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Q: If a dependent student is selected for verification and the student's parent has filed for an extension on his or her annual tax return, and, due to circumstances beyond the parent's control, the parent will be unable to provide the documentation for an unknown period of time, is there any exception that can be made to waive the verification requirement?

A: The verification requirement cannot be waived, but you can perform an initial verification using the IRS extension form 4868 plus the W-2s, thus providing an estimation of the adjusted gross income on the FAFSA. Once the tax return is filed, the student must submit a copy to the school; at that time, re-verification of the data is required. A student who fails to submit a copy of the filed tax return or alternative documents before the documentation deadline is ineligible for Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds and is required to repay any aid disbursed.

Guidance on verification can be found in the 2006-07 Federal Student Aid Handbook, Application and Verification Guide, pages 82-83.

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