc or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. You may access the official
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17:09 Aug 31, 2021
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edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations at
www.govinfo.gov. 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 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,
1070b—1070b–4, 1087a–1087j, and 20
U.S.C. 1087–51—1087–58.
Michelle Asha Cooper,
Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of
Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2021–18864 Filed 8–31–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Agency Information Collection
Extension
AGENCY:
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U.S. Department of Energy.
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Submission for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) review;
comment request.
ACTION:
The Department of Energy
(DOE) has submitted an information
collection request to the OMB for
extension under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
information collection requests a threeyear extension of its Generic Clearance
for the Collection of Qualitative
Feedback on Agency Service Delivery,
OMB Control Number 1910–5160. This
collection was developed as part of a
Federal Government-wide effort to
streamline the process for seeking
feedback from the public on service
delivery. This notice announces DOE’s
intent to submit this collection to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for approval and solicits
comments on specific aspects of the
proposed information collection.
SUMMARY:
Comments regarding this
collection must be received on or before
October 1, 2021. If you anticipate that
you will be submitting comments, but
find it difficult to do so within the
period of time allowed by this notice,
please advise the OMB Desk Officer of
your intention to make a submission as
soon as possible. The Desk Officer may
be telephoned at 202–395–4718.
DATES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49002-49006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18864]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA[supreg])
Information To Be Verified for the 2022-2023 Award Year
AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2022-2023 award year, Assistance Listing Numbers 84.007, 84.033,
84.063, and 84.268.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vanessa Gomez, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C179, Washington, DC 20202.
Telephone: (202) 453-6708. Email: [email protected].
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.
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
[[Page 49003]]
information has been selected for verification and direct the applicant
to contact the institution for further instructions for completing the
verification process.
To help institutions and applicants deal with the challenges
resulting from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the
Secretary has provided flexibilities to the verification regulations
through the end of the first payment period that begins after the date
that the COVID-19 national emergency is rescinded.
The following chart lists, for the 2022-2023 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 (1) 2020 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 and Pensions information was obtained from the IRS;
d. IRA Deductions and (2) A transcript \1\ obtained at no cost
Payments from the IRS or other relevant tax
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income authority of a U.S. territory (Guam,
f. Education Credits American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands)
or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the
Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign
government that lists 2020 tax account
information of the tax filer; or
(3) A copy of the income tax return \1\
and the applicable schedules \1\ that
were filed with the IRS or other
relevant tax authority of a U.S.
territory, or a foreign government that
lists 2020 tax account information of
the tax filer.
Income information for tax (1) For a student, or the parent(s) of a
filers with special dependent student, who filed a 2020
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 and Pensions widowed, or married to someone other
d. IRA Deductions and than the individual included on the 2020
Payments joint income tax return--
e. Tax Exempt Interest Income (a) A transcript obtained from the IRS or
f. Education Credits other relevant tax authority that lists
2020 tax account information of the tax
filer(s); or
(b) A copy of the income tax return and
the applicable schedules that were filed
with the IRS or other relevant tax
authority that lists 2020 tax account
information of the tax filer(s); and
(c) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for each
source of 2020 employment income
received or an equivalent document.\2\
(2) For an individual who is required to
file a 2020 IRS income tax return and
has been granted a filing extension by
the IRS beyond the automatic six-month
extension for tax year 2020--
(a) A copy of the IRS's approval of an
extension beyond the automatic six-month
extension for tax year 2020; \3\
(b) Verification of nonfiling \4\ from
the IRS dated on or after October 1,
2021;
(c) A copy of IRS Form W-2 \2\ for each
source of 2020 employment income
received or an equivalent document; \2\
and
(d) If self-employed, a signed statement
certifying the amount of AGI and U.S.
income tax paid for tax year 2020.
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, by obtaining a
transcript from the IRS, or by
submitting a copy of the income tax
return and the applicable schedules that
were filed with the IRS that lists 2020
tax account information. When an
institution receives such information,
it must be used to reverify the income
and tax information reported on the
FAFSA.
(3) For an individual who was the victim
of IRS tax-related identity theft--
(a) A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV)
transcript \1\ 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. Unless
the institution has reason to suspect
the authenticity of the TRDBV transcript
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 income tax return with the IRS,
a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X that
was filed with the IRS for tax year 2020
or documentation from the IRS that
include the change(s) made to the tax
filer's 2020 tax information, in
addition to one of the following--
(a) IRS Data Retrieval Tool information
on an ISIR record with all tax
information from the original 2020
income tax return;
(b) A transcript obtained from the IRS
that lists 2020 tax account information
of the tax filer(s); or
(c) A signed copy of the 2020 IRS Form
1040 and the applicable schedules that
were filed with the IRS.
