Your Student Aid Report notified you when you completed the FAFSA. MSU will notify you by email of the specific items need and directing you to My Eligibility section of your My Info account. 

Read the Verification Instructions and follow all of the steps listed.  

You can turn in your verification materials in person or send them by mail or fax. Please ensure both the student name and ID number are listed on attached documentation.

Verification is the confirmation that the information provided on a student's FAFSA is correct. Don’t be alarmed, about 30% of all FASFA’s are selected and the process is a quality control tool used to protect tax payer dollars. Being selected does not mean that you did anything wrong.   

To obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript, go to www.IRS.gov. Under Tools, click on the “Get a Tax Transcript"” link and follow ensuing instructions, or call 1-800-908-9946. If you filed an amended return (IRS Form 1040X), please also submit a signed copy of your Form 1040X in addition to your IRS Tax Return Transcript.  Further information can be found on the IRS Transcript FAQ page.

You can track the status of your verification in the My Eligibility section of your My Info account.

You can track the status of your verification in the My Eligibility section of your My Info account.

If you have been selected for verification you will have to turn in the requested documentation and complete the verification process before you will be able to receive financial aid.  

All required documents should be turned in as soon as possible and no later than 45 days after notification. The priority processing date is June 30, 2023 and this will ensure that your financial aid will not be delayed for the start of class. Documents can still and should be completed after the 45 days and the priority processing date to provide you with the best chance to receive aid but no later than two weeks before the end of enrollment. Once you turn in all the requested documentation, the verification process could take a minimum of four weeks.  

The status of your verification will be updated in the My Eligibility section of your My Info account.  

Your Tax Return Transcript is created by the IRS and is a record of your tax filing while your Tax Return is what you submitted to the IRS. Your Tax Return Transcript is required for the verification process and can only be obtained from the IRS. To obtain an IRS Tax Return Transcript, go to www.IRS.gov.  Also see How do I get my Tax Return Transcript?

Allow a minimum of 4 weeks once you turn in all the requested documentation. See “When do I need to turn in my verification materials”.

    • Students (and spouse if appropriate) who did not file and were not required to file  taxes must list provide W2's for all sources of income. If you do not have your W-2’s, submitting an IRS Wage and Income Transcript will suffice. To obtain and IRS Wage and Income Transcript, go to https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.
    • Parents of dependent students who did not file and were not required to file taxes must  provide a copy of the Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS.
    • Verification of Non-filing letters can be obtained by submitting Form 4506-T (choose item #7) to the IRS or by going to  https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript.. Questions about obtaining your Verification of Non-filing letter can be directed to the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.