Verification Policy

The documentation which is required to complete verification will be listed on the Student Requirements page on Ozone. Forms will indicate the specific year(s) for which information is being requested. To access Ozone:

1. Log onto Ozone at ozone.fsbm3721.com
2. Locate the Financial Aid Summary card. Verify that you are viewing the desired aid year and click on unsatisfied requirements.

The student, the student’s spouse, and the student’s parents, as applicable, may be asked to provide some or all of the following information.

Identity and use of financial aid

• Proof of identity (an unexpired, valid, photo identification issued by a U.S. government entity)
• Statement of educational purpose confirming that financial aid will only be used for educational expenses

Household members

• Documentation of the names, ages, and college enrollment status of the individuals in the household, along with their relationship to the student

Income information

• Tax filers: Individuals who were required to file a federal income tax return must provide information from the IRS confirming federal income tax information for the requested year. Students and parents are highly encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA® in order to copy IRS information to the FAFSA®. Individuals who choose not to, or are unable to, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool must provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript or a signed copy of their federal income tax return. This includes Form 1040, plus Schedules 1, 2, and 3 (if filed). Confirmation of eligibility to file under a particular filing status may be required. Copies of all W-2's for the student, spouse, and/or parents for the requested year may also be required.
• Rollovers: Individuals who have a rollover listed on their federal tax return for the requested year must submit one of the following:

(1.)       a signed copy of their federal tax return showing it was a rollover; or

(2.)       a copy of their 1099-R, along with the IRS Tax Return Transcript

• Amended returns: Individuals who filed an amendment to their federal income tax return must submit the following:
  (1.) an IRS transcript or any other IRS tax transcript for the tax year that includes all of the income and tax information to be reported on the FAFSA®, or a signed copy of the original federal income tax return; AND
  (2.) a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X which has been filed with the IRS.
• Filing extensions: Individuals who have been granted a filing extension by the IRS must provide all of the following:

1. 1. Documentation of filing extension
      1. Individuals who only have an automatic six-month extension to file must file their return, then provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript, provide a signed copy of their federal income tax return and schedules, or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
      2. Individuals who have been granted a filing extension beyond the automatic extension must provide a copy of the IRS’s approval of an additional extension beyond the automatic six-month extension, such as IRS Form 2350 (Application for Extension of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return).
      3. An individual called up for active duty or qualifying National Guard duty during war or other military operation or national emergency may provide a signed statement certifying that they have not filed a return or requested an extension because of this service.
   2. A copy of all W-2's for the requested year
   3. A signed statement certifying the following for the requested tax year:

(a.) a tax return was not filed

(b.) the sources and amounts of any income

(c.) any adjusted gross income and the federal income tax paid from self-employment

1. 4. Confirmation of non-filing from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority dated on or after October 1 of the year that the FAFSA® is available. Individuals can obtain the IRS documentation by checking box 7 on IRS Form 4506-T. Individuals who are unable to obtain this confirmation should contact the Student Service Center for assistance.

• Tax information not available: Individuals who filed a tax return, did not retain a copy, and whose information cannot be located by the IRS, must submit all of the following:
  (1.) Copies of all W-2's or an equivalent document
  (2.) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority that indicates that the individual's tax account information cannot be located
  (3.) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain a copy of their tax account information. Self-employed individuals must list their adjusted gross income and income taxes paid on the statement.  Additional documentation of income may be requested.
• W-2's not available: Individuals who are required to submit W-2's but did not keep a copy should request a duplicate from the employer who issued the original or from the government agency that issued the equivalent document. Individuals who are unable to obtain this information should contact the Student Service Center for assistance.
• Non-filers: Individuals who did not file a federal tax return for the requested year because they were not required to do so must provide copies of all W-2's for the requested year, a signed statement certifying that they have not filed and are not required to file, and a listing of the sources and amounts of income earned from work. Individuals other than dependent students must provide confirmation of non-filing from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority dated on or after October 1 of the year that the FAFSA® is available. Individuals who are unable to obtain this confirmation should contact the Student Service Center for assistance.
• IRS identity theft: Individuals who were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft must submit all of the following:
  (1.) a Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript or equivalent document obtained from the IRS's Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490
  (2.) a signed and dated statement by the tax filer indicating that they were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft of which the IRS has been made aware.
• Foreign tax returns and wage statements: Individuals who filed a foreign income tax return must provide a transcript (obtained at no cost) of the foreign tax return from the country's central government taxing authority, along with an English translation (if the return is not in English). If a transcript cannot be obtained at no cost, a signed copy of the original income tax return may be provided. Individuals who did not file and were not required to file a tax return, for whom W-2's are requested, may be required to provide a copy of the wage and tax statement from the foreign taxing authority.
• Family support: Confirmation of a family's ability to provide sufficient financial support for the number of household family members reported.
• Clarifying documents: Documentation to clarify income and adjustments to income as reported on the FAFSA®.

Other information

• Additional documentation as requested by the Office of Financial Aid. This includes, but is not limited to documentation to confirm information provided on the FAFSA®; information provided on application materials or forms; or information provided verbally or in writing to college faculty or staff.

Students should contact the Student Service Center for assistance with verification requirements if they are unable to provide the required documentation due to one or more of the following situations:

For dependent students:

• The parents are residing in a country other than the United States and cannot be contacted by normal means of communication.
• Both of the student's parents are mentally incapacitated.

