Verification explained

The Department of Education or Greenfield Community College may select a student's FAFSA for a process called Verification. Depending on the verification category, selected students may be required to submit income information, family size, proof of identity, and/or proof of high school completion to GCC's Financial Aid Office who is required to verify accuracy of that information on the FAFSA. Federal and state financial aid funds are not awarded until the verification process is complete.

How to know if your FAFSA has been selected for Verification

  • Your Student Aid Report (SAR) might contain a note indicating that you've been selected for verification. You will receive the SAR at the email address provided on the FAFSA, 3-5 days after completion. If no email address is provided, you will receive a SAR by mail in a few weeks.
  • Check your MyGCC Financial Aid Outstanding Requirements.

Why do some FAFSAs get selected for Verification?

  • Each institution that receives federal student aid funds is required to verify at least 30% of students.
  • Some FAFSAs are selected randomly by the department of education.
  • Some FAFSAs are selected by the Department of Education or GCC, because of inconsistent information within the application.
  • If the FAFSA contains incomplete data/unanswered questions, it may be selected for Verification.
  • When estimated data is used on the application, it may be selected for Verification.

Required Verification documents for Independent Students

  • A signed copy of your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) Federal Tax Return (1040/1040A/1040EZ) from two calendar years prior. If you no longer have a copy of your tax return, you can request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
  • All of your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) W-2 forms from two calendar years prior.
  • If you (or your spouse) are self-employed, the Schedule C from your IRS 1040 tax form(s) from two calendar years prior.
  • Untaxed income – examples include child support, veteran’s non-education benefits, and payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans.
  • A verification worksheet available from our Forms page.
  • Any other documents, as requested by the GCC Financial Aid Office.

Required Verification documents for Dependent Students

  • A signed copy of your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) Federal Tax Return (1040/1040A/1040EZ) from two calendar years prior. If you no longer have a copy of your tax return, you can request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
  • A signed copy of your parents' Federal Tax Return (1040/1040A/1040EZ) from two calendar years prior. If they no longer have a copy of their tax return, they can request an IRS Tax Return Transcript.
  • All of your W-2 forms from two calendar years prior.
  • All of your parents' W-2 forms from two calendar years prior.
  • If your parents are self-employed, the Schedule C from their IRS 1040 tax form from two calendar years prior.
  • Untaxed income – examples include child support, veteran’s non-education benefits, and payments to tax-deferred pension and savings plans.
  • A verification worksheet available from our Forms page.
  • Any other documents, as requested by the GCC Financial Aid Office.

Other important information about the verification process