Filing the FAFSA

How to Prepare for the FAFSA

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  Create a StudentAid.gov Account

  The Studentaid.gov account, also known as the FSA ID allows you to sign the FAFSA electronically and to correct your FAFSA information online. If you are required to provide parent information on the FAFSA, at least one of your parents will also need to create an FSA ID.
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  Studentaid.gov Account Creation for Individuals without a Social Security Number

  Your parents’ or spouse’s citizenship or immigration status doesn’t affect your eligibility for federal student aid.

  This process outlines the steps needed in order for an individual without an SSN to have their identity verified and StudentAid.gov account created.
  
  Step 1: An individual should visit StudentAid.gov, select “Create Account” and complete all steps, including answering 1-4 knowledge-based verification questions via TransUnion®.

  Step 2: Upon completing the Create Account process, the individual will see a confirmation page with the results of their identity verification. If they fail the TransUnion® process, FSA will automatically assign a case number to the individual.

  Step 3: Once the case number is created, FSA will send them a verification email in their preferred language (English or Spanish), which will include their case number, along with guidance on how to submit copies of unexpired acceptable documentation (listed below) to verify their identity. Individuals will also be required to submit an attestation and validation of identity form along with their approved identity documentation. This form will be available on https://studentaid.gov/forms-library.

  Acceptable Documents to Establish an Individual’s Identity:

  Provide one (1) of the following documents to establish identity:

  • U.S. Driver’s License
  • U.S. State/City Identification Card
  • Foreign Passport
  • U.S. Passport or Passport Card
  • Consular ID Card/Matricula Consular
  • U.S.

  or
  

  One (1) set of documents below to establish identity:

  • Municipal Identification Cards + utility bill
  • Community ID + utility bill
  • Consular Identification Cards/Matricula Consular + utility bill

  Step 4: Upon receipt of the email that FSA was unable to verify their identity, an individual is then required to submit one or a combination of their acceptable documentation from the list above and a signed attestation form to: IDVerification@ed.gov.
  
  Step 5: FSA will review an individual’s submitted documentation and signed attestation form to ensure it is acceptable and matches the account information provided during the Create Account process. If there is a successful match, the Department will finalize the account creation. The individual will receive an email indicating their identity has been verified and that they may now use their account username and password (FSA ID) to log in at StudentAid.gov and complete applications for student financial assistance programs.
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  Items you need to complete the FAFSA

  In order to complete the FAFSA you will need a few things. Here is what you will need before you begin completing the FAFSA.

  • Create an FSA ID on the Federal Student Aid website and assist your contributors, such as your parent(s) or spouse in creating an FSA ID.
    • If you already have an FSA ID there is no need to create a new one. Your existing FSA ID will continue to work.
  • Gather required Information
    • Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and other personal information for all contributors
      • Parents without a SSN will be able to apply for an FSA ID and will be able to complete the form online for the first time
      • Other Information for Contributors
        • Name
        • Date of Birth
        • Email Address
    • Prior Prior Year Federal Income Tax Return: 
      • For the 2024-25 FAFSA this is the 2022 taxes
      • For the 2025-26 FAFSA this is the 2023 taxes
      • You and your contributors should have your tax returns on hand when you fill out the FAFSA form. Even though your tax information will be transferred directly into the FAFSA form, you may still need your tax records to answer certain questions
    • Records of assets
    • Records of untaxed income
      • Child support information (if applicable)
      • Interest income (if applicable)
  • University of Detroit Mercy School Code: 002323

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  Verification Process

  Each year the federal government selects families to verify the information submitted on the FAFSA.

  Verification must be completed no later than 30 days after the last date of the term you are enrolled in. Failure to do so will result in loss of any federal or state aid, including grants and loans. The student will be responsible for any resulting balance.

  If your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is selected for verification, you may be required to verify one or more of the items listed below.

  VERIFICATION ITEMS

  1. Household size, taxable household income, untaxed household income

  If your application is selected for traditional verification, the Verification Worksheet is available in on our Financial Aid Forms website. Please complete ALL sections of the Verification Worksheet. This form must be signed and dated by both the student and one (1) parent (if the student is dependent). Please read the verification request carefully and follow the instructions to avoid delays.

  Because this form of verification includes taxable household income, we must request that the student and/or their parents provide Federal income tax information before funds may be paid to the student's account. If you are completing the 2024-25 FAFSA, please provide the 2022 tax information. 

   

  2. Identity & Educational Purpose

  Students who are selected for identity and educational purpose must visit the Financial Aid Office in person to verify their identity and sign a statement declaring that their financial aid will be used for the purpose of paying for their education. To verify identity, the student must present a government issued ID such as a driver's license or passport. For complete details, please see our Statement of Educational Purpose.

  REQUESTING AN IRS TAX TRANSCRIPT

  Here are two (2) ways tax filers can request a tax transcript:

  1. ONLINE Go to www.irs.gov and request a copy of your 2019 Tax Return Transcript. For more detailed instructions, please see our IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Instructions. A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days. THIS CANNOT BE SENT DIRECTLY TO UDM. Please sign the tax transcript and send it to UDM.

  2. VIA TELEPHONE You may call the IRS at (800) 908-9946 and request a 2020 TAX RETURN TRANSCRIPT.

  IRS DATA AVAILABILITY

  In general, tax filers can anticipate that the IRS data will be available within either:

  • Two weeks if the tax return has been filed electronically with the IRS OR
  • Eight weeks if the tax returns have been mailed to the IRS.

  If the tax filer has changed or corrected the federal income tax return, the amended information may not be available through the IRS data retrieval process. You will be required to submit both the original IRS tax transcript as well as the amended IRS tax transcript.

  IRS 1040 WILL NOT AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE FILED

  The filers must attest that an IRS 1040 has not and will not be filed and that the IRS 1040 is not required to be filed. Copies of all 2022 W-2 forms from ALL employers must be submitted to the office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

  Applicants filing a Puerto Rico tax return or a foreign tax return may not use the IRS Tax Retrieval and must send a signed copy of their 2022 tax documents.

  MORE INFORMATION

  We may require additional documentation to complete the verification process.

  IMPORTANT NOTE

  All Federal/State Aid listed on the My Portal award will remain an estimate until the verification process has been completed by the financial aid office. If your financial aid award changes as a result of verification, you will receive an email to your My Portal account informing you that your financial aid has been revised.