Financial Aid Verification

Our Financial Aid Office staff members are ready to guide you through the review process called "Verification." We can help you submit IRS tax documentation correctly and on time. Visit our Financial Aid Help Desk for further assistance online.

Hours: Monday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m - 6 p.m. / Friday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Remember: To protect your personal information, have your El Camino College student ID or any government-issued photo ID ready when working with the Financial Aid Office. Without a photo ID, we can only answer general financial aid questions. We recommend that you use a laptop or computer for Zoom. This will allow you to easily use the screenshare feature and view documents with Financial Aid staff online.

Financial Aid Verification

If you are selected for verification, you must submit certain tax documentation to the financial aid office. You are highly encouraged to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to submit the documents. We can help through the process!

Verification Forms

Correct your FAFSA and use IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

Review Your FAFSA

You can review/request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.

Request IRS Tax Return Transcript

Retrieval Steps and Information

IRS Data Retrieval Tool Instructions:

  1. Log in to FAFSA
  2. Select “Make Corrections”
  3. Click on the “Financial” tab
  4. Select that you (or your parents) have “Already Completed” taxes
  5. Click the “View Options to Link to the IRS”
  6. Click “Link to IRS”
  7. Select “OK” at the prompts
  8. Complete by entering all information exactly as it appears on your tax return
  9. Click “Submit”
  10. Review the information for accuracy, then check the box next to “Transfer my Tax Information”
  11. Click “Transfer Now”
  12. Go to the end of your FAFSA and sign with your FSA ID
  13. Click “Submit”
  • You have successfully submitted a federal tax return with the IRS
  • You have a valid Social Security Number (SSN)
  • You have separate FSA User IDs and passwords for both parent and student obtained from the Federal Student Aid website.

If you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and you change the transferred data, it will prompt us to request that you submit an IRS Tax Return Transcript. If we have requested an IRS Tax Return Transcript because you have changed transferred data, you can go back to FAFSA On the Web and go through the process to import the IRS data without changing the data.

Once that updated or corrected FAFSA has been submitted and it processes through our system, we should be able to clear the request for the IRS Tax Return Transcript.

  • Your marital status changes after the end of the tax year, e.g., you completed the 2017 Federal 1040 as married but you are now divorced
  • You filing status is "Married Filing Separately"
  • You are Married and filed "Head of Household"
  • You filed a foreign tax return
  • You filed a Puerto Rican tax return
  • You filed your taxes within the last two-10 weeks
  • You have an outstanding balance/owe taxes to the IRS
  • You are a taxpayer who files using a Tax ID Number (TIN) rather than a Social Security Number (SSN)
  • You filed an amended tax return (Form 1040X)

Please note if you filed a Puerto Rican or Foreign Income Tax return you must submit appropriate non-filing documentation from a relevant tax authority.

Requests are available through the Internal Revenue Service website.

  • Under Tools, click "Get a Tax Transcript."
  • Click "Get Transcript ONLINE" (If at any point, you cannot validate your identity - for example you cannot provide financial verification information or you lack access to a mobile phone - you would want to use the Get Transcript by MAIL option, see below for instructions).
  • Enter the non-filer’s Social Security Number (you can use your ITIN or EIN), email address, filing status, account numbers for loan or credit card associated with your name, and mobile phone associate with your name. This information will be used to verify your identity with the IRS.
  • Click "Continue."
  • Select "Return Transcript" and in the tax year field select the correct tax year.
  • If successfully validated, you will be able to view your IRS Tax Transcript, then print it out for submission.
  • Under Tools, click "Get Transcript of your Tax Records."
  • Click "Get Transcript by MAIL."
  • Enter the non-filer’s Social Security Number (ITIN and EIN can be used), date of birth, street address and zip/postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS, if you have trouble, please see our helpful suggestions below.
  • Click "Continue”
  • Select "Return Transcript" and in the tax years field, select the correct tax year.
  • If successfully validated, non-filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter at the address included in your online request within five to 10 days.

Available from the IRS by Calling 1-800-908-9946

  • Follow prompts to enter your Social Security Number (ITIN and EIN can be used) and the numbers in the street address.
  • Select "Option 1" to request an IRS Tax Transcript and then enter the correct tax year.
  • If successfully validated, non-filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter at the address provided in their telephone request within five to 10 days from the time of request.
  • IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party.

Download IRS Form 4506-T

  • Complete Lines 1 - 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
  • Line 3: enter the non-filer’s street address and zip/postal code.
  • Line 5: provides non-filers with the option to have their tax transcripts mailed directly to a 3rd party by the IRS. DO NOT have your tax transcripts mailed directly to the college.
  • Line 6a: Select the checkbox on the right-hand side for Return Transcript.
  • Line 9: In the year or period requested field, enter "12/31/2016."
  • The non-filer must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number.
  • Mail or Fax the Completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address or FAX number provided on page 2 of form 4506-T.
  • 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 five to 10 days.

When entering the information into the IRS address matching system, note the following:

  • The address entered must match the address already on file with the IRS exactly.
  • The address on file is typically the address on your most recent tax return.
  • Spelling out the word "street" rather than using the abbreviation "St." can be enough to cause an error.
  • Addresses on the IRS system are auto corrected through a United States Postal Services software and may not match what you put on your tax return.

We have the following suggestions if you run into problems:

  • Have your most recent tax return in front of you to enter the address carefully as it is on your return.
  • If you have entered your address as it appears on your return and it does not work, try using the standardized version of your address.
    • To get a standardized version of your address go to the USPS website and search by Zip Code. Enter the address and click find.
  • If you still have problems, the IRS Tax Payer Assistance Representatives can be reached at 1-844-545-5640.

Important Notes

The FAFSA On the Web IRS Data Retrieval Process will only transfer information from an original tax return and not from an amended tax return. Similarly, the IRS Tax Return Transcript only includes information from the original tax return.

Therefore, both an IRS Tax Return Transcript and an IRS 1040X Form must be obtained and submitted to the school for review to be completed when an amended tax return is filed for the requested tax year.

The FAFSA On the Web IRS Data Retrieval Process will transfer all information from the original tax Return; this includes any rollover funds that may be inflating the reported Adjusted Gross Income.

Unfortunately, this is not something you can correct without canceling the validity of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. For this, you can either use the tool and submit (with no corrections) or correct the information and provide us with a copy of the Tax Return Transcript.

You would then submit a copy of your 1099-R, page 1 and 2 (signed) of your Federal 1040, and a letter of explanation/request for consideration for a manual FAFSA correction.

The FAFSA On the Web IRS Data Retrieval Process will only transfer information from an original tax return and not from an amended tax return. Similarly, the IRS Tax Return Transcript only includes information from the original tax return.

Therefore, both an IRS Tax Return Transcript and an IRS 1040X Form must be obtained and submitted to the school for review to be completed when an amended tax return is filed for the requested tax year.

The FAFSA On the Web IRS Data Retrieval Process will transfer all information from the original tax Return; this includes any rollover funds that may be inflating the reported Adjusted Gross Income.

Unfortunately, this is not something you can correct without canceling the validity of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. For this, you can either use the tool and submit (with no corrections) or correct the information and provide us with a copy of the Tax Return Transcript.

You would then submit a copy of your 1099-R, page 1 and 2 (signed) of your Federal 1040, and a letter of explanation/request for consideration for a manual FAFSA correction.

Questions? Contact Us

Financial Aid

Student Services Building 248 & 229

 

Business hours SSB-229 (In-Person)

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Online Support: FA Help Desk

Business hours Help Desk (Virtual):
Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Email: [email protected]