Education Department Seeks Data on Student Aid Payment Errors
Published Date: 3/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Education wants to collect new info to better track and reduce improper payments in federal student aid. This affects private companies and state, local, and tribal governments who’ll provide data by April 15, 2026. The goal? Make sure taxpayer money is spent right without causing extra hassle.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
New Reporting for Improper Payments
Institutions of higher education, private-sector entities, and state, local, and tribal governments will need to provide new information to Federal Student Aid so the Department can estimate improper and unknown payments. The collection is estimated to produce 3,349 annual responses and 1,089 total annual burden hours, and the Department is accepting comments on the proposal through April 15, 2026 (OMB Control Number 1845-NEW). The information includes sample, population, and finding details from testing that are not reported with the compliance audit.
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