Best Practices for Filing the 2024-25 FAFSA

Best Practices for Filing the 2024-25 FAFSA

Get ready to file the 2024-25 FAFSA with ease by understanding the new “student-driven” structure, which requires students to provide the name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and email address of individuals required to provide information on their FAFSA. This includes parent(s) and a student’s spouse, if applicable.

These best practices and steps can help you navigate the process for filing the FAFSA, which can be completed at studentaid.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

Steps to Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA

Create or Reconfirm Your Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) now.
- All contributors to the FAFSA need to create an account at studentaid.gov.
Complete the Student Section of the FAFSA
- All students will start a "new" form.
- Use your FSA ID, email, or phone number and your password to log in to your account, access the FAFSA form, answer questions, provide consent, and sign the form electronically.
Indicate any Contributors to Your FAFSA
- If you are a dependent student: indicate your parent(s). Make sure they have a working email.
  - One parent (if single parent) or if parents are married and filed joint 2022 tax returns.
  - Two parents (if parents married, filed separately in 2022). Each parent will need FSA IDs. This includes stepparents if the parent completing the FAFSA is remarried.
  - For other parent situations not listed above, refer to your FAFSA for instructions.
- If you are married: Indicate your spouse. Make sure they have a working email.
Contributors Complete Their Section of the FAFSA
- All contributors (parent(s), stepparent, or student’s spouse) must use their FSA ID to access the FAFSA form, answer questions, provide consent, and sign the form electronically.
  - Contributors are required to provide consent to have their 2022 tax information released from the IRS for your FAFSA.
  - Consent to releasing tax information cannot be revoked and is mandatory for the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation to be completed and for the student to be eligible for federal aid.
- Students or parents who are non-tax filers must still provide consent and enter income data manually.
Submit your FAFSA
- After all contributors have provided consent and signed the form, it will be sent to the FAFSA Processing System (FPS).

After Submitting the 2024-2025 FAFSA

FAFSA Submission Summary

Once you have completed the FAFSA, you can access your “FAFSA Submission Summary” document on your studentaid.gov account.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the 2024-25 FAFSA

Who is considered a “contributor” in the 2024-25 FAFSA process?

A contributor is anyone required to provide consent and approval for obtaining federal tax information needed to complete a student’s FAFSA. This includes the student, the student’s parent(s) or stepparent if the student is considered a dependent, and the student’s spouse, if applicable. Students must designate contributors when completing their section of the FAFSA.

In cases where parents are not married, who should provide information on the FAFSA?

The parent who provides the most financial support should complete it. If one parent pays child support, that parent should complete the FAFSA if the child support amounts to more than half of the student’s support. If a dependent student’s parents are unmarried and living together, both parents will need to complete the FAFSA as contributors.

What happens when someone provides consent, or FTI Approval, on the 2024-25 FAFSA?

Providing consent allows the Department of Education to use your name and social security number to match with the IRS so the IRS may share your tax information with the Department of Education to determine a student’s eligibility for federal student aid.

Consent is mandatory for transferring federal tax information from the IRS and determining the student’s aid eligibility. If a student (or student’s spouse) does not provide consent, the student will be ineligible for any federal aid. If a parent contributor refuses consent, the student may still be given the opportunity to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.