For independent students who are/were married:

• The spouse is deceased.
• The spouse is mentally incapacitated.

The documentation which is required to complete verification will be listed on the Student Requirements page on Ozone. Forms will indicate the specific year(s) for which information is being requested. To access Ozone:

1. Log onto Ozone at ozone.fsbm3721.com
2. Locate the Financial Aid Summary card. Verify that you are viewing the desired aid year and click on unsatisfied requirements.

The student, the student’s spouse, and the student’s parents, as applicable, may be asked to provide some or all of the following information.

Identity and use of financial aid

• Proof of identity (an unexpired, valid, photo identification issued by a U.S. government entity)
• Statement of educational purpose confirming that financial aid will only be used for educational expenses

Family size

• Documentation of the names and ages of the individuals in the family, along with their relationship to the student

Income information

• Tax filers: Individuals who were required to file a federal income tax return must provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript or a signed copy of their federal income tax return for the requested year. This includes Form 1040, plus Schedules 1, 2, and 3 (if filed). Confirmation of eligibility to file under a particular filing status may be required. Copies of all W-2's for the student, spouse, and/or parents for the requested year may also be required.
• Rollovers: Individuals who have a rollover listed on their federal tax return for the requested year must submit a signed statement confirming the amount of the rollover in the untaxed pension or IRA distribution.
• Amended returns: Individuals who filed an amendment to their federal income tax return must submit the following:
  (1.) an IRS transcript or any other IRS tax transcript for the tax year that includes all of the original income and tax information to be reported on the FAFSA®, or a signed copy of the original federal income tax return; AND
  (2.) a signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X which has been filed with the IRS or documentation from the IRS that includes the changes.
• Filing extensions: Individuals who have been granted a filing extension by the IRS must provide all of the following:

1. 1. Documentation of filing extension
      1. Individuals who only have an automatic six-month extension to file must file their return, then provide an IRS Tax Return Transcript or a signed copy of their federal income tax return and schedules.
      2. Individuals who have been granted a filing extension beyond the automatic extension must provide a copy of the IRS’s approval of an additional extension beyond the automatic six-month extension, such as IRS Form 2350 (Application for Extension of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return).
      3. An individual called up for active duty or qualifying National Guard duty during war or other military operation or national emergency may provide a signed statement certifying that they have not filed a return or requested an extension because of this service.
   2. A copy of all W-2's for the requested year
   3. A signed statement certifying the following for the requested tax year:
      1. a tax return was not filed
      2. the sources and amounts of any income
      3. any adjusted gross income and the federal income tax paid from self-employment

• Tax information not available: Individuals who filed a tax return, did not retain a copy, and whose information cannot be located by the IRS, must submit all of the following:
  (1.) Copies of all W-2's or an equivalent document
  (2.) Documentation from the IRS or other relevant taxing authority that indicates that the individual's tax account information cannot be located
  (3.) A signed statement that indicates that the individual did not retain a copy of their tax account information. Self-employed individuals must list their adjusted gross income and income taxes paid on the statement.  Additional documentation of income may be requested.
• W-2's not available: Individuals who are required to submit W-2's but did not keep a copy should request a duplicate from the employer who issued the original or from the government agency that issued the equivalent document. Individuals who are unable to obtain this information should contact the Student Service Center for assistance.
• Non-filers: Individuals who did not file a federal tax return for the requested year because they were not required to do so must provide copies of all W-2's for the requested year, a signed and dated statement certifying that they have not filed and are not required to file, a listing of the sources and amounts of income earned from work, and verification of certain income not subject to income tax. Individuals who do not have a Social Security number, Individual Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN), or Employer Identification Number (EIN) must indicate this in their statement. Individuals other than dependent students, who are subject to a taxing authority other than the IRS, must provide confirmation of non-filing from the relevant taxing authority dated on or after October 1 of the year that the FAFSA® is available.  Individuals who are unable to obtain this confirmation should contact the Student Service Center for assistance.
• IRS identity theft: Individuals who were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft must submit all of the following:
  (1.) a Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript or equivalent document obtained from the IRS's Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490
  (2.) a signed and dated statement by the tax filer indicating that they were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft of which the IRS has been made aware.
• Foreign tax returns and wage statements: Individuals who filed a foreign income tax return must provide a transcript (obtained at no cost) of the foreign tax return from the country's central government taxing authority, along with an English translation (if the return is not in English). If a transcript cannot be obtained at no cost, a signed copy of the original income tax return may be provided. Individuals who did not file and were not required to file a tax return, for whom W-2's are requested, may be required to provide a copy of the wage and tax statement from the foreign taxing authority.
• Family support: Confirmation of a family's ability to provide sufficient financial support for the family size reported
• Clarifying documents: Documentation to clarify income and adjustments to income as reported on the FAFSA®.

Other information

• Additional documentation as requested by the Office of Financial Aid. This includes, but is not limited to documentation to confirm information provided on the FAFSA®; information provided on application materials or forms; or information provided verbally or in writing to college faculty or staff.

Students should contact the Student Service Center for assistance with verification requirements if they are unable to provide the required documentation due to one or more of the following situations:

For dependent students:

• The parents are residing in a country other than the United States and cannot be contacted by normal means of communication.
• Both of the student's parents are mentally incapacitated.

For independent students who are/were married:

• The spouse is deceased.
• The spouse is mentally incapacitated.