Verification

The University of Montana has partnered with Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process through the Verification Gateway (VG). If a student's FAFSA has been selected for verification by the US Department of Education, they will receive an email from VGCS@inceptia.org and a postcard from Inceptia. Additionally, notifications from the Financial Aid Office will contain the university's unique link to begin the verification process. 

What is FAFSA verification?

Five things you know need to know about verification: 

  1. Verification is a federally required process that confirms the accuracy of the answers on your FAFSA. 
  2. You must create an account via the University of Montana's Verification Gateway portal. 
  3. You must submit all required documents, signatures, and answer any questions regarding the FAFSA answers. 
  4. Allow seven to ten business days for the verification process to be completed once all required documents have been submitted. Once verification has been completed, our office will be notified of the file being verified. 
  5. Our office will be notified if there was any change to the Student Aid Index (SAI). If any change was made, the award offer will be adjusted. The student would then be notified of any revision to the award offer. 

If you have any questions about the verification process or need assistance finishing your task with Inceptia, please notify our Financial Aid Office. We are happy to be a liaison between Inceptia and the student and/or parent. 

What is Verification Gateway?

The University of Montana is pleased to announce that we have established a partnership within Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process. The verification gateway VG from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through the verification process. If your FAFSA has been selected for verification by the US Department of Education, you will be receiving an e-mail from VGCS@inspetia.org. In addition, you will receive a postcard from incept and notifications from the Financial Aid Office containing the unique link to help you get started with the verification process 

Questions about the Verification?

Contact INCEPTIA at 888-374-8427 or VGCS@inceptia.org.  They are open Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM mountain Standard Time (MST). 

 INCEPTIA is a division of the national student loan database program and it's a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions and verification financial aid management financial education and repayment wellness their mission support schools to illuminate paths towards education and financial success for students and families. 

Verification Process Steps:

  1. Access UM's unique website link in the email from VGSC at inceptia.org or montana.verificationgateway.org. 
  2. Create your account and choose your preferences for text messages and E-signatures. 
  3. If you filled out the FAFSA with a contributor, your contributor will also need to create their own account and follow their own tasks. 
  4. Complete your task list. 
  5. Respond in a timely manner. 
  6. Review your answers and confirm your signature. 
  7. Sign your account and have your contributor sign their account. 
  8. Once you get notified that your file has been verified and is completed, you are welcome to contact our office to notify us that your file is ready to move on to the next step. 

Why was I selected for verification?

Historically, verification has been random and 30% of files have been selected for verification. Due to the FAFSA Simplification and the implementation of the Direct Data Exchange with the IRS for the 24-25 academic year, fewer files will be selected for verification.  

20200714_native_2301.jpg

 

IDENTITY VERIFICATION AND STATEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE

Some students are required to present themselves in person and submit a copy of their valid government ID to the Financial Aid Office. If a student is unable to present themselves in person, they must submit assign copy of the Identity Verification and Statement of Educational Purpose that was signed in front of a notary public and a copy of the valid government ID presented to the notary public mailed to the University of Montana, Financial Aid Office, 32 Campus Drive, Aber Hall - 5th floor, Missoula, Montana 59812-1254. This cannot be faxed or emailed to the office we must receive the original copy. The date of the student signature and the date of the notary’s signature must match. This is the one form and process that is extremely strict. 

Amended Taxes

Individuals who filed an amended tax return are requested to submit a signed copy of their 2022 federal tax return and all applicable schedules along with the signed 1040X Amended Tax Return to the Financial Aid Office. We could also accept the 2022 IRS Tax Return Transcript and Record of Account or Account Transcript that can be downloaded from www.irs.gov\ transcripts.

Helpful Verification Information

As part of the verification process, students and parents may be required to submit their federal income tax return data to the financial aid office. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows users to transfer tax information directly from the IRS to the FAFSA. This information is then forwarded to the schools listed on the FAFSA, which in turn satisfies the requirement to provide tax data.

Note: If after using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool a family alters any of the income data, the data will be invalidated and a tax transcript will be required in its place.

Not everyone is able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The alternate way of providing the required data is to provide either a signed copy of that tax year's federal return (i.e. 1040 Form and supporting tax schedules) or an IRS tax return transcript.

For Information on the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or requesting an IRS Return Transcript refer to the IRS Data Retrieval/Return Transcript Instructions.

The FAFSA uses tax data from the prior-prior tax year. If a family selected for verification still has not filed their taxes by the extension deadline (October 15) then they will need to submit documentation to the financial aid office showing that the IRS authorized an extension past the 6-month October deadline, which includes:

  • A copy of the IRS’s approval of an extension beyond the automatic six-month extension for the tax year;
  • Verification of non-filing from the IRS dated on or after the October extension deadline;
  • Copies of all their W-2 forms (or equivalent) for the tax year employment income; and
  • If self-employed, a signed statement with the amounts of their AGI and U.S. income tax paid for that tax year.

Some students may be selected to present themselves in person and submit a copy of their valid government ID to the Financial Aid Office. Alternatively, if a student cannot appear in person, they must submit an Identity Verification and Statement of Educational Purpose form signed in front of a notary public, along with a copy of their valid government ID mailed to the University of Montana's Financial Aid Office. 

Students who filed an amended tax return are required to submit a signed copy of their 2022 federal tax return and all applicable schedules to the Financial Aid Office. Alternatively, they can provide a 2022 IRS tax return transcript and record of account or account transcript downloaded from www.irs.gov/transcripts. 

For grant aid to appear on the bill as a pending credit, verification documentation must be submitted prior to July 1st for the autumn semester, November 1st for the spring semester and April 1st for the summer semester.

To receive loans or an FSEOG grant, the verification process must be done prior to the time a student ceases attending in an academic year.

For the Federal Pell Grant, students have up to one hundred and twenty (120) days after they cease to be enrolled in the academic year to complete verification, or by September 15th 2024, whichever comes earlier.

Understand that completing verification includes the time required for the school to submit corrections to the federal processor. Students need to also allow time for the financial aid office to determine award eligibility.

Inceptia, a division of National Student Loan Program (NSLP), is a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective and uncomplicated solutions in verification, financial aid management, financial education, and repayment wellness. Their mission supports schools to illuminate paths towards educational and financial success for students and families.

Questions About Verification: 

For questions about the verification process or assistance with Inceptia, students can contact INCEPTIA at 888-374-8427 or VGCS@inceptia.org, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mountain Standard Time (MST). INCEPTIA is a division of the National Student Loan Database Program, a nonprofit organization committed to offering effective solutions for financial aid management, financial education, and repayment wellness.