Note
Submit SAIG Enrollment Agreement by Feb. 23, 2024: We recently announced we will begin transmitting 2024–25 ISIRs in the first half of March 2024. If your organization has not yet completed the steps described in this announcement, please act immediately to ensure your new FTI-SAIG mailbox is ready. SAIG enrollment agreements submitted after Feb. 23 may not be processed in time to receive 2024–25 ISIRs when we begin transmitting them next month. In addition, updated SAIG software must be installed for your organization to access 2024–25 ISIRs. We appreciate the work of many organizations that have completed the necessary steps.
Note
On Jan. 29, 2024, we updated this announcement to add Q15 to the Q&A section to describe the process by which, under limited conditions, an organization may grant additional users access to the FTI-SAIG mailbox, in addition to the DPA and PDPA. Please follow the detailed instructions for completing the required steps on the SAIG Enrollment website.
Important Reminder to SAIG Users: If your organization has not yet completed the initial steps to receive 2024–25 ISIRs in the FTI-SAIG mailbox (signing and submitting the updated SAIG enrollment agreement), please review this Electronic Announcement in its entirety and complete the process as soon as possible. In addition, updated SAIG software must be installed. Important information for software users can be found in the Nov. 8, 2023 Electronic Announcement. EDconnect users should also refer to the Dec. 4, 2023 Electronic Announcement prior to installing the software.
Partners must sign an updated Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) enrollment agreement to receive Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) for the 2024–25 award year and beyond.
New FTI-SAIG
As explained in the May 12, 2023, Electronic Announcement, modifications to the SAIG related to the transmission of federal tax information (FTI) are necessary. Beginning with the 2024–25 award year, every partner enrolled to receive ISIRs will be required to sign an updated SAIG enrollment agreement, enroll for a new FTI-SAIG mailbox, and install upgraded SAIG software to continue receiving ISIR data.
The updated SAIG enrollment agreement, which will be available on the SAIG Enrollment website on Oct. 23, 2023, requires compliance with the protection of FTI provided to our partners by the U.S. Department of Education (the Department), including return information obtained in support of the administration of the federal student aid programs. The updated agreement includes an acknowledgement of the criminal and civil penalties for the unauthorized inspection or disclosure of FTI.
To receive ISIR data in a new FTI-SAIG mailbox, the eligible organization must first sign and submit the updated SAIG enrollment agreement. Detailed information about who is required to sign the agreement—and the process to complete enrollment for the FTI-SAIG mailbox and 2024–25 ISIR service—is provided in the sections below.
Partners that fail to sign the updated SAIG enrollment agreement will not be able to access 2024–25 ISIRs.
Overview: Signing an Updated SAIG Enrollment Agreement
During the week of Oct. 22, 2023, we will send an email to all Destination Point Administrators (DPAs) who currently manage the ISIR service at their organization (i.e., the owner of the SAIG mailbox that receives ISIRs). The email will provide instructions on how to access and sign the updated SAIG enrollment agreement on the SAIG Enrollment website. The email will come from CPSSAIG@ed.gov and will include a new FT number to identify the organization’s newly assigned FTI-SAIG mailbox.
In the email, the DPA will be instructed to log in to the SAIG Enrollment website using their FSA User ID and password and follow the step-by-step instructions to review the updated enrollment agreement, print the signature pages, and provide all required signatures.
Note: The DPA who manages the ISIR service must sign the updated enrollment agreement, as well as the organization’s Primary DPA (PDPA), if it is a different person. In addition, the organization’s Authorized Official (President/CEO or Designee) must sign.
The completed and signed signature pages must be submitted to CPS/SAIG Technical Support via email, fax, or postal mail. After an anticipated processing time of 10 business days, the 2024–25 ISIR service will be added to the organization’s FTI-SAIG mailbox.
Important
We strongly encourage all eligible organizations to submit the signed SAIG enrollment agreement as soon as possible on or after Oct. 23, 2023. This will ensure the signature pages are processed prior to the launch of the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and the organization’s new FTI-SAIG mailbox is ready to receive 2024–25 ISIRs.
Questions and Answers
The following Questions and Answers provide additional information about the updated SAIG enrollment agreement that will be available on Oct. 23, 2023.
