No. However, if you don't complete it, you will be forfeiting your eligibility for financial aid—including a Dartmouth scholarship.

You will be required to provide proof that you were separated on or before the day you completed the FAFSA. One example of acceptable documentation is court documentation that shows a separation date. Another example of acceptable documentation is proof of separate physical addresses on bills for both parties dated on or before the day you filed the FAFSA. You will also be required to provide IRS tax transcripts and all W2s for both you and your spouse.

If you are having trouble with your FSA ID user name or password, contact FAFSA Customer Service immediately for troubleshooting solutions.

Not necessarily. After reviewing the documents you submitted we may need to request additional information and/or documentation to resolve any discrepancies. We will notify you via email. We ask you to respond promptly to these requests as this will help to finalize the verification process.

Tax Return Transcript? YES!!!

Tax Account Transcript? NO!!!

You are required to supply a tax return transcript as it includes all lines of the tax return you filed.

As instructed by the verification forms, provide our office with a copy of your Form 4868 (the request for an extension to file a federal return) and W-2 form(s). If you do not have W-2 form(s), please submit a statement with your estimated adjusted gross income and income taxes paid. You (and/or your parents) must submit a signed copy of the completed tax return as soon as it is available.

If federal regulations did not require you (or your parents) file a return, simply indicate that you did not file on our Federal Verification Worksheet. Submit all completed verification forms along with a copy of all W-2 Forms to our office.

If you (or your parents) were required to file a federal tax return but did not, we will be unable to review your aid application until the tax return is filed.

A Tax Return Transcript is a line-by-line summary of the actual tax return you filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Department of Education requires us to confirm that the information you provided on your FAFSA is the same information you filed with the IRS.

The purpose of the process is to confirm that the information reported on the FAFSA is correct. If any information is incorrect, we must make corrections and submit them to the Department of Education for reprocessing.

You and your family agreed to provide financial information when you completed the FAFSA. Everyone who signs the FAFSA agrees to "If asked, provide information that will verify the accuracy of your completed form."