Forms and Documentation Submissions Guidelines
The financial aid office’s primary means of communicating important information to students is through their D2L issued email account. Email accounts are established for financial aid students if the financial aid office has received their Federal Student Aid Report (FAFSA results) and the student has been admitted to the college. Students will be responsible for checking their student email on a frequent and consistent basis to remain informed of OCtech communications, as certain communications may be time sensitive. In addition students are expected to follow up on any request for information and/or documentation required for processing of their financial aid.
Include Student’s Name and Student ID on all documents.
Financial Aid Forms by Academic Year
Submitting Tax Information for Verification
Tax Return Information
If you are selected for verification, it is highly recommended that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) under the financial information section of the FAFSA. However, if you are not able to use the IRS DRT, you may submit a copy of your IRS Tax Return Transcript or Federal Tax Return. When submitting your 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript or Federal Tax Return, you must also submit copies of all of your tax return schedules (Ex. Schedule A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, R, SE, and/or 8812) along with other verification forms requested. If submitting a federal tax return, a signature on the tax return is required (handwritten).
The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) electronically transfers your federal tax return information into your FAFSA form.
- Log in to your current FAFSA form or start a new application at fafsa.gov.
- In the financial section of the online form, you will see a “Link to IRS” button if you are eligible to use the IRS DRT.
- Click the “Link to IRS” button and log in with your FSA ID to be transferred to the IRS to retrieve your info.
- Once at the IRS site, enter your information exactly as it appears on your federal income tax return and click the “Submit” button.
- Check the “Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA form” box, and click the “Transfer Now” button.
- You will know that your federal tax return information has been successfully transferred because the words “Transferred from the IRS” will display in place of the IRS information in your FAFSA form.
The IRS DRT can be used by both students and parents. Click here to learn more about the IRS DRT.
Helpful Hints for Using the DRT
- Have your taxes in front of you and enter the address as it appears on your return.
- The address on file is typically the address on your most recent 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 United States Postal Services software and may not match what you put on your tax return.
- If you have entered your address as it appears on your return and it does not work, try using the standardized version of your address. To get a standardized version of your address go to the USPS website and search by Zip Code. Enter the address and click find.
If you still have problems, the IRS.gov Website help desk can be reached at 1-800-829-1040 (Monday through Friday) 7 am – 7 pm (Eastern Standard Time).
As part of the verification process for financial aid, the Department of Education requires us to collect this information before disbursing federal aid. Tax Return Transcript is the record supplied directly by the IRS; it is not a copy of your 1040 tax return.
Tax filers can also request a transcript of their federal tax return free of charge using one of the methods below.
Request Online
(www.irs.gov)
To use this service, you will need:
- Your SSN, date of birth, filing status and mailing address from latest tax return
- Access to your email account
- Your personal account number from a credit card, mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit or car loan
- A mobile phone with your name on the account
- Select “Get Your Tax Record,” then “Request Online”.
- Once successfully validated, you should have immediate access to view, download, and print transcripts or verification of non-filing letter.
Request by Mail
To use this service, you need your:
- SSN or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN),
- date of birth, and
- mailing address from your latest tax return
- Request a Tax Transcript (not an Account Transcript) for the tax year needed
- Transcripts arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days at the address we have on file for you
If you are not able to obtain a copy of your Tax Transcripts you may submit a copy of your Federal Tax Return
You can satisfy your tax document requirement by submitting a copy of your tax return. Feel free to send us a copy by postal mail or via fax. Here are some guidelines for submitting tax returns to our office.
- For the 2020-21 academic year, we’re required to verify 2018 tax information, so please submit your 2018 Federal Tax Return
- If your tax return is accompanied by a Schedule 1, 2, or 3, please submit those along with your return
- Tax returns must be signed by the filer, or have the preparer’s PTIN/EIN to be accepted
- Please sign with a wet or drawn signature, as we do not accept typed signatures
- When submitting tax returns, please ensure that the return is clear enough to read and that no lines or figures are cut off
As part of the verification process for financial aid, the Department of Education requires that people who do not file taxes submit an IRS letter of non-filing status to the College. A non-filing letter will be necessary for all parties in the custodial household (i.e. student, parent 1, parent 2, spouse) that did not file taxes.