A1: The Destination Point Administrator (DPA) at an organization who manages the ISIR service (i.e., the owner of the SAIG mailbox that receives ISIRs) must sign the updated enrollment agreement. The Primary DPA (PDPA) must also sign if it is a different person. Additionally, the Authorized Official (the President/CEO or Designee) must sign. If you are a third-party servicer, please review the additional information in the answer to question Q6.
A2: Yes (see Q1).
A3: No, font-based signatures will not be accepted, regardless of whether they are made to mimic a signature using a cursive-style font. In addition, we will not accept digital signature services that do not require you to draw your signature with your hand or pointing device.
The following types of signatures are acceptable:
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A wet signature that was drawn in ink and sent in its original format.
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A wet signature that was drawn in ink and then digitized (e.g., drawing your signature and taking a photo of it and placing that photo in the signature block).
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A digital signature that was drawn with your hand using a pointing device (such as a digital pen, mouse, or trackpad) or a finger (e.g., on a smartphone or laptop touchscreen).
A4: A set of training resources will be available on the FSA Training Center website on Oct. 23, 2023. To access the training information, log in to the FSA Training Center with your username and password, choose “Systems Training” from the top menu bar, and select “SAIG Training” from the drop-down menu.
A5: Yes. You will need to provide a signed set of signature pages (Step 3 and Step 4) for each Federal School Code. The “FT Mailbox Number” and the “Organization Code” on the Step 3 and Step 4 signature pages must match.
A6: Yes. You will need to provide a signed set of signature pages (Step 3 and Step 4) for each school/Federal School Code. The “FT Mailbox Number” and the “Organization Code” on the Step 3 and Step 4 signature pages must match. If you are the owner of the SAIG mailbox that receives ISIRs, you should complete and sign the Primary DPA section of the Step 3 signature page and leave the Non-Primary DPA section blank. If someone other than yourself is the owner of the SAIG mailbox that receives ISIRs, then that person must complete and sign the Non-Primary DPA section of the Step 3 signature page, and you must complete the Primary DPA section of the Step 3 signature page. Your organization’s Authorized Official or Designee and your client school’s Authorized Official or Designee must sign the Step 4 signature page.
A7: The school is ultimately responsible. However, the school’s third-party servicer is responsible for logging into the SAIG Enrollment website to sign and submit the required set of signature pages (Step 3 and Step 4) as described in the answer to Q6. This process follows the standard process that third-party servicers currently follow for enrolling new services on behalf of a school.
A8: After CPS/SAIG Technical Support receives the completed signature pages via email, fax, or postal mail, please allow 10 business days for processing. The fastest method to submit the signature pages is email. Specific instructions to submit the signature pages will be provided in the email the DPA will receive the week of Oct. 22, 2023.
A9: After the signature pages are processed by CPS/SAIG Technical Support, the ISIR service for 2024–25 will be added to the FTI-SAIG mailbox. More information on how to confirm this will be provided in the training resources that will be available on the FSA Training Center website on Oct. 23, 2023 (see Q4).
A10: The FTI-SAIG mailbox will only be used to receive ISIR data for 2024–25 (and beyond). All other batch data will be exchanged using your organization’s existing SAIG mailbox(es).
A11: Yes. The FTI-SAIG mailbox is needed to ensure additional protection for applicants’ FTI, which will be contained in ISIR data for 2024–25 and beyond. Other batch files will continue to be exchanged via the organization’s existing SAIG mailbox(es). This includes 2023–24 ISIRs since they do not include FTI.
A13: Contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at CPSSAIG@ed.gov. Technical support representatives are available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
Q14: What are the step-by-step instructions for completing the updated SAIG enrollment agreement on the SAIG Enrollment website?
A14: The Primary DPA, Secondary DPA, or DPA of the SAIG mailbox enrolled for ISIR services should follow the steps below to complete the process.
Reminder: Training resources to assist with this process, including a video tutorial, are available on the FSA Training Center. Refer to Q4 for more information.
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Go to the SAIG Enrollment website and select the "Primary Destination Point Administrator Access" link.
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Enter your FSA User ID and password. Select "Login."
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From the Primary DPA page, select the "Manage Your SAIG Mailboxes" link.
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Select the "Print SAIG Enrollment signature pages for FTI Mailbox" link.
