More tools are available for your 2025-26 award year planning.
A recent Dear Colleague Letter from the Department details the changes in verification for 2025-26 and provides suggested text for schools to use.
According to the Department, the verification process for 2025-26 is essentially unchanged. Federal tax information (FTI) transferred via the FA-DDX to the FAFSA will be considered verified and schools are not required to collect a Tax Return Transcript or signed copy of the 2023 income tax return.
Individuals who are victims of IRS tax-related identity theft will need to provide:
- a copy of their signed 2023 income tax return and applicable schedules, and
- IRS 4674C (IRS letter acknowledging the identity theft), or
- a signed and dated statement by the tax filer stating that he or she was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft, and that the IRS is aware of it.
Students who are confined or incarcerated:
- will only be required to verify their identity and sign a statement of education purpose when selected for V4 or V5 verification. (An official ID issued by the correctional facility will be acceptable documentation of identity.)
- Schools are not required to verify a confined or incarcerated student selected under the V1 tracking group.
For confined or incarcerated students who are unable to submit a signed and notarized Statement of Education Purpose:
- a signed statement from an authorized correctional facility official is acceptable.
- the official will confirm that the person who completed the FAFSA and was selected for verification is the person signing the Statement of Educational Purpose.
The suggested verification text in Appendix A fulfills regulatory requirements, although schools are not required to use it. Schools must, however, use the exact language in the Statement of Educational Purpose.
