WASHINGTON — October 23, 2026. The U.S. Department of Education has published its annual notice spelling out which information may need verification for students applying for federal financial aid in the 2027–2028 award year. The notice was published in the Federal Register on October 23.
Who needs to provide additional information?
Not every applicant will be asked for additional records. When an applicant is selected for verification, the institution receives an indicator through the student’s federal aid record. The applicant’s FAFSA Submission Summary also points them toward their school’s financial aid office for next steps, according to the federal notice.
Selected applicants may be asked to confirm items such as family size, income information or identity, depending on the applicable verification group and circumstances. The notice identifies acceptable forms of documentation for different cases.
How tax information is handled
Federal tax information transferred directly from the IRS and used in aid calculations generally will not need to be verified again for the covered items. If income information was entered manually, however, applicants may need records such as 2025 tax transcripts or filed returns and schedules. Exceptional filing situations have additional documentation rules.
The notice also addresses alternatives for certain forms of identity verification, including situations in which a student cannot appear in person. Applicants should rely on instructions from their school rather than sending sensitive records to an unverified recipient.
What students should do
Check the official FAFSA Submission Summary and watch messages from the institution’s financial aid office. If selected, ask the school which specific documents it requires and how to submit them securely. The publication of this notice does not mean that every applicant must immediately send financial documents.
Primary sources: Federal Register, October 23, 2026; Federal Student Aid Knowledge Center.
Featured photograph: Ken Theimer / Unsplash; illustrative college library, not a federal aid office.
