USM Home/Financial Aid/Verification

Verification

Annually, the U.S. Department of Education selects 33% of all students applying for federal aid for verification. All students selected will be notified by the University. If the statement "Your FAFSA has been selected for a review process called verification. Your school has the authority to request copies of certain financial documents from you and your parent(s)" appears under the comment section of your Student Aid Report, you have been selected for verification.

We recommend that student's submit all verification documents by uploading them securely in their SOAR account. Needed documentation it will be listed on their To-Do-List, which includes an upload document link to submit requested items electronically. Uploading documents is the most efficient way for the Financial Aid Office to receive verification documents, however, student's can also submit them through email, fax, mail, or in person.

Email: Financial.aidFREEMississippi

Fax: 601-266-5769

Mail: The University of Southern Mississippi, Office of Financial Aid

118 College Drive, Box #5101

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Dependent Students

By federal aid definition, dependent students are:

Not over the age of 24
Not working on a master's or doctorate degree
Not married
Does not have children for whom the student provides more than half support
Not an orphan or ward of the court
Not a veteran

Both parent(s) and student must complete a verification worksheet, provide copies of IRS tax transcripts for both parent(s) and student, and all other documentation as requested.

When submitting the worksheet, please be certain that all sections are completed, the student has signed, and the parent has signed. All paper forms must have physical signatures, electronic signatures will not be accepted unless you electronically sign the online SOAR verification worksheet.

Complete this form online in your SOAR to-do list under Task tile.
(Note: If you are having difficulties completing the online form, please contact the Financial Aid Office for a paper form.)

The verification process for 2022-2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023) requires us to review the student's and parent's 2020 tax return transcript. An IRS Tax Return Transcript can be obtained online, by phone (1.800.908.9946), or by completing IRS Form 4506T-EZ.

The verification process for 2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024) requires us to review the student's and parent's 2021 tax return transcript. An IRS Tax Return Transcript can be obtained online, by phone (1.800.908.9946), or by completing IRS Form 4506T-EZ.

Instead of requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript, some individuals may be eligible to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on their FAFSA. We highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:

It’s the easiest way to provide your tax data
It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information
You won’t need to provide a copy of your or your parents’ tax return transcript to our office

View instructions on how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool here.

If the student did not file taxes, an IRS Tax Return Transcript is not required. When the completed Dependent Verification Worksheet is received, a financial aid counselor will waive the Student Tax Transcript item on the Student's SOAR To-Do List. If the student earned income, but was not required to file taxes, that income must be listed on the Verification Worksheet under the Student Income Information page.

If the parent did not file taxes in the requested tax year, a letter of non-filing is required from the IRS. A letter of non-filing can be obtained online.

Only submit the below forms if they have been requested by the Financial Aid Office.

Documentation of Dependents

2022-2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023)
2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024)

Statement of Educational Purpose

2022-2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023)
2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024)

Independent Students

By federal aid definition, independent students are:

You are working on a degree beyond a bachelor’s, such as a master’s or doctorate
You have a child or children, or other legal dependents, who receive more than half their financial support from you
You are married (or separated but not divorced)
You are at least 24 years old
You are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces
You are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces for other than training purposes
If, at any time since you turned 13, both your parents were deceased, your were in foster care, or were a ward of the court
You are an emancipated child as determined by a court judge
You are homeless or at risk of homelessness as determined by the director of a HUD approved homeless shelter, transitional program, or high school liaison

The student (and spouse if married) must complete a verification worksheet, provide copies of IRS tax transcripts, and all other documentation as requested.

When submitting the worksheet, please be certain that all sections are completed with student signature. If you are submitting a paper form, it must have physical signatures, electronic signatures will not be accepted unless you electronically sign the online SOAR verification worksheet.

Complete this form online in your SOAR to-do list under Task tile.
(Note: If you are having difficulties completing the online form, please contact the Financial Aid Office for a paper form.)

The verification process for 2022-2023 (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, and Summer 2023) requires us to review the student's (and spouses if application) 2020 tax return transcript. An IRS Tax Return Transcript can be obtained online, by phone (1.800.908.9946), or by completing IRS Form 4506T-EZ.

The verification process for 2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024) requires us to review the student's (and spouses if application) 2021 tax return transcript. An IRS Tax Return Transcript can be obtained online, by phone (1.800.908.9946), or by completing IRS Form 4506T-EZ.

Instead of requesting an IRS Tax Return Transcript, some individuals may be eligible to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on their FAFSA. We highly recommend using the tool for several reasons:

It’s the easiest way to provide your tax data
It’s the best way of ensuring that your FAFSA has accurate tax information
You won’t need to provide a copy of your or your parents’ tax return transcript to our office

View instructions on how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool here.

If the student (or spouse if applicable) did not file taxes in the requested tax year, a letter of non-filing is required from the IRS. A letter of non-filing can be obtained online.

Only submit the below forms if they have been requested by the Financial Aid Office.