FAFSA Next Steps & Verification

Next Steps

After you have filed your FAFSA, the Department of Education (DOE’s) Central Processing System (CPS) will forward a copy to Anderson University. You will also receive your FAFSA results in a Student Aid Report (SAR) acknowledgment. If you provided your e-mail address you will receive an e-mail with a link to your SAR on the Web. Once you receive your SAR you should:

  • Review all of your FAFSA answers and make sure they are correct especially if you initially used estimated income and tax information.
  • SAR items requiring special attention are highlighted in bold type.
  • If you need to make corrections to your FAFSA information, you can make them online at fafsa.ed.gov. You must use your Federal Student Aid ID (fsaid.ed.gov) to access your record online.
  • Note any additional or missing information that may be requested including notice that you have been selected for verification and promptly follow-up with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Financial Aid Deadlines

Students that have completed the FAFSA application and submitted all outstanding documents to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships by the priority processing deadline of August 1, financial aid will be processed and applied by the first date of the term.

Students that submit FAFSA applications and outstanding documents after the priority processing deadline of August 1 should be prepared to set up payment arrangements and purchase books and supplies out-of-pocket while the financial aid process is being completed.

Student accounts without payment arrangements will be subject to having their courses dropped for non-payment.

Verification Worksheets

 

About 30% of FAFSAs that are filed daily are selected by the Department of Education for verification. This means Anderson University is required to verify that information reported on the FAFSA is correct.

Being selected for verification means you may be asked to provide documentation or complete one of the verification worksheets that are specific to the answers you provided on the FAFSA. No further action can be taken on your request for financial aid including all federal, state, or need-based university funds until you submit the required information and complete the verification process.

Notification
Students will be notified by email of which worksheet, if any, is required to any outstanding Actions items that need to be completed. Students can view their outstanding “To Do” list action items by logging into their financial aid portal, myfinaid.anderson.edu. Students should respond within two weeks of receiving AU’s request for follow up.

Follow Up
All action items and requests for documentation must be completed before AU can determine Financial Aid eligibility. Scanned documents can be uploaded to the student’s financial aid portal (myfinaid.anderson.edu) or emailed to FinAid@anderson.edu. An official financial aid award notification will be mailed after all required documents are submitted to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Verification Worksheets

FAFSA Corrections
Verification Worksheets are used to verify non-tax items, such as household size and number in college. Students may be required to complete one of the following verification worksheets, which are available below in PDF format. Download Adobe Reader to view PDF documents.

Forms for the 2023-2024 School Year

    Forms for the 2022-2023 School Year

    FSA ID

    FSA ID
    The FSA ID – a username and password – must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents, such as Master Promissory Notes, to complete Entrance Loan Counseling and the FAFSA.

    Creating an FSA ID
    Apply for a FSA ID at www.fsaid.ed.gov.

    FSA IDs are PERMANENT
    Users cannot “start over” if they make a mistake in setting up the FSA ID; fixing the one they have is the only option. Each FSA ID is linked to one e-mail address and one Social Security Number. Consequently the parent and student must use separate e-mail addresses.

    Helpful Tips
    Only the FSA ID owner should create the FSA ID. When an account is created by someone else, for example a parent for a student, the chances that the FSA ID owner will correctly remember the password or the answers to the challenge questions is substantially reduced.

    Including an email address on the FSA ID account is required. If a user forgets their username or password, they can request that a secure code be e-mailed to them to allow them to reset their username or password. A mobile device can be used if it has been linked to the user, or challenge questions can be answered.

    What if I have lost or forgotten my FSA ID?
    While usernames are not case sensitive, passwords are case sensitive. Users who think they have forgotten their username or password can use the help button, or click the “forgot my username” or “forgot my password” button for additional assistance after the second incorrect password attempt, to avoid locking their account.

    What if my FSA ID account is locked?

    The FSA ID is intended to be permanent. Individuals who have lost access to their FSA ID must contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) by phone.

    Students, parents, and borrowers who require additional assistance with their FSA ID should contact FSAIC at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Assistance is also available from FAFSA by clicking on “Contact Us.”

    The FSA ID serves as an electronic signature and provides access to personal records, so never share the FSA ID.

     

    FAFSA FAQs

    Q: What forms must I file?

    A: You need to file either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal FAFSA application if you filed a FAFSA last year.

    Q: Is there a deadline to file the FAFSA?

    A: Yes — for Indiana residents, the FAFSA must be filed by April 15.

    Q: How do I file the FAFSA?

    A: Both the regular and renewal FAFSA is filed online. The hyperlink for FAFSA is https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

    Q: Who should complete the FAFSA?

