Verification is a review process in which the Office of Student Financial Assistance determines the accuracy of various data elements reported by the student/parent on the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The U.S. Department of Education selects approximately 30% of all aid applicants for verification. The Catholic University of America selects an additional percentage of first-time undergraduate students for federal and institutional verification. During the verification process, the student and parent will be required to submit documentation for the amounts listed (or not listed) on the financial aid application. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid they are entitled to receive and prevents ineligible students from receiving the aid they are not entitled to receive.

Independent students or parents selected for verification that did not file taxes are required to submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.

Dependent students should confirm non-filing on the verification worksheet in section D.

What is an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter?

An IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter provides evidence that the IRS has no record of a filed Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ for the year you requested.

Non-Tax filers can request an IRS Verification of Non-filing of their tax return status without charge, from the IRS in one of two ways:

By Paper - most commonly used option by students who have never filed taxes and do not have their own credit account.

Online & Phone - only available if the student has filed taxes previously and has a credit account.

 

Requesting an IRS Verification on Non-filing Letter

Paper Request Form – IRS Form 4506-T
Download the partially completed IRS Form 4506-T at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf

Complete lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
Line 3: enter the non filer's street address and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS.
Line 5 provides non filers with the option to have their IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter mailed directly to a third party by the IRS. Do not have your IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter sent directly to Catholic University.
Line 6: Enter tax form number 1040.
Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right hand side for Verification of Nonfiling.
Line 9: Year or period requested field, enter "12/31/YEAR". Input the YEAR that corresponds with the income tax year reported on the FAFSA. You may refer to your To-Do List or Missing Information Letter (MIL) for more details.

The non filer must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required when requesting a joint IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.
Fax or mail the completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506-T. Fax is typically much faster.

If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter at the address provided on their request within 5 to 10 days.
Submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, to our office by email, fax, or mail; make sure to include the student’s name and Catholic University ID on the letter.


Online Request
Available at www.irs.gov

Note: This is typically not available if you have never filed taxes before in prior years. If this is the case, please use the paper request process detailed below.

Under Tools, select "Get a tax transcript."
Click “Get Transcript ONLINE.”
Enter the non filer’s personal details that the IRS.gov portal requests.
Once you have gained access, Click “Continue.”
Select "Verification of Non-filing Letter " and in the Tax Year field, select the YEAR that corresponds with the income tax year reported on the FAFSA


If successfully validated, you will be able to view your IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.
Submit the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter, to our office by email, fax, or mail; make sure to include the student’s name and Catholic University ID on the letter.
 
If you experience any errors with this matter, the IRS.gov Website Help Desk can be reached toll-free at 1-800-876-1715, Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Our office is unable to troubleshoot this request.