Federal Verification is a review process in which Pace University, as required by the U.S. Department of Education, must verify the accuracy of the information provided on a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Approximately 30% of all FAFSAs are selected for verification, and the reason for selection can vary:
- You can be chosen at random.
- Your FAFSA contains estimated information.
- Your FAFSA was incomplete.
- There were inconsistencies found in the information you provided on your FAFSA.
- Income reported is insufficient to support the household size.
Federal programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grant, Federal Work Study, Parent (PLUS) Loan and the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program have strict eligibility requirements. University aid may also be affected.
Initial financial aid awards are based on the information we have on file for students before Federal Verification. If the tax and household information differs from the information reported on the student's FAFSA, financial aid could be increased, decreased or canceled altogether.
In order to ensure that this process is complete and your financial aid is finalized by the bill due date, documentation must be submitted by April 1st for the Fall semester and December 2nd for the Spring semester.
Requirements for Federal Verification
Schools are required to verify:
- Number of household members.
- Number enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution at least half-time (excluding parents).
- Parents and students income tax information and/or earning from work.
- Identity/Statement of Educational Purpose in person or certified by a notary public*
(*in some cases)
Most of these items are verified using IRS tax information. If you and/or your parent (and/or spouse, if applicable) are not required to file a tax return for the year in question, you will indicate this on the Federal Verification Worksheet and list all sources of income received. Parents and Independent Students must also submit an IRS verification of non-filing letter. Financial aid cannot be finalized until all requested documentation has been supplied.
Required Documentation for Verification
FEDERAL VERIFICATION WORKSHEET
This worksheet may be found on your MyPace Portal and may be submitted using our electronic paperless form or PDF via our Document Submission Form.
- Go to MyPace Portal.
- Log in with your MyPace Portal username and password.
- After logging in, click on the “Students” tab.
- Select "Financial Aid" followed by the “Financial Aid System” link.
- All financial aid requirements can be found on the Financial Aid "Home" tab.
- Click the requirement link for the Verification Worksheet.
- Complete, sign and submit the Verification worksheet.
Dependent students must have their parents sign their worksheet as well.
INCOME INFORMATION
Tax Filers
This includes both parents, student and student’s spouse if applicable.
- Recommended to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) which transfers your IRS tax information directly into your FAFSA.
- An IRS Tax Return Transcript obtain by download at IRS Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T (PDF).
- A signed 1040 Federal Tax Return – including Schedule 1, 2 and/or 3 if applicable.
Non-Tax Filers
Non-Tax Filers Must Submit Income Earned From Work. This includes both parents, students and student’s spouse if applicable.
- Signed statement of all earnings must be included on verification worksheet.
- Submit W2’s from each employer or an IRS Wage and Income Transcript. The IRS Wage and Income Transcript may be obtained by using IRS Get Transcript Online or Form 4506-T (PDF).
- Foreign residents must submit a Wage and Tax Statement or equivalent. Earnings from company letterhead.
- Submit Verification of Non-Filing
Verification of Non-Filing is required for both parents, independent students and their spouses, if applicable.
- The non-filing letter is obtained by download at IRS Get Transcript Online or by filing IRS Form 4506-T (PDF) (checking box 7).
- If the parent is unable to obtain a non-filing letter from the IRS because they do not have a social security number they may complete the Pace verification of non-filing letter.
- A Foreign Resident must submit verification of non-filing from a tax authority or a signed statement that they did not file and they were not required to file a tax return.
For more information regarding the types of information information required for Federal Verification please visit our Federal Verification webpage.