Federal Verification Process - The University of Tulsa
Close Menu
Close Menu
Close Menu
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Community & Fans
Financial Aid Process

Federal Verification Process

Verify Accuracy of Submitted Data

Each year, the federal government requires schools participating in the distribution of financial aid to verify the accuracy of data submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  To complete verification, applicants are asked to submit federal tax documents and/or complete electronic forms.

Who is selected?

Any student who completes a FAFSA may be chosen for verification.

What Happens Next?

If your FAFSA application is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, you will receive an introductory email to the address you provided on the FAFSA.  The University of Tulsa partners with ProVerifier+ to assist students in completing their verification process.  Included in this email will be a custom school link with introductory communication requesting you access ProVerifier+ to complete your verification process.  You will need to do the following:

  • Confirm your identity (authentication).
  • Create a secure password.
  • Access your documents and begin the verification process (this includes the completion of online forms).

Upon receipt of all required documents, ProVerifier+ will begin the verification process. Students will be notified if there are any questions or if any additional documentation is required via email, text, or phone. Once verification has been completed, the student and our school will be notified.

Timelines and Deadlines

The verification process can be completed in as little as two weeks.  However, the process may take longer if incomplete documents are submitted or if additional information is required.  It is imperative that you respond and complete any requested documents as soon as possible.  Your financial aid funds cannot be applied to your account until your verification is complete.

  • Pell Grant Recipients:  A Federal Pell Grant applicant that is selected for verification must have a valid ISIR (FAFSA) with an official EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) on file prior to the last day of enrollment for the 2023-2024 award year. The verification process must be completed for the 2023-2024 award year by September 13, 2024 or 120 days after the last day of the student’s enrollment, whichever is earlier.
  • Campus -Based and Direct Loan Applicants:  Campus Based and Direct Loan applicants must complete verification prior to the last day of enrollment.

If you have any questions concerning verification and the required documents, please contact Student Financial Services. Failing to complete verification by the deadlines will result in the loss of eligibility for federal aid funds. In the event that a student completely withdraws, verification documents must have been received prior to withdrawal in order to be considered for federal financial aid.

About ProVerifier+

ProEducation Solutions is a privately held company that offers superior financial aid business solutions to colleges and universities nationwide. Since 2001, ProEd has been a leading provider of innovative technology solutions.

If you have any questions about the verification process, please contact ProVerifier+, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central at 918-710-3234.

  • IRS Data Retrieval Tool

    Who Can Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?
    Applicants must have a valid Social Security Number and FSA ID to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The applicant will need to authenticate himself or herself to the IRS in order to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Students and parents must use the tool separately for their respective income tax returns.

    Who Can’t Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool?
    If an independent applicant is married and files separate federal income tax returns or a dependent applicant’s parents are married and file separate federal income tax returns (e.g., married filing separately or head of household), the applicant will not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Also, if there has been a change in the marital status of the applicant or parent (if the applicant is a dependent student) after the end of the tax year, the applicant will not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

    The IRS Data Retrieval Tool will transfer information only from an original income tax return and not an amended income tax return. Thus if the applicant, spouse or parent, as applicable, has filed an amended income tax return, the applicant will not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

    Applicants who have filed a foreign income tax return instead of or in addition to a US income tax return will be unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. For example, taxpayers who file both a US income tax return and a Puerto Rican tax return will be unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Also, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is available only to taxpayers who have a valid Social Security number. Taxpayers who file income tax returns using a Tax ID Number (TIN) will not be able to use the tool.

    The home address listed on the FAFSA must match the home address listed on the federal income tax return.

    Tax Return(s) Recently Filed/Tax Data Not Available to Transfer
    Students or parents who filed their tax returns electronically within the last three weeks, or through the mail within the last eleven weeks, might need to either enter their tax return information manually and return at a later date to transfer their tax return information into the FAFSA, as their tax return information might not be available for transfer from the IRS.

