If selected for 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 verification, submit all the required documentation as quickly as possible to Student Financial Services. To avoid awarding delays, we encourage you to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification through your Joe'SS To Do List and your Missouri S&T email.

Here are some steps you can take to navigate this process:

1. Check Joe'SS To Do Task List. Follow the instructions on any action items. If additional documentation is required, we recommend that you use the Secure Document Upload in Joe'SS to upload the necessary document(s).
2. Involve Your Parents or Your Spouse. Much of what the verification process entails is tax and income information which your parents or your spouse may be able to help provide.
3. Check your Missouri S&T Email Often. Student Financial Services will email you if any additional documents or actions are needed.
4. Complete Your Documents. Make sure that you read the instructions carefully and fill the forms out completely. You will also need to sign the forms before submitting them. We cannot accept electronic signatures, so you will need to physically sign the document before submitting it to us. The fastest way to submit documents to us is by using the Secure Document Upload in Joe'SS. Please do not submit any documents to Student Financial Services that are not specifically requested as it will slow the process.
5. Still Have Questions? If you need addition guidance through the verification process, please schedule an appointment with your Financial Services Counselor or call the office at 573-341-4282.

If a student who is selected for verification does not complete the verification process, then any federal and/or need-based aid (Pell grant, SEOG, Work Study, Federal Direct loans, certain Scholarships, Access Missouri, and institutional aid) will NOT be awarded or disbursed.

• Complete the correct Verification Worksheet
• Reminder - for any academic year, tax return information from two years prior (prior-prior year) will be required. For example, for the 2024-2025 academic year, Inceptia will request tax information from 2022, which was used in the 2024-2025 FAFSA. For the verification of the 2025-2026 FAFSA, tax information from 2023 will be needed.
• Please do not submit any documents to Student Financial Services that are not specifically requested as it will slow the process.
• Secure Document Upload is the preferred method to send your documents to Student Financial Services.   
  • Select the following from the drop-down menu - Office/Department: Financial Aid, Document Type: 25-26 Verification Documents. 

How do I get an IRS Tax Return Transcript?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the government agency responsible for processing U.S Tax Returns. Once the Tax Return is filed with the IRS they are responsible for furnishing customers with a Tax Return Transcript. If for any reason you cannot use IRS Direct Data Exchange, you can request a tax return transcript using Get Transcript at irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript.

Please ensure you request the correct document. The Tax Return Transcript should look like the example below.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) will be called the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX).

The IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) is:

• Easy: Transfers info with the click of a button
• Fast: Instantly retrieves your information
• Accurate: Correctly fills in data fields
• Reduces amount of documents needing to be submitted to our office.
  
  

How does DDX work?

The DDX allows tax information to come directly from the IRS to the Department of Education. The FAFSA contributors need to provide consent to release their information on the FAFSA.

1. Contributors must actively choose to utilize the direct data exchange tool.  
2. When you choose to do so, you will be transferred to the Internal Revenue Service website.  
3. Authentication of identity will be required before any personal information is displayed.
   • When entering your address, it is essential that you input your address exactly as it appeared on your tax return.

Note: If the Link to IRS option does not appear then the student/parent is not eligible to use the DDX tool.

What information does the IRS DDX retrieve? 

The IRS DDX retrieves the following information, as applicable:

• Adjusted Gross Income

• U.S. Income Tax Paid

• Untaxed Portions of IRA Distributions

• Untaxed Portions of Pensions

• IRA Deductions and Payments

• Tax Exempt Interest Income

• Education credits

For students chosen for 2024-2025 verification, 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. Our mission supports schools as they illuminate paths towards educational and financial success for students and families. 

For students chosen for 2025-2026 verification, you will submit documents directly to Missouri S&T.