Webinar: Friday, November 13 at 1:00PM

In our second webinar, we will look at the 2027-2028 V1 FAFSA data to be verified and documentation requirements for each data element. This will include what to do when the FA-DDX successfully matches a contributor’s section of the FAFSA to their IRS record, and the IRS has populated their ISIR with Federal Tax Information, and what to do when there is no FTI in the contributor’s record. We will discuss amended tax returns, identity theft, rollovers, foreign non-filers, and other unusual situations that might come up. Requirements for both 1040 filers, foreign and territory tax return filers, domestic non-filers, and foreign non-filers will be covered.

Note: we are assuming that V1 verification will continue into 2027-2028. In the unlikely event that V1 verification is retired, we will publish a replacement agenda.

Webinar: Wednesday, December 16 at 10 AM

In the third and final webinar of the series, we will look at any updates the Department of Education (ED) has provided since the earlier two webinars. Our focus, though, will be a discussion of the two tax concepts that financial aid administrators are required to understand: who is required to file a tax return, and what is the correct filing status for a person.

When discussing the question of which taxpayers are required to file a tax return, we will look at how the documentation collected when a non-filer is selected for verification should be reviewed, including discussions of gross income, and include subject to direct payment of employment taxes (self-employment income and household employee income).

Our discussion of filing status will focus on those aspects of filing status that are most often incorrect: head of household filing status used by married couples, and single status used by married individuals.

The content of this final webinar in the series may change if ED makes significant changes to 2027-2028 aid processing that were not covered in the earlier webinars

Webinar: Wednesday, July 22 at 1:00PM

As we get closer to the start of the academic year, institutions across the board are working to navigate the changes associated with OB3. Join VASFAA for an interactive panel webinar where we come together to share insights, strategies, and lessons learned along the way.

Our panel features financial aid professionals from a variety of institutions, including a 4-year public university, a 4-year private institution, a community college, and a professional school, ensuring there is something valuable for everyone.

Panelists will discuss how their offices are approaching recent changes, highlight practical tips and tricks they’ve developed, and offer real-world perspectives to help you feel more confident heading into the new year.

Bring your questions, curiosity, and ideas; this is a collaborative space where we can learn from one another and tackle these challenges together.

Webinar: Wednesday, September 9 at 2:00PM

How can financial aid offices effectively support students and families as they navigate private loan options? This webinar brings together experts from campus financial aid professionals and ELM, ScholarNet,  to discuss historical and preferred lender lists, communication strategies, and student counseling techniques. Attendees will learn how institutions present private loan information, evaluate the use of lender lists, and empower borrowers to make informed financing decisions.

Webinar: Wednesday, October 7 at 10 AM

In our first webinar, we will start with a look at the changes to taxes between 2024 and 2025 and verification between 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. This will include a discussion of the new “combined adjusted gross income” and “combined income tax paid” FAFSA data elements and the Puerto Rico tax return, which is referenced with tax line numbers in the instructions for these questions. We’ll also cover the changes to the non-filer foreign tax

filer questions and how this may change the workflow of some FAFSA file reviews.

Next, we will go back to basics and look at each FAFSA question that is derived from the tax return, finding it on the 2025’s redesigned Form 1040 and applicable schedules. This will include an updated look at the taxable grants and scholarships question.