Verification Guide

The Financial Aid & Scholarship Department is required to verify information on your financial aid application before your aid eligibility is determined. This guide will assist you with the verification process and explain how to find and submit the necessary documents. If you have been assigned to submit a Dependent or Independent Verification Worksheet on your To Do List, you are required to read this guide. You must submit all required documents before we can award you financial aid, including loans.

Why am I selected for verification?
The Department of Education (FAFSA applicants) and the California Student Aid Commission (CA Dream applicants) require all schools to verify the accuracy of information provided by the financial aid applicants. If you are selected for verification, you must submit all requested documents to be considered for aid.

How does the verification process affect my financial aid?
You cannot be awarded aid, including student loans, until you have submitted the required verification documents and the documents have been reviewed. If additional information is needed, you will receive an email notice through your CSUN email account. Please be sure to check your CSUN email account regularly. The verification process may take several weeks, especially during Summer, so please be sure to submit the requested documents as soon as possible.

How do I submit the required Electronic Verification Worksheet (e-verification)?
The verification worksheet is an electronic form you access through your CSUN portal. Once you are logged in, navigate to My Finances and select Financial Aid & Scholarships to access your To-Do List. Your To-Do List will display the assigned Dependent or Independent Verification Worksheet.

• Detailed instructions on how to complete the Dependent Verification form.
• Detailed instructions on how to complete the Independent Verification form.

What if I don’t have a computer or cannot access the e-verification worksheet on my computer?
The University Student Union provides access to computers in the Computer Lab.

What if I, or my parent(s), was unable to transfer my 2022 Federal Tax Information (FTI) into my FAFSA?

If you were unable to transfer your FTI into your FAFSA, you can submit one of the following:

• A signed copy of your 2022 Tax Return along with all applicable schedules
• A IRS 2022 Tax Return Transcript. For instruction on how to request a Federal Tax Return Transcript, read the How to Guide. 

Once I receive the tax return transcript, what do I need to do?
Once you have received your tax return transcript(s), follow the instructions on the Verification Worksheet to submit a copy to our office.

DO NOT write or make any markings on the tax return transcript, other than writing your Student ID number. DO NOT mail the original tax return transcript(s) as they will not be returned. The Financial Aid Office will not make copies.

How do I submit documents to the Financial Aid Office?

1. Log onto the CSUN Portal and navigate to your SOLAR Student Center to see your “To Do List”. You can review our tutorial on how to view your “To-Do” List.

2. Submit your documents using one of the following options:

• CSUN Portal:
  Upload your documents by logging onto the CSUN Portal and submit online. 

Important: Before uploading your documents, please make sure to save your documents as a PDF file and use your student ID number as the file name. You can view a tutorial on how to upload your documents.

• Mail:
  Financial Aid & Scholarship Department
  California State University, Northridge
  18111 Nordhoff St.
  Northridge, CA 91330-8307 

Important: Make sure to include your Student ID number on each page you submit.

How long will it take for my verification documents to be processed?
We review all documents within the date order received. It may take up to nine weeks for your verification documents to be processed and if additional information is requested, we recommend you submit the required documents as soon as possible.

Once you submit your documents, please be patient. Do not contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department to confirm receipt of documents. Check your CSUN Portal weekly for confirmation. A new message will appear on your Portal indicating your file is under review. The documents will be removed from your To-Do list once they have been reviewed for completeness. If documents are incomplete, they will be listed as “Initiated” on your To-Do list and you will receive an email informing you of what is missing. Continue to check your CSUN email account regularly.

I didn't file a federal tax return, but it's on my To-Do List. What do I do?

• If you are an Independent student or the parent of a Dependent student, you will need to submit a 2024-2025 Verification of Non-Filing form. Submit the form to our office along with a copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of 2022 employment income received (if you were employed during 2022). 

• If you are a Dependent student, you must submit a copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of 2022 employment income received (if you were employed during 2022). If you were not employed in 2022, indicate on your 2024-2025 Dependent Verification Worksheet that you are a TAX RETURN NON-FILER, you were not employed, and had no income earned from work in 2022.

