FAFSA Simplification FAQs

We understand that students and their families will have millions of questions regarding the FAFSA overhaul. Provided down below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that we believe will help answer some of those concerns.

FAQs - Creating an FSA ID

An FSA ID (Account username and password) allows students and parents to identify themselves electronically to access Federal Student Aid (FSA) websites. For a step-by-step guide with creating an FSA ID, please feel free to watch the video provided!

Every Contributor that will be listed on the FAFSA form will be required to create an FSA ID. Otherwise, the application itself cannot submitted or completed. The following are the ones who will have to create an FSA ID:

  1. Student
  2. Parent(s) - If student is considered a "Dependent student" based on this LINK
  3. Spouse (Student/Parent) - Only if the Spouse filed their taxes separately

The following are what every contributor will need to create an FSA ID:

  1. A working e-mail address
  2. A working phone number
  3. Social Security Number (SSN)
  4. Username & password for FSA ID

YES! Federal Student Aid (FSA) has finally provided a process for FSA ID creation for non-eligible parent(s) or student spouses even if they do not have a valid Social Security Number (SSN). For a step-by-step guide on how this process works, please refer to the link provided right below.

FSA ID Creation For Contributors Without SSN Guide Link

NO. Unfortunately, parents who live outside of the U.S. will not be able to create an FSA ID since they don't have a valid SSN. However, they may still be able to submit a 2024-2025 Paper FAFSA to give their consent for the completion of the student's 2024-25 FAFSA form.

NO. Both parents (Married/re-married) do not need to create an FSA ID, especially if they filed jointly in their U.S. tax returns.

However, parents (Married/re-married) who filed their taxes separately will need to create an FSA ID individually.

Furthermore, students who have separated/divorced parents will also need the parent who provides the most financial support to create an FSA ID.

Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA, a separate signature page will NO longer exist. There are two alternative options for contributors to provide consent who do not want to or refuse to create an FSA ID:

  1. The student applying using the 2024-25 Paper FAFSA and obtains wet signatures from all contributors, including the parents, who also affirm their consent.
  2. The parent/spouse can then provide their wet signature and consent on a paper copy of the FAFSA Submission Summary. (This method is highly NOT recommended)

FAQs - Contributors

A Contributor is anyone who is required to provide information, consent, approval, and a signature on the FAFSA form. The following are the ones who will be identified as such on the application:

  1. Student
  2. Parent(s) - If student is considered a "Dependent student" based on this LINK
  3. Spouse (Student/Parent) - Only if the Spouse filed their taxes separately

For more information regarding contributors, please feel free to watch the video provided!

The following are the steps that each contributor are expected to take when being identified on as one on the student's FAFSA form:

  1. The identified contributor receives an e-mail informing them that they've been identified as one on the student's FAFSA form
  2. They must create an FSA ID if they don't already have one
  3. They must log-in to their account using their FSA ID and password.
  4. They must review the information about completing their section of the FAFSA form.
  5. They must provide consent to using their information on the FAFSA form
The parent included in the FAFSA as a contributor must be the the one that provides the greater portion of the student's financial support.

Students that live with a single, divorced, or widowed parent must ONLY report the specific parent that they receive the most financial support from. Both parents do not need to be listed on the FAFSA form.

However, if that primary parent is re-married, the income of that parent's spouse (Step-parent) will also be factored on the form. 

If a required contributor refuses to provide their information, it will result in the student's FAFSA form being INCOMPLETE. Therefore, the student will be ineligible to be considered and receive Federal or State financial aid.

Based on The Future Act, all students and contributors must provide consent to the following:

  • Have their Federal tax information (FTI) transferred directly into the FAFSA form via direct data exchange with the IRS
  • Have their Federal tax information used to determine the student's eligibility for Federal aid
  • Allow the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to share its Federal tax information with post-secondary institutions and State higher education agencies for use in awarding and administering financial aid

IMPORTANT NOTE: Even if students or contributors don't have a Social Security number (SSN), were not required to file taxes, or filed taxes outside of the U.S., will still need to provide consent.

FAQs - Consent and Tax Information

Consent - Permission given by the contributor to automatically provide tax information on the FAFSA directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Based on The Future Act, every contributor on the FAFSA is required to provide consent to share their tax information in the application so that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can share this information with Federal Student Aid (FSA). 

When a contributor agrees to provide consent on the FAFSA, they are agreeing to the following:

  1. To share their personal data on the FAFSA form with the IRS
  2. For the Federal Tax Information (FTI) to be automatically transferred into the FAFSA form
  3. Allow the U.S. Department Of Education (DOE) to use FTI to calculate how much financial aid a student can qualify for
  4. Allow DOE to share FTI with the schools listed on the FAFSA form and State higher education agencies (For State financial aid consideration)
  5. Allow DOE to re-use FTI for any FAFSA forms the contributor is invited to

For more information regarding consent, please feel free to watch the video provided!

If the student, their spouse, or parent/step-parent(