Federal Financial Aid Verification
The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects FAFSA applications for a process known as verification. Verification is a review of the information provided on the FAFSA for accuracy.
________________________________________________________________________________
The University of North Alabama is pleased to announce we have established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process.
Verification Gateway (VG) from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification. If selected for verification, you will be notified by an email from VGCS@inceptia.org, or a postcard from Inceptia, containing the University of North Alabama’s unique website link to start the verification process. This email will include instructions to create your account and what information you will need to gather to submit to the verification portal.
After your file is complete, you will be notified and will be able to view your award offer in your Financial Aid Dashboard in the UNA Portal account. Your classes will not be secured with financial aid until you complete this process.
We encourage you to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification from Verification Gateway. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of your financial aid.
Follow these steps to complete your verification:
- Access our school’s unique website link at https://una.verificationgateway.org
- Create your account** and choose preferences for text messages and e-signatures.
- Complete your Task List.
- Confirm your signature and review your information.
- Sign your account.
**If you are a dependent student, your parent also needs to create their own account and complete each of these steps.
University of North Alabama Verification Gateway Links and Deadlines
2024-2025 Federal Verification: https://una.verificationgateway.org
Deadline for submitting these documents is 09/14/2025!
***If you are required to submit a Statement of Educational Purpose for verification, you will need to submit that form and any supplemental documentation directly to our office instead of uploading it to your Verification Gateway via Inceptia. You may request to complete the in-person form, or you may request a version of the form from our office that must be notarized by an official notary and either mailed to our office or brought to us in person.
Our mailing address is: University of North Alabama, Office of Student Financial Aid, One Harrison Plaza, UNA Box 5014, Florence, AL 35632.
Questions about the verification process?
Check out this informational video or contact Inceptia, Monday through Friday 8 am – 7 pm Central at 833.932.1877 or VGCS@inceptia.org.
About Inceptia
Inceptia, a nonprofit organization, provides innovation and leadership in higher education access and success through engaging and empowering students and streamlining processes. Our mission is to support schools in illuminating a path towards educational and financial success for students and families, allowing them to pursue their dreams of reaching their full potential. Our solutions are designed to support student success by helping schools maximize resources, so they can spend more time delivering meaningful learning experiences across the student lifecycle that fosters education and personal development.
*If your 2024-2025 FAFSA (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 semesters) has been selected for "Independent - Legal Dependents" verification, please click on the link to the worksheet below, complete the worksheet, and submit it to our office in person, by scanning and emailing to financialaid@una.edu, or by faxing to 256-765-4920.
If selected for verification, you will be notified by an email from VGCS@inceptia.org containing the University of North Alabama’s unique website link to start the verification process. This email will include instructions to create your account and what information you will need to gather to submit to the verification portal. You may also view any unsatisfied requirements related to verification in your UNA Portal account under the Financial Aid Dashboard.
***If you are required to submit a Statement of Educational Purpose for verification, you will need to submit that form and any supplemental documentation directly to our office instead of uploading it to your Verification Gateway via Inceptia. You may request to complete the in-person form, or you may request a version of the form from our office that must be notarized by an official notary and either mailed to our office or brought to us in person.
Our mailing address is: University of North Alabama, Office of Student Financial Aid, One Harrison Plaza, UNA Box 5014, Florence, AL 35632.
Follow these steps to complete your verification:
- Access our school’s unique website link at https://una.verificationgateway.org
- Create your account and choose preferences for text messages and e-signatures.
- Complete your Task List.
- Confirm your signature and review your information.
- Sign your account.
***If you are required to submit a Statement of Educational Purpose for verification, you will need to submit that form and any supplemental documentation directly to our office instead of uploading it to your Verification Gateway via Inceptia. You may request to complete the in-person form, or you may request a version of the form from our office that must be notarized by an official notary and either mailed to our office or brought to us in person.
Our mailing address is: University of North Alabama, Office of Student Financial Aid, One Harrison Plaza, UNA Box 5014, Florence, AL 35632.
The Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service have worked together to develop a process, known as the FUTURE Act Data Direct Exchange (FA-DDX). This process was formerly known as the IRS-DRT (Data Retrieval Tool). FA-DDX simplifies the steps to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The DDX is a tool that allows contributors to consent for the exchange of federal tax information into your FAFSA. The process enables the FAFSA to retrieve income and tax data directly from the IRS.
All FAFSA applicants and contributors who indicate that they have filed their federal tax returns prior to completing their FAFSA may use the DDX process to complete their FAFSA.
Some families may not be able to use the DDX if the following scenarios are true:
- If a tax return has not yet been file;
- If the parents of a dependent student file separate tax returns;
- If an applicant’s parent has a change in marital status after the end of the tax year on December 31;
- If anyone has filed an amended tax return;
- If the applicant or applicant’s parents have filed a foreign tax return.
If you are unable to use the DDX Tool, you have the option to request an IRS Tax Return Transcript to verify your income for verification.
Both are available on the following IRS website: IRS Website
- Get Tax Return Transcript Online
- For the Tax Return Transcript, in the "Tools & Applications" section of the homepage, click "Get Your Tax Records".
- Click “Get transcript online” OR "Get transcript by mail".
- Depending on which option is selected in the previous bullet point, continue with prompted steps to request the tax documents.
- For the Non-Filing Letter, click on the following link: Get Non-Filing Transcript Online