Financial Aid Handbook

Information

The “Link to IRS” option, so that students and parents can choose to transfer their tax and income information from the IRS database into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is available again for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 years when completing the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This should make it easier for applicants to transfer and enter the correct data from the correct tax year into the FAFSA. The transfer option is still not available for the 2017-2018 application.

Due to the partial federal government shutdown, agencies like the Internal Revenue Service may be closed or provide limited services. Local IRS branches may be closed, and, currently, the “Get Transcript” online feature is not working, and the 1-800-908-9946 is not accepting calls to request IRS documentation. Financial Aid Offices may be able to use alternative documentation to verify FAFSA information during the shutdown, but, until we receive guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, we are unable to complete the verification process without the required tax and income documents. See announcement here

Students and parents may still need to request a Tax Return Transcript for the appropriate tax year at www.irs.gov. For the 2018-2019 year, if an independent student or parent of a dependent student did not work or have to file taxes in tax year 2016, you will need to submit a 2016 Statement of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS if requested: this can also be obtained through the IRS website, by phone, by mail, or from a local IRS office. For the 2019-2020 year, you will need to request tax documentation from 2017.

If you complete your 2019-2020 FAFSA, make sure to review your “Student Aid Report” at www.fafsa.ed.gov or with the confirmation email sent to you by Federal Student Aid. The Office of Financial Aid plans to begin loading new FAFSA applications by January, 2019.

Office Hours

• 8:00 – 5:30 Monday – Thursday
• 8:00 – 4:30 Friday