Why did I receive a request for additional information?
If you received a request for additional information, it means the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department must clarify information on the documents you submitted. Review the request carefully and submit the required information. Your financial aid award cannot be determined until the requested documents are received and reviewed. Be sure to include your CSUN ID and sign and date any statements or forms to prevent further delay.

My parents filed separate federal tax returns. Whose do I submit?
Submit tax transcripts or tax returns for both parents if you listed both on your FAFSA or CA Dream Application.

My parents are separated or divorced but filed a joint tax return. What do I do?
Submit the joint tax transcript or tax return and copies of W-2’s for both parents. We will separate the income and taxes for each parent and use only the information for the parent listed on your Verification Worksheet.

What if my parents or I filed a foreign tax return?
Submit a signed copy of the foreign tax return along with an English translation. Convert all monetary units to U.S. dollars, using the exchange rate in effect as of the date you filed your FAFSA or CA Dream Application. To view the daily exchange rate, visit the Federal Reserve website.

My spouse and I filed separate federal tax returns. Whose do I submit?
Submit the separate tax transcripts or tax returns for both you and your spouse if you were married at the time you filed your FAFSA.

I filed an amended tax return. What documents do I submit?
If you file an amended tax return, you must submit a signed copy of your 2022 1040X form that was filed AND either of the following:

• Updated income and tax information from the IRS on an ISIR record with all tax information from the original tax return
• An IRS 2022 Tax Account Transcript
• A signed copy of IRS 2022 Tax Return 1040 and all applicable schedules

What happens if I don't provide the requested information?
We cannot determine aid eligibility nor disburse funds until all requested documents are received and reviewed. Upon signing the FAFSA or CA Dream Application, you agreed to "provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form."

Will my income information be kept private?
Yes. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the release of student information to third parties. Parental or spousal information received during the verification process is also protected under FERPA and will not be released to third-party recipients. Exceptions may include but are not limited to, subpoenas and federal audits of university records.

What if my or my parent's information on the federal tax transcript no longer reflects current income due to loss of employment?
Students and families who experience special circumstances that have caused a significant change in income may submit an Income Appeal. Appeal forms are available online in mid-August for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Income Appeal forms are found on the under the 2024-2025 Special and Unusual Circumstance page.

What if either my parent or I cannot access the tax transcript because of being a victim of IRS tax identity theft?
If you are a victim of IRS identity theft and unable to obtain an IRS tax return transcript or transfer your Federal Tax Information, you must contact the IRS at 1-800-908-4490. Upon authenticating your identity, the IRS will provide a printout of the IRS income tax return information by U.S. Postal Service. You will need to submit all pages of the provided document to the Financial Aid Department. You will also need to submit a signed and dated statement from the tax filer indicating they were victims of IRS tax-related identity theft and the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.

What do I submit if a tax extension was filed?
Only students and parents granted an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension may submit the following for verification:

• Signed statement certifying the individual has not filed a 2022 income tax return, and list the sources of all 2022 income and the amount of income from each source;
• An IRS Verification of Non-filing form;
• A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2022;
• Copies of all 2022 W-2 forms (or equivalent); and
• If self-employed, a signed statement with the amounts of their AGI and U.S. income taxes paid for 2022.

How can I make sure my financial aid is ready by the first day of school?
Verification can take several weeks to process. You should submit your documents as soon as possible. Our goal is to have your aid offer ready by the start of the fall term. If you submitted your financial aid application late and/or have submitted your required documents late, you may need to be prepared to pay for any charges owed to the university.

The Financial Aid & Scholarship Department is required to verify information on your financial aid application before your aid eligibility is determined. This guide will assist you with the verification process and explain how to find and submit the necessary documents. If you have been assigned to submit a Dependent or Independent Verification Worksheet on your To Do List, you are required to read this guide. You must submit all required documents before we can award you financial aid, including loans.

Why am I selected for verification?
The Department of Education (FAFSA applicants) and the California Student Aid Commission (CA Dream applicants) require that all schools verify the information for a percentage of financial aid applicants. If selected for verification, you must submit all requested documents in order to be considered for aid.

