Federal Verification
Federal Verification is the process the Federal Government uses to confirm data reported on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Schools must verify student applications selected for Verification if the student is receiving, has received, or will receive the Federal Pell Grant, FESOG, Federal Work-Study, or a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan.
If you are selected for Verification, the Office of Financial Aid will contact you to request additional documentation that supports the information reported on the FAFSA form. If you are selected, do not be alarmed. It does not necessarily mean you have done anything incorrectly.
If selected, you will be asked to submit a University of Richmond Verification Form, and depending on which Verification Group you are placed in, you may also be asked to submit additional documentation within three weeks of the notification. The Verification Form you receive will indicate what, if any, additional documentation is required for your Verification group. Sometimes a Student’s Verification Group may change based on an application or a correction. A summary of the requirements for each active Verification Group is included below:
| Federal Group | Documentation |
| V1 Verification Form | -Parent Tax Return Transcript or Signed Copy of Federal Tax Return -Student Tax Return Transcript or Signed Copy of Federal Tax Return |
| V4 Verification Form | -High School Completion Status -Statement of Educational Purpose |
| V5 Verification Form | -Parent Tax Return Transcript or Signed Copy of Federal Tax Return -Student Tax Return Transcript or Signed Copy of Federal Tax Return -High School Completion Status -Statement of Educational Purpose |
It is important to read the Verification instructions carefully, fill out the Verification Form completely and accurately, and ensure it is signed by the student and parent (if applicable) before submitting.
Please note that schools must resolve any conflicting information between the Verification Form, any documentation submitted with the Verification Form (including the Tax Return Transcript/IRS Data Retrieval), and information submitted on the FAFSA. Schools must determine whether the individual who is party to the application was required to file a tax return, whether that individual used the correct tax filing status, and whether any dependent is claimed as an exemption by more than one person. If information on the Parent or Student’s Tax Return Transcript or Verification Form conflicts with what was used to determine the student’s financial aid eligibility, that discrepancy must be resolved and may result in an adjustment to the student’s financial aid award. Students whose aid is adjusted due to Verification are notified via a new award notification email.
No need-based financial aid will be disbursed until the Verification process has been completed. Sometimes students are selected for Verification after aid has been disbursed. Students in this situation are still required to complete the Verification process or risk loss of aid. Failure to complete the Verification process in either scenario will result in the cancellation of financial aid.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (804) 289-8438 or finaid@richmond.edu.