Non Tax filers can request an IRS Verification of non-filing, free of charge from the IRS in one of two ways:
Request Online
(www.irs.gov).
- Hover over the word “File” in the top left hand corner. Then click “Get Your Tax Record”.
- Click “Get Transcript ONLINE”
- Enter the requested information and click “Continue”.
- Select “Verification of Non-filing Letter” and in the Tax Year field, select the appropriate tax year (FAFSA or “2018” for the 2020-2021 FAFSA).
- If successfully validated, you will be able to view and print the Verification of Non-filing letter.
- If at any point you cannot validate your identity, use the paper request option below
Paper Request Form
Download IRS Form 4506-T
- Complete Lines 1 – 4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form.
- Line 5: is your 10-digit customer number. Please prepend a zero to your student ID (i.e. 0000000).
- Line 7: Select the checkbox on the right hand side for Verification of Non-filing.
- Line 9: In the year or period requested field, enter “12/31/2018” for academic year 2020-21.
- Above the signature line: Make sure that you check the signatory authority box.
- The non filer must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number.
- Mail or Fax the Completed IRS Form 4506-T to the address or FAX number provided on page 2 of form 4506-T.
- If the 4506-T information is successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Verification of Non-filing letter at the address provided on their request within 5 to 10 days.
- Submit the letter to the financial aid office; be sure you put your student ID number (0000000) on the letter.
An individual who was the victim of IRS tax-related identity theft must provide:
- A Tax Return Data Base View (TRDBV) transcript obtained from the IRS and
- A statement signed and dated by the tax filer indicating that he or she was a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS is aware of the tax-related identity theft.
An individual who filed an amended IRS income tax return for the tax year 2018 must provide:
- A 2018 IRS Tax Return Transcript (that will only include information from the original tax return) and
- A signed copy of the 2018 IRS Form 1040X, “Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” that was filed with the IRS.
An individual who filed or will file an income tax return with the relevant taxing authority of a U.S. territory, commonwealth, or with a foreign central government must provide:
- A transcript that was obtained at no cost from the relevant taxing authority of a U.S. territory (Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands) or commonwealth (Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands), or a foreign central government, that includes all of the tax filer’s income and tax information required to be verified for tax year 2018; or
If a transcript cannot be obtained at no cost from the relevant taxing authority, a signed copy of the 2018 income tax return(s).
If you are unable to locate your W-2 forms, the quickest way to obtain a copy is to contact the employer and request a duplicate. If you are unable to obtain a duplicate W-2 from your employer(s), you may request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS using one of the following methods:
Request Online
(www.irs.gov).
- Hover over the word “File” in the top left hand corner. Then click “Get Your Tax Record”.
- Select “Get Transcript ONLINE”
- Get Transcript ONLINE – create an account with the IRS and follow the steps to receive instant access to a .PDF of your Wage and Income Transcript. Be sure to choose “Wage and Income Transcript” and enter the appropriate tax year (“2018” for the 2020-2021 FAFSA)
- If at any point you cannot validate your identity, use the paper request option below.
Paper Request Form
Download IRS Form 4506-T
- Check the box for Form W-2, specify which tax year(s) you need.
- Mail or fax the completed form.
- Allow 10 business days from the IRS received date to receive the Wage and Income
Note: Wage and income transcripts are available for up to 10 years but current tax year information may not be complete until July. This transcript doesn’t include any state or local tax information reported by your employer to SSA on Form W-2
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Forms
Students who are not making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and are placed on a Financial Aid Suspension are ineligible to receive financial aid. However, if documented, extenuating circumstances (i.e., circumstances beyond the student’s control) contributed to the lack of satisfactory academic progress, the student may request reconsideration by filing an appeal. OCtech’s SAP Standards may be reviewed here.
Spring 2021
To be considered for Spring 2021 financial aid, it is recommended that you submit your appeal and supporting documentation no later than January 5, 2021. Appeal decisions will be emailed to you on or by January 8, 2021. It is your responsibility to check your campus email for the appeal decision. Please note that submitting an appeal application does not automatically guarantee approval. You are responsible for making payment arrangements for charges owed the College regardless of the outcome of your appeal.
SAP Appeal Application Spring 2021