The IRS publishes guidelines each year with tax filing requirements; see IRS Publication 17, Tables 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 for the tax year in question. All federal student aid recipients and their parents are expected to comply with published tax laws. Any conflicting information will need to be resolved before any financial aid can be awarded.
- If your parent did not file a tax return AND was not required to file a tax return, your parent must request a Verification of Nonfiling Letter from the IRS.
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You can get a Verification of Non-filing Letter by requesting a tax transcript from the IRS. There are four ways to do this:
Get Transcript by Mail
Go to irs.gov and click “Get Your Tax Record.” Click “Get Transcript by Mail.” Make sure to request the “Return Transcript” and NOT the “Account Transcript.” The transcript is generally received within 10 business days from the IRS’s receipt of the online request.
Get Transcript Online
Go to irs.gov and click “Get Your Tax Record." Click “Get Transcript Online.” Make sure to request the “Return Transcript” and NOT the “Account Transcript.” To use the Get Transcript Online tool, the user must have access to a valid email address, a text-enabled mobile phone (pay-as-you-go plans cannot be used) in the user’s name, and specific financial account numbers (such as a credit card number or an account number for a home mortgage or auto loan). The transcript displays online upon successful completion of the IRS’s two-step authentication.
Automated Telephone Request
Call 1-800-908-9946. Transcript is generally received within 10 business days from the IRS’s receipt of the telephone request.
Paper Request Form
Submit either IRS Form 4506T-EZ or IRS Form 4506-T. The transcript is generally received within 10 business days from the IRS’s receipt of the paper request form.
- If after 10 business days you have been unsuccessful in obtaining the Verification of Non-filing Letter from the Internal Revenue Service, you may submit a signed and dated statement in lieu of the Verification of Non-filing Letter containing the following information.
- Your full name.
- You did not file and were not required to file a Federal Tax Return in the relevant tax year.
- You were unsuccessful in obtaining an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter.
- The date you attempted to contact the IRS.
- Indicate whether or not you have a Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number.
- Indicate if you had income earned from work in the relevant tax year. If yes, you must list your employers and amount received in that year.
- Once received, upload the VONF Letter along with copies of all your parent's W-2's and Schedule K-1's received for the tax year in question.
- If your parent did not file a tax return BUT was required to file a tax return, your parent must file a tax return to the IRS. Once you have filed your tax return, upload a signed copy to be reviewed.
Need additional help? Access 24/7 live chat, create a case from My ASU Service Center or call 855-278-5080.