How does the verification process affect my financial aid?
You cannot be awarded aid, including student loans, until you have submitted the required verification documents and the documents have been reviewed. If additional information is needed, you will receive an e-mail notice through your CSUN email account and respond as soon as possible. Please be sure to check your CSUN email account regularly.

How do I submit the required Electronic Verification (e-verification) Form?
The verification worksheet is an electronic form that you access through the CSUN portal.  Once you are logged in, navigate to My Finances and select Financial Aid & Scholarships to access your To-Do List. Your To-Do List will display the assigned Dependent or Independent Verification form.

Detailed instructions on how to complete the Dependent Verification form.

Detailed instructions on how to complete the Independent Verification form.

What if I don’t have a computer or if I cannot access the e-verification worksheet on my computer?
The University Student Union provides access to computers in the Computer Lab.

How do I submit the required income information?
If you are a FAFSA applicant, we strongly encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IDRT) to verify income for the following reasons:

• You won't need to provide a copy of tax transcripts.
• It will help expedite the review of your file.
• It is the easiest and most secure way to provide tax data.
• The data retrieval tool will allow you to access your tax return information and transfer the data directly into your FAFSA.
• It's the best way to ensure your aid eligibility is based on accurate data.
• For instructions on how to use the data retrieval tool, go to https://studentaid.gov/resources/irs-drt-text. 
• It may take up to two weeks from the time you made your FAFSA corrections for CSUN to receive them.

Why am I unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?
Students or parents who fall into any of the following categories are not eligible to use the tool:

• CA DREAM students;
• Your parents are unmarried and living together;
• Married couples who file separate tax returns or file as head of household
• If you are neither eligible nor required to file a 2021 federal tax return;
• If you have filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return;
• Parents who entered all zeroes for a Social Security number on the FAFSA;
• Students or parents without a valid Social Security number reported on the FAFSA.

How do I request a tax return transcript if I am unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?
To obtain a federal tax return transcript, request a hard copy from the IRS website.  For instructions on how to request the federal tax return transcript, read the How-To Guide.

Once I receive the tax return transcript, what do I need to do?
Once you have received your tax return transcript(s), follow the instructions on to submit a copy to our office.

Do not submit a tax transcript(s) if you or your parents have successfully used the IRS Data Retrieval tool through the FAFSA website. DO NOT write or make any markings on the tax return transcript, other than writing your Student ID number. DO NOT mail the original tax return transcript(s) as they will not be returned. The Financial Aid office will not make copies.

How do I submit documents to the Financial Aid Office?

1. Log on to the CSUN Portal and navigate to your SOLAR Student Center to see your “To Do List”.  You can review our tutorial on how to view your “To-Do” List. 

2. Submit your documents using one of the following options: 

• CSUN Portal:
  Upload your documents by logging onto the CSUN Portal and submit online. 

Important: Prior to uploading your documents, please make sure to save your documents as a PDF file and use your student ID number as the file name.  You can view a tutorial on how to upload your documents.

1. Mail:
   Financial Aid & Scholarship Department
   California State University, Northridge
   18111 Nordhoff St.
   Northridge, CA 91330-8307

Important: Make sure to include your Student ID number on each page you submit.

How long will it take for my verification documents to be processed?
We review all documents within the date order received.  It may take up to nine weeks for your verification documents to be processed and if additional information is requested. The processing time can be significantly reduced (up to 4 weeks) if you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and submit your documents well before the priority deadline of May 12, 2023.

Once you submit your documents, please be patient. Do not contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department to confirm receipt of documents. Check your CSUN Portal weekly for confirmation. A new message will appear on your Portal indicating that your file is under review. The documents will be removed from your To-Do list once they have been reviewed for completeness.  If documents are incomplete, they will be listed as “Initiated” on your To-Do list and you will receive an email informing you of what is missing.  Continue to check your CSUN email account on a regular basis.