    A: Any student who wants to be considered for need-based grants from the federal or state government or from the university. To receive a student loan the FAFSA has to be completed as well.

    *If you are a dependent student, your parents will also need to complete a portion of the FAFSA.

    Q: How is the FAFSA signed if we file online?

    A: The FAFSA is signed electronically with the use of a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Your parent(s) will need their own FSA ID if you are filing the FAFSA as a dependent student.​

    Q: What is AU's school code?

    A: AU’s federal school code is 001785. Add this to your FAFSA so we can create a comprehensive financial aid package for you.

    Q. How do I apply for academic scholarships from the university?

    A: No separate application is required. For returning students, eligibility for academic scholarships will be reviewed in May after final grades are posted. For those students already receiving an academic scholarship, it will be renewed automatically if the required GPA is met. If you aren’t currently receiving an academic scholarship but feel you will meet the eligibility requirements at the end of the semester, contact your financial aid counselor through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

    New students can visit anderson.edu/scholarships for information regarding merit scholarships for new students.

    Documentation

    Option 1 — IRS Data Retrieval Tool

    Students and parents are encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to import data from their tax return directly onto their FAFSA. It is the fastest, easiest, and most secure method of meeting verification requirements. Students and parents do this either when initially filling out the FAFSA on the Web or later as a correction.

    HINT: Successful use of the DRT requires you to enter your address EXACTLY the way it appears across the top of your tax return. This includes any spaces, capitalization, or abbreviations. If you have moved since you filed your return, use the address which was current at the time you filed.

    The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is not available to students and parents if any of these conditions apply.

    • The person did not indicate on the FAFSA that the tax return has been completed.
    • The person is married and filed the tax return either as “Head of Household” or “Married Filing Separate”.
    • The student or parent marital status conflicts with their tax filing status. The user’s “marital status” and “tax return filing status” must be a valid combination.
    • The marriage date is January or later.
    • The tax return was amended (see Amended Tax Returns below).
    • Neither married parent entered a valid SSN.
    • A parent entered all zeros for the SSN because parent does not have a Social Security Number.
    • The first three digits of the SSN are 666.
    • The person filed a Puerto Rican or foreign tax return.
    Option 2 — IRS Tax Return Transcript

    If using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) is not an option you must request a Tax Return Transcript for the student and spouse or for your parents, as applicable.  Warning: we cannot accept an IRS tax Account transcript. Regardless of the method used, be sure to request the correct form: TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT.

    • For immediate online results go to www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript, select “Get Transcript Online”, and create an account.
    • To place an automated order call (800) 908-9946.
    • Use the IRS2Go mobile app.
    • Fill out and mail or fax the 4056T to the address on the form.

    The IRS will respond with either:

    1. Your Tax Return Transcript, or
    2. A “Verification of Non-Filing Letter” indicating the IRS could not provide the transcript (see Option 4 below)

    In either case, please sign and forward the IRS response to Anderson University, Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

    Option 3 — When a tax return transcript is unavailable

    When the parent or student requests an IRS tax return transcript and the outcome is unsuccessful the IRS will respond with a “Verification of Nonfiling Letter” or a letter indicating the request could not be fulfilled. Anderson University requires a copy of the IRS response. For unsuccessful online requests please forward a signed copy of a screen print from IRS.gov showing a message that the transcript request was unsuccessful.

    We also accept signed copies of your 2020 tax return to complete verification.

    Option 4 — Filing Extensions

    Students or parents who are required to file a 2020 IRS income tax return and have been granted a filing extension by the IRS beyond the six-month extension for 2020 must provide:

    • A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for tax year 2020;
    • A Verification of Non-filing letter (confirmation that the tax return has not yet been filed) from the IRS dated on or after October 1, 2020 or a signed statement certifying that the individual attempted to obtain the Letter of Non-File from the IRS and was unable to obtain the required documentation
    • A copy of IRS tax from W-2 for each source of emplyment income received or an equivalent document for tax year 2020
    • If self-employed, a signed statement certifying thte amount of the student’s or parent’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and the U.S. income tax paid for tax year 2020.
    Additional Documentation Details
    Amended Tax Returns

    Students or parents who file an amended tax return cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

    Instead, they must provide the following information to complete verification:

    1. A signed copy of the IRS Form 1040X (the amended tax return form), and
    2. A signed copy of the original tax return that was filed or an IRS transcript.
    Victims of IRS Identity Theft

    An individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft must provide:

    • A Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript obtained from the IRS, or if unable to obtain a TRDBV, an equivalent document provided by the IRS or a copy of the signed 2018 income tax return and applicable schedules the individual filed with the IRS and
    • A statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that he or she was a victim of IRS tax-related theft and that the IRS is aware of the tax-related theft.