ED Publishes Verification Requirements for 2025-26

By NASFAA Policy & Federal Relations Staff

The Department of Education (ED) published the 2025-26 verification data elements and documentation requirements in the September 4, 2024 Federal Register (FR) and Dear Colleague Letter GEN-24-10, which also provided suggested text for verification. While the verification requirements are largely the same as the 2024-25 award year, there are changes related to documentation requirements for victims of tax-related identity theft and verification of family size.

In the past, victims of tax-related identity theft were required to obtain a Tax Return Database View (TRDBV) transcript from the IRS. Due to long processing times for TRDBV transcript requests, this is no longer a requirement for 2025-26. Instead, victims of tax-related identity theft now must submit their signed 2023 income tax return and applicable schedules, as well as an IRS 4674C letter (a letter from the IRS acknowledging the identity theft) or a signed statement signed from the tax filer indicating they were a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft, and the IRS is aware of it.

Additionally, verification of family size is no longer required when an applicant manually updates their family size and the number is the same as the family size transferred directly from the IRS via the FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange (FA-DDX). In 2024-25, if the family size was manually entered, even if the number was the same as what was transferred from the IRS, the school was required to verify the family size.

Publication Date: 9/5/2024

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ED Publishes Verification Requirements for 2025-26

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