Verification

You may be selected for verification either by the U.S. Department of Education or by Massasoit. If you are selected by the Department of Education, your FAFSA Submission Summary will include an asterisk next to your Student Aid Index (SAI), along with a comment explaining that you must provide documentation to your college.

In addition, once Massasoit receives your FAFSA, we will mail you up to four letters listing any documentation required to complete the verification process.

Verification is a process used by the U.S. Department of Education to confirm that the information reported on your FAFSA is accurate. Although the number of students selected for verification has decreased due to the use of the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX), some applications are still flagged each year for additional review.

You may be selected for verification if:

• Your FAFSA includes inconsistent or incomplete information.
• You or a required contributor did not provide consent for the IRS Direct Data Exchange.
• You entered estimated income or tax data that needs to be confirmed.
• The Department of Education needs to verify your identity or high school completion status.
• Your application was selected at random as part of a quality control process.
• Massasoit identified conflicting information and initiated verification.

If you are selected for identity verification, you will be required to present a valid government-issued photo ID in person before your financial aid can be awarded or disbursed.

Being selected does not mean you did anything wrong. It simply means that we need to collect documentation to confirm specific information.

If your FAFSA is selected:

• Your FAFSA Submission Summary, available at StudentAid.gov, will include a comment indicating that verification is required.
• The Financial Aid Office will notify you by mail with instructions and a list of required documents.
• You must complete verification before any federal financial aid can be awarded or disbursed.

Students who do not complete the verification process will not be eligible to receive federal financial aid. In most cases, this also applies to state and institutional aid programs. Completing verification is also required to receive free community college benefits such as MassReconnect and MassEducate.

To remain eligible for financial aid, all required verification documents must be submitted and processed by the Financial Aid Office no later than 120 days after your last date of enrollment during the 2025–2026 academic year or by the Federal Register deadline (expected mid‑September 2026), whichever is earlier.

We strongly encourage students to submit all documents well in advance to allow time for review and processing. If your documents are not received and processed by the deadline, you will not be eligible to receive financial aid for the 2025–2026 year.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education identifies specific FAFSA information that may need to be verified. If your FAFSA is selected, the documents you’ll need to submit will depend on your individual circumstances and the reason for selection.

If you or your contributors filed a federal tax return, you may be asked to provide documentation for:

• Adjusted gross income
• Income earned from work
• U.S. income tax paid
• Untaxed portions of IRA distributions and pensions
• IRA deductions and payments
• Tax-exempt interest income
• Education credits
• Foreign income exempt from federal taxation
• Family size

If you or your contributors did not file a federal tax return, you may be asked to verify:

• Income earned from work
• Family size

Some students may also need to verify:

• Identity
• Statement of Educational Purpose (a signed document submitted in person with a government-issued photo ID)

In addition to these federally required items, Massasoit may request other documentation. This could include information about marital status, assets, business ownership, rental properties, housing arrangements, or other details needed to clarify your FAFSA information. Schools are required to resolve all discrepancies before aid can be awarded.

Sometimes while reviewing the verification information we find inconsistent information or errors that must be resolved which may create delays in processing.

To avoid delays and help us process your financial aid as quickly as possible, please follow these tips when submitting your verification materials:

• Submit documents promptly. The sooner you respond, the sooner we can review your file and finalize your aid.
• Read the Verification Worksheet carefully. Answer every question. Do not leave blanks — enter “0” if an amount is zero or not applicable.
• Sign your forms. The worksheet must be signed by the student and, if applicable, one parent whose information is reported on the FAFSA.
• Include your student information. Write your full name and Massasoit Student ID at the top of every page you submit, including tax documents and W‑2s.
• Submit all required W‑2s. If you or your parent(s) worked and filed taxes, include copies of all W‑2s received. If one is missing, request a replacement from your employer.
• Explain income not reported on a W‑2. If you received income from self-employment or other sources not reported on a W‑2, include a written explanation with the amount, source, and any supporting documentation.
• Only submit requested documents. Do not send state tax returns, tax comparison reports, or other paperwork unless we specifically request them.
• Send copies, not originals. Keep original documents for your records.
• Submit a complete packet. Wait until you have all required documents before submitting. Incomplete submissions may cause delays.
• Check your Massasoit email and the MyMassasoit portal regularly. You can view your financial aid application status and any outstanding documentation requirements in the portal. We may also follow up by email if additional information is needed.

In most cases, no. If your tax information was successfully transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA using the IRS Direct Data Exchange, you do not need to submit a tax return unless we specifically request it.

If we ask for tax documentation, you may provide either:

• A signed copy of your IRS Form 1040 (including Schedules 1 and 3 if applicable), or
• An official IRS Tax Return Transcript, which can be requested at www.irs.gov/transcript

Only submit tax documents if requested by the Financial Aid Office.

If you don’t submit the required verification documents, you will not be eligible to receive federal, state, or most institutional financial aid.

To avoid delays or the risk of losing your aid, submit all requested materials as soon as possible. Your financial aid application cannot be reviewed or finalized until the verification process is complete.

If the college has reason to believe that a student or parent has purposely misreported information or submitted altered documents to fraudulently obtain financial aid, the case will be reported to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, as required by federal regulations.