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 2020 income
tax return--
[[Page 49004]]
(1) A signed statement certifying--
(a) That the individual has not filed and
is not required to file a 2020 income
tax return; and
(b) The sources of 2020 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 2020 employment income
received or an equivalent document \2\;
and
(3) Except for dependent students,
verification of nonfiling \4\ from the
IRS or other relevant tax authority
dated on or after October 1, 2021.
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 2022-2023 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, excluding the parents,
who is or will be attending an eligible
postsecondary educational institution as
at least a half-time student in the 2022-
2023 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.''
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 \5\ 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:
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 2022-2023.
(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 government-
issued 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
\5\ 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 __________ am
(Print Student's Name)
[[Page 49005]]
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 2022-2023.
(Name of Postsecondary Educational
Institution)
__________________ _____
(Student's Signature) (Date)
__________
(Student's ID Number)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This footnote applies, where applicable, whenever an income tax
return, the applicable schedules, or transcript is mentioned in the
above chart.
The copy of the 2020 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 2020 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 2020 employment
income or equivalent documents; or
(b) If the individual is 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 2020; and
(c) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant tax authority that
indicates the individual's 2020 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 2020 tax account information.
If an individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft is
unable to obtain a TRDBV, the institution may accept an equivalent
document provided by the IRS or a copy of the signed 2020 income tax
return the individual filed with the IRS.
\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, 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\ If an individual is unable to obtain verification of nonfiling from
the IRS or other relevant tax authority and, based upon the
institution's determination, it has no reason to question the
student's or family's good-faith effort to obtain the required
documentation, the institution may accept a signed statement
certifying that the individual attempted to obtain the verification of
nonfiling from the IRS or other relevant tax authority and was unable
to obtain the required documentation.
For IRS extension filers, the signed statement must also indicate that
the individual has not filed a 2020 income tax return and list the
sources of any 2020 income, and the amount of income from each source.
Since individuals without a Social Security Number, an Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer Identification Number
are unable to obtain a verification of nonfiling from the IRS, these
individuals whose income is below the IRS filing threshold must submit
to the institution a signed and dated statement--
(a) Certifying that the individual(s) does not have a Social Security
Number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an Employer
Identification Number; and
(b) Listing the sources and amounts of earnings, other income, and
resources that supported the individual(s) for the 2020 tax year.
\5\ 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 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;
The student's 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.
Note: Verification of nonfiling \4\ from the IRS (or other relevant
tax authority, if applicable) dated on or after October 1, 2021, must
be provided for (1) independent students (and spouses, if applicable)
and parents of dependent students who did not file and are not required
to file a 2020 income tax return, and (2) individuals who are required
to file a 2020 IRS income tax return but have not filed because they
have been granted a tax filing extension by the IRS beyond the
automatic six-month extension for the 2020 tax year.
The individual FAFSA items that an applicant must verify are based
upon the Verification Tracking Group to which the applicant is assigned
as outlined in the following chart.
[[Page 49006]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA information
Verification tracking flag Verification required to be
tracking group name verified
------------------------------------------------------------------------
V1.......................... Standard Tax Filers:
Verification. Adjusted
Group............... Gross Income.
U.S. Income
Tax Paid.
Untaxed
Portions of IRA
Distributions and
Pensions.
IRA
Deductions and
Payments.
Tax Exempt
Interest Income.
Education
Tax Credits.
Nontax Filers:
Income
Earned from Work.
Tax Filers and
Nontax Filers:
Number of
Household Members.
Number in
College.
V2.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
V3.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
V4.......................... Custom Verification Identity/
Group. Statement of
Educational
Purpose.
V5.......................... Aggregate Tax Filers:
Verification Group. Adjusted
Gross Income.
U.S. Income
Tax Paid.
Untaxed
Portions of IRA
Distributions and
Pensions.
IRA
Deductions and
Payments.
Tax Exempt
Interest Income.
Education
Tax Credits.
Nontax Filers
Income
Earned from Work.
Tax Filers and
Nontax Filers:
Number of
Household Members.
Number in
College.
Identity/
Statement of
Educational
Purpose.
V6.......................... Reserved............ N/A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Sources for Detailed Information
We provide a more detailed discussion on the verification process
in the following resources:
2022-2023 Application and Verification Guide.
2022-2023 ISIR Guide.
2022-2023 SAR Comment Codes and Text.
2022-2023 COD Technical Reference.
Program Integrity Information--Questions and Answers on
Verification at www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2009/verification.html.
These publications are on the Information for Financial Aid
Professionals website at www.ifap.ed.gov.
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file,
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc or other accessible
format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. 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 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, 1070b--1070b-4, 1087a-1087j,
and 20 U.S.C. 1087-51--1087-58.
Michelle Asha Cooper,
Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2021-18864 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
