Each academic year, the federal government randomly selects FAFSA applicants for verification. The Department of Education requires universities to collect documentation from selected students to verify FAFSA accuracy. 

If you are randomly selected for verification, you'll receive an email and the additional required documentation will be listed in AppalNet Self Service along with a link to submit the documentation.

This process primarily reviews tax and income information, but additional documents may be required. If any changes are needed, the university will update the FAFSA, electronically submit the corrections to the Department of Education, and adjust financial aid once approved.  

Standard Verification Items

Verification may require documentation of the following:

  • Adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • Income earned from work
  • U.S. income tax paid
  • Untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions
  • IRA deductions and payments
  • Tax-exempt interest income
  • Education credits
  • Foreign income exempt from federal taxation
  • Family size
  • Identity Verification
  • Statement of Educational Purpose (SEP)

IRS Tax Return Transcript

If tax documentation is required, there are a number of ways to obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript.

Completing the Verification Process

Verification must be completed before financial aid can be disbursed. If you are selected, submit all requested information and contact us or schedule an appointment or drop in with any questions.

The App State Office of Student Financial Aid and University Scholarships uses StudentForms to complete verification online. Follow these steps to set up your StudentForms account through AppalNet Self-Service:

  1. Log into AppalNet Self-Service and click on the Financial Aid tab.
  2. Go to My Eligibility then select Student Requirements. Choose appropriate Award Year from the drop-down menu.
  3. Under the Student Requirements tab, click the StudentForms Action Items link.
  4. Create your account by confirming your student information, ensuring it matches your FAFSA exactly, then click Create Account.
  5. If your information does not match your FAFSA, a red notice will appear, allowing you to make corrections. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid if issues persist.
  6. Once your account is created, log in and click Fill Out to complete the required form.
  7. At the end of the form, you may create an E-Sign PIN to submit your form digitally.
  8. If a parent signature is required, enter your parent’s email address and click Send Request. Your parent must create an account matching FAFSA details before signing.
  9. Once all signatures are completed, click the green Finish button to finalize verification.

Verification Completion Deadline

Your deadline for submitting verification documents for federal and state aid programs (except for the Federal Pell Grant) is 30 days prior to the end of the academic year or your last period of enrollment. This deadline allows us to process and authorize disbursements within the timeframe permitted under state and federal regulations. If you do not provide required documents within this timeframe, it will result in cancelation of your financial aid offers. The deadline for you to submit verification documentation may be extended up to 60 days after the last day of enrollment during the academic year or last period of enrollment on a case-by-case basis. Even with the exceptions you may forfeit your eligibility for certain types of financial aid due to other regulatory deadlines.

A Federal Pell Grant applicant selected for verification must have any verification updates completed by the deadline published in the Federal Register. The deadline specified in the Federal Register is 120 days after the last day of classes in the prior academic term.