I didn't file a federal tax return, but it's on my To-Do List. What do I do?

a) If you are an Independent student or the parent of a Dependent student, you will need to request a Verification of Non-Filing letter from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2021. Submit it to our office along with a copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of 2021 employment income received (if you were employed during 2021). For instructions on how to request a Verification of Non-Filing letter, read the How-To Guide.

b) If you are a Dependent student, you must submit a copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of 2021 employment income received (if you were employed during 2021). If you were not employed in 2021, indicate on your 2023-24 Dependent Verification Worksheet that you are a TAX RETURN NON-FILER and you were not employed and had no income earned from work in 2021.

Why did I receive a request for additional information?
If you received a request for additional information, it means that the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department must clarify information on the documents you submitted. Review the request carefully and submit the required information. Your financial aid award cannot be determined until the requested documents are received and reviewed. Be sure to included your CSUN ID, sign and date any statements or forms to prevent further delay.

My parents filed separate federal tax returns. Whose do I submit?
Submit tax transcripts for both parents if you listed both on your FAFSA or CA Dream application.

My parents are separated or divorced but filed a joint tax return.  What do I do?
Submit the joint tax transcript or tax return and copies of W-2’s for both parents.  We will separate the income and taxes for each parent and use only the information for the parent listed on your verification worksheet.

What if my parents or I filed a foreign tax return?
Submit a signed copy of the foreign tax return along with an English translation.  Convert all monetary units to U.S. dollars, using the exchange rate in effect as of the date you filed your FAFSA or CA Dream application. To view the daily exchange rate, visit the Federal Reserve website.

My spouse and I filed separate federal tax returns. Whose do I submit?
Submit the separate tax transcripts or tax returns for both you and your spouse if you were married at the time you filed your FAFSA.

I filed an amended tax return. What documents do I submit?
If you file an amended tax return, you must submit a signed copy of your 2021 1040X form that was filed AND either of the following:

• IRS DRT Information used on your application with all the information from the original tax return or
• an IRS 2021 Tax Return Transcript
• a copy of IRS 2021 Tax Return 1040

What happens if I don't provide the requested information?
We cannot determine aid eligibility nor disburse funds until all requested documents are received and reviewed. Upon signing the FAFSA or CA Dream application, you agreed to "provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form."

Will my income information be kept private?
Yes. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the release of student information to third parties. Parental or spousal information received during the verification process is also protected under FERPA and will not be released to third party recipients. Exceptions may include, but are not limited to, subpoenas and federal audits of university records.

What if my or my parent's information on the federal tax transcript no longer reflects current income due to loss of employment?
Students and families who experience extraordinary circumstances that have caused a significant change in income may submit an Income Appeal. Appeal forms are available online mid-August for the 2023-234 academic year. The Income Appeal forms are found on the financial aid website under the 2023-2024 Forms and Documents tab.

What if either my parent or I can’t access the tax transcript because of being a victim of IRS tax identity theft?
If you are a victim of IRS identity theft and unable to obtain an IRS tax return transcript or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you must contact the IRS at 1-800-908-4490. Upon authenticating your identity, the IRS will provide a printout of the IRS income tax return information by U.S. Postal Service. You will need to submit all pages of the provided document to the Financial Aid Department. You will also need to submit a statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that they were victims of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS has been made aware of the tax-related identity theft.  

Why did my household size change after verification?
We may update your household size based on what you reported on the verification worksheet and federal regulations. If you believe a mistake was made, you may appeal your household information. To do so, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Department for further instructions.

What do I submit if a tax extension was filed?
Only students and parents granted an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension may submit the following for verification:

• Signed statement certifying that the individual has not filed a 2021 income tax return and list the sources of all 2021 income, and the amount of income from each source;
• An IRS Verification of Non-filing form;
• A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2021;
• Copies of all 2021 W-2 forms (or equivalent), and
• If self-employed, a signed statement with the amounts of their AGI and U.S. income taxes paid for 2021.

How can I make sure that my financial aid is ready by the first day of school?
You must submit your documents by May 12, 2023 to ensure you are awarded aid by the start of the fall term.  Verification documents are accepted after this date, but your aid may not be ready by the time school starts and you should be prepared to pay for any charges owed to the university.

What happens if I submit my documents after the May 12, 2023 deadline?
If you submit the required documents after the deadline, they will be processed in date order received. We will do our best to complete the review before the start of the Fall semester.