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2024-2025 Verification Process

Why was I selected for verification?

Universities are required to review a portion of financial aid applications to ensure they are accurate. Verification can be at random from the Department of Education or selected by our office if we receive conflicting information. Making sure the data on your FAFSA is accurate will ensure a smooth process. If you or a contributor to your FAFSA were required to enter tax data manually on your FAFSA, we will need to verify the accuracy of the information submitted. If your federal tax information was transferred successfully using the direct data exchange, that information will not need to be verified, but we may need to verify other components of your FAFSA, such as family size.

Our verification team compares your FAFSA information with the documents and forms you complete to ensure that you qualify for and receive the correct amount of aid. If you are selected for the verification process at Boise State, you will be notified by BroncoMail and on myBoiseState. It’s important that you and your family (if applicable) respond quickly to requests for documents.

If you are selected for verification, you won’t receive federal financial aid until the verification process is complete. Federal financial aid includes the Pell Grant, Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized, and PLUS), the SEOG Grant and work-study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to do if I’m selected for verification?

  1. Login to myBoiseState to review your To-Do items.
  2. Click on the hyperlinked title to view specific instructions for the requested To-Do item. It is important to submit only the information that is requested from our office. Submitting additional documents not requested can further delay the process.
  3. If a form is requested, follow the link provided to view, complete, and print the requested form. Many forms are available on our forms page. Please be as detailed as possible.
  4. Submit the forms or documents requested.
  5. If you are submitting a tax return, please only submit your federal tax return. State tax returns are never needed by our office.
  6. Avoid making corrections to your FAFSA unless directed. We will make the changes on your behalf after the review.
  7. Monitor BroncoMail and myBoiseState for additional requests for information or clarification.
  8. Review the “tips for verification success” section at the bottom of this page.

What is the Direct Data Exchange?

The Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange (FADDX) transfers your tax information from the IRS directly into the FAFSA. This new direct exchange comes from the FUTURE Act passed by Congress in 2019. Consent is required from all contributors on the FAFSA, even if information is unable to be transferred over. If consent is not granted, your FAFSA will be invalid and we will be unable to offer you federal aid.

You are not able to make any changes to the transferred information from the IRS. Your information is protected and not accessible outside of the Financial Aid office’s specifically authorized personnel.

This data transfer will lessen the burden of verification documents that may be needed to turn in, and will speed up the processing of your financial aid offer.

Important Links

Financial Aid Forms

Financial Aid Forms

How to Request a Tax Return Transcript

How to Request a Tax Return Transcript

To-Do's

To-Do's

Victim of Identity Theft

Victim of Identity Theft

More Information

How do I submit my verification documents?

First, double check:

  • Is your form complete?
  • Did you include all documents requested?
  • Is it signed with a handwritten signature?
  • Is it for the correct aid year?

Once you’ve double-checked everything, submit your documents to the Financial Aid Office. Here’s how we prefer you submit documents:

  1. In person to the Financial Aid Office in the Administration Building, Room 124 so we can do a quick review in case of omissions.
  2. Scanned and sent via email attachment to financialaid@boisestate.edu. Unclear photographs of documents are not accepted for quality reasons. If documents have social security numbers on them, we can now accept them through email as long as the beginning of the number is redacted and the last 4 digits are still visible.
  3. Faxed to (208) 426-1305 — be sure to include your name and student ID number at the top.
  4. Mailed through USPS is the least desirable method due to delays and risk of lost documents.

What is the deadline for submitting my verification items?

June 1 is the priority deadline if you are receiving work-study or SEOG grant. Meeting the deadline allows you to retain priority status for the following fall and spring semesters.

If you submit verification documents after June 1, you will still be evaluated for Pell Grant and Direct Loan eligibility.

Submit your verification items as soon as possible to prevent delays and potential late fees.

What happens after I submit my documents? How long does verification take?

Once all requested documents are received, our team will review your submission. During high-volume months like April through September, you can expect the initial review to take approximately 4-6 weeks. Be as accurate and complete as possible; incomplete submissions extend the process.

You’ll receive an email once we have reviewed your FAFSA and documents.

  • Process complete/no changes needed to FAFSA: you’ll receive confirmation and can expect to allow 1-2 weeks for your aid to be awarded.
  • Process complete/changes needed to FAFSA: you’ll receive notification from the Financial Aid Office and from FAFSA.gov that we have made changes to your application. Allow 3-5 days for your FAFSA to be accepted by the federal processor, then 1-2 additional weeks for your aid to be awarded.
  • Process incomplete/further information needed: you’ll receive an email that further action is needed. You’ll also see To Do items reflecting the new requests. Respond quickly to prevent further delays.

Tips for Verification Success

  • Details matter – the more information you can provide on your forms, the less likely we will request additional information.
  • If your parent(s) will be helping with the verification process and you’d like them to be able to speak with us, submit a Release of Information Form to the Registrar’s Office. This will allow our office to discuss details with them about your student account.
  • Always monitor your To Do items and BroncoMail for specific instructions for your individual situation.
  • If you submitted documents but still see the To Do item on your account 3-5 days after submitting, please contact our office so we can confirm it was received.
  • Remember to include your ID number on all documents sent to our office.
  • We are unable to waive late fees for students who submit verification documents late or who are waiting for the verification process to be completed. Please remember it can take multiple weeks for our team to review your submitted items.
  • Contact us for any questions you may have – we are available to help you with this process.

I’ve been granted a filing extension by the IRS. How do I complete verification?

If you or a contributor to your FAFSA was required to file an IRS income tax return and have been granted a filing

extension by the IRS beyond the automatic six-month extension for the tax year on the FAFSA, you must provide all of the following:

  • A signed statement listing the sources of any income and the amount of income from each source for the applicable tax year
  • A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for the applicable tax year
  • A copy of IRS Form W–2 for each source of employment income received or an equivalent document for the applicable tax year
  • If self-employed, a signed statement certifying the amount of the individual’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and the U.S. income tax paid for the applicable tax year.