Verification Forms

Only submit the Verification documents listed below if your TO DO list in CAESAR specifically requests them. Not all documents are required from each student selected. Your TO DO list in CAESAR will specifically state which documents are required. Students who do not see "Verification Worksheet" on their TO DO list in CAESAR should not submit this form unless it is specifically requested by the Office of Financial Aid. For more information on the federal Verification process, please see our Verification FAQs.

2012-13 Verification Documents

2012-13 Federal Verification Worksheet (INDEPENDENT)-Only students in Graduate and Professional programs (including Med regardless of NU dependency status) selected for verification for the 2012-13 academic year should complete this form. Undergraduates who are considered independent for the purposes of federal aid should complete this form.

2012-13 Federal Verification Worksheet (DEPENDENT)-Only undergraduate students who are selected for verification for the 2012-13 academic year and are considered dependent for the purposes of federal aid should complete this form with their parents.

2012-13 Verification of Child Support Paid

Verification of Family Member in College

2011-12 Verification Documents

2011-12 Federal Verification Worksheet (Independent)-Only students in Graduate and Professional programs (including Med regardless of NU dependency status) selected for verification for the 2011-12 academic year should complete this form. Undergraduates who are considered independent for the purposes of federal aid should complete this form.

2011-12 Federal Verification Worksheet (Dependent)- Only undergraduate students who are selected for verification for the 2011-12 academic year and are considered dependent for the purposes of federal aid should complete this form with their parents.

Verification of Family Member in College

Requesting Federal Tax Transcripts from the IRS

Effective in the 2012-13 academic year, Northwestern University is no longer able to accept copies of the federal 1040 form in place of the Federal Tax Transcript issued by the IRS. Tax filers who are selected for verification and are required to submit their tax transcript may request a copy of their federal transcript from the IRS, free of charge, in one of three ways:

  • Online Request
    • Available the IRS website at www.irs.gov
    • In the Online Services section of the homepage, click “Order a Tax Return or Account Transcript.”
    • Click “Order a Transcript”
    • Enter the tax filer’s SSN, Date of birth, street address and zip or postal code. Use the address currently on file with the IRS. Generally, this will be the address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
    • Click “Continue”
    • In the TYPE of TRANSCRIPT field, select “Return Transcript” and in the TAX YEAR field, select 2011.
    • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address included in their online request within 5 to 10 business days from the time the online request was successfully transmitted to the IRS
    • IRS Tax Return Transcripts requested online cannot be sent directly to a third party (NU) by the IRS.
  • Telephone request         
    • Available from the IRS by calling 1-800-908-9946
    • Tax filers must follow prompts to enter their SSN and the numbers in their street address. Generally, these will be the numbers of the street address that was listed on the latest tax return filed. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
    • Select “OPTION 2” to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript, and then enter “2011”
    • If successfully validated, tax filers can expect to receive a paper IRS Tax Return Transcript at the address that was used in their telephone request within 5-10 days from the time the IRS receives the request.
    • IRS Tax Transcripts requested by telephone cannot be sent directly to a third party (NU) by the IRS.
  • Paper Request Form- IRS Form 4506T-EZ
    • IRS Form 4506T-EZ should be used instead of IRS 4506-T because it is sufficient to request an IRS Tax Return transcript
    • Download IRS Form 4506T-EZ at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdf
    • Complete lines 1-4, following the instructions on page 2 of the form. Note that line 3 should be the most current address as filed with the IRS. It is the address where the IRS Tax Return Transcript will be sent. If the address has recently changed, include the address listed on the latest tax return filed on Line 4. However, if an address change has been completed through the US Postal Service, the IRS may have the updated address on file.
    • Line 5 provides tax filers with the option to have their IRS Tax Return Transcript mailed directly to a third party (NU) by the IRS.
    • On line 6, enter “2011” to receive IRS tax information for the 2011 tax year that is required for the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    • The Tax Filers (or spouse, if requesting information from a joint tax return) must sign and date the form and enter their telephone number. Only one signature is required to request a transcript for a joint return.
    • Mail or fax the completed IRS form 4506T-EZ to the appropriate address (or FAX number) provided on page 2 of Form 4506T-EZ.
    • Tax filers can expect to receive their transcript within 5-10 days from the time the IRS receives and processes their signed request. NOTE: Processing Form 4506T-EZ means verifying/validating the information provided on the form. If any information does not match the IRS records, the IRS will notify the tax filer that it was not able to provide the transcript.