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Enter your organization's FT number. The last five digits of the FT number are the same as the last five digits of the TG number enrolled for 2023–24 ISIRs for your organization. Enter the Federal School Code if your organization type is a School or Third-Party Servicer. Select State if your organization type is State Agency. Select "Next."
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Review the signature page instructions.
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Select the signature page in either PDF or HTML version.
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Print signature pages. After successfully printing the signature pages, close the Adobe Acrobat window to return to the signature page instructions. Select “Next.”
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Select OK when asked if you successfully printed the signature pages.
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Provide all required signatures and submit the signature pages to CPS/SAIG Technical Support via email, fax, or mail.
A15: Yes, additional users at an organization may be granted access to the FTI-SAIG mailbox under the following conditions:
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Access to the FTI-SAIG mailbox may only be granted to individuals who are responsible for carrying out job duties related to the application, award, and administration of aid awarded under the Title IV programs, state aid, or aid awarded by eligible institutions or state higher education agencies. Organizations that grant access to the FTI-SAIG mailbox to additional users must be cognizant of the serious implications of unauthorized access and inspection of FTI. If an individual accesses the FTI-SAIG mailbox without a ‘need to know,’ it is considered unauthorized inspection and disclosure of FTI under IRC 6103. As described earlier in this announcement, the updated SAIG enrollment agreement—signed by the DPA and PDPA—includes an acknowledgement of the criminal and civil penalties for the unauthorized inspection or disclosure of FTI. In addition, the Department retains the right to audit user access at any time.
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If an organization needs to grant access to additional users to the FTI-SAIG mailbox, each additional user must sign a new Federal Student Aid User of Electronic Services Statement as described below. This includes users that may have signed the form in the past for access to other services. The PDPA must also sign the statement and then collect and maintain the signed statement in the organization’s records. It is not submitted to CPS/SAIG Technical Support or to the Department. These records, at the Department’s discretion, may be audited or requested during a program review.
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Instructions for the PDPA to Print, Sign, and Store the Federal Student Aid User of Electronic Services Statement
The PDPA must follow these instructions for each additional user. Each additional user must be added by the PDPA one at a time and must sign their own unique signature page.
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Go to the SAIG Enrollment website and select the "Primary Destination Point Administrator Access" link.
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Enter your FSA User ID and password. Select "Login.”
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From the Primary DPA page, select the "Manage Electronic Services" link.
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Select the “FT” radio button and enter your organization's FT number. Select "Next."
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Select “Add a new user.”
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Enter the new user’s demographic information. Select “Continue.”
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Select “Yes” and select “Continue.”
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Review the signature page instructions.
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Select the signature page in either PDF or HTML version.
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Print the signature pages. After successfully printing the signature pages, close the Adobe Acrobat window to return to the signature page instructions. Select “Continue.”
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Select OK when asked if you successfully printed the signature pages.
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The new user and PDPA must read and sign the new Federal Student Aid User of Electronic Services Statement. The original, signed statement must be retained by the organization. Do not submit this statement to CPS/SAIG Technical Support or to the Department.
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Related Information
The May 12, 2023 Electronic Announcement (Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI) for Federal Student Aid Programs Beginning with the 2024-25 FAFSA Processing Cycle) provides guidance and instructions for eligible organizations to receive ISIRs that include FTI for the 2024–25 FAFSA cycle and thereafter. We encourage our partners to review this announcement for background information on CUI//SP-TAX labeling requirements, the Department’s expectations on the treatment of FTI, and other guidance related to preparing to receive FTI.
Additionally, the May 30, 2023, Electronic Announcement (SAIG Software Upgrade for FTI Data Transmission – Preliminary Information for SAIG Software Users) provides preliminary information for SAIG software users related to the release of upgraded EDconnect, TDClient, and TDCommunityManager (TDCM) software that must be installed to transmit to the FTI-SAIG. Please continue to monitor the Knowledge Center website for forthcoming communications related to the required software upgrade.
Contact Information
If you have questions about completing the updated SAIG enrollment agreement, please contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 1-800-330-5947 or by email at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.
You may review detailed information about the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act and the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE Act) on our FAFSA Simplification Information Topics page on the Knowledge Center website.