    View the IRS Data Retrieval Tool Availability Chart.

  • Submitting an Income Tax Return

    If a student and/or parent did not complete the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, it will be necessary to submit a signed copy of the 2020 income tax return for the 2022-2023 FAFSA, or the 2021 income tax return for the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

  • Request Tax Transcript

    HOW TO REQUEST A TAX TRANSCRIPT FROM THE IRS
    Tax filers can request a transcript of a recent tax return, free of charge, from the IRS in one of four ways.

    Online Request
    Available at www.irs.gov

    • Under Tools, click “Get Transcript of Your Tax Records”.
    • Click “Get Transcript ONLINE”.
    • Create an account if one does not already exist.
    • Enter the tax filer’s personal information that is requested.
    • Click “Continue”.
    • You will then be required to answer the security questions.
    • Select Higher Education/Student Aid as the reason you are requesting the transcript.
    • Select 2020 for the 2022-2023 FAFSA or 2021 for the 2023-2024 FAFSA under “Return Transcript.
    • If successfully validated, the Tax Transcript will open in a PDF that you can print or save.
    • Submit the tax return transcript to The University of Tulsa Office of Student Financial Services; make sure to include the student’s name and TU ID on the transcript.

    Get Transcript by Mail

    Go to www.irs.gov, under the Tools heading, click “Get a tax transcript.”

    Click “Get Transcript by MAIL.”

    ***Make sure to request the “IRS Tax Return Transcript” and NOT the “IRS Tax Account Transcript***

    Paper Request Form

    Go to www.irs.gov and print the form based on your tax filing status:

    IRS Form 4506-T or IRS Form 4506T-EZ

    Telephone Request
    Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946

    • Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their social security number and the numbers in their street address. Generally this will be numbers of the street address that was listed on the latest tax return filed.
    • Select “Option 2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript (not “Tax Account Transcript”) and then enter the year of the return begin requested.
    • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address provided in their telephone request within 5 to 10 days from the time of the request.
    • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party by the IRS.
    • Submit the tax return transcript to The University of Tulsa Office of Student Financial Services; make sure to include the student’s name and TU ID on the transcript.

    Mail to:

    The University of Tulsa
    Office of Student Financial Services
    800 South Tucker Drive
    Tulsa, OK 74104

    How to fix address matching problems when ordering online
    When entering the information into the IRS address matching system note the following:

    • The address entered must match the address already on file with the IRS exactly.
    • The address on file is typically the address on your most recent tax return.
    • Spelling out the word “street” rather than using the abbreviation “st.” can be enough to cause an error.
    • Addresses on the IRS system are auto-corrected through a post office program and may not match what you put on your tax return.

    We suggest the following if you run into problems:

    • Have your taxes in front of you and enter the address carefully as it is on your return.
    • If you entered your address as it appears on your return and it doesn’t work, try using the standardized version of your address.

    To get a standardized version of your address:

    • Go to www.usps.com
    • Click Look Up a Zip Code
    • Enter Street Address, City, State
    • Click Find

    If you still have problems, the IRS Help Desk can be reached toll-free at 1-800-876-1715, Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

  • Request Non-Tax Filer Confirmation

    Independent students, along with their spouses if applicable, and parents of dependent students are required to submit documentation from the IRS that indicates the requested year’s IRS income tax return was not filed with the IRS or other relevant tax authority.

    A confirmation of non-filing can be obtained from the IRS using Form 4506-T and checking box 7.

    If the individual is unable to obtain Verification of Nonfiling (VNF), the following will be required:

    • A signed statement of Nonfiling for the 2022-2023 FAFSA (PDF) or 2023-2024 FAFSA (PDF);
    • A copy of IRS Form W-2, or an equivalent document, for each source of 2020 employment income received by the individual for the 2022-2023 FAFSA or for each source of 2021 employment income received by the individual for the 2022-2023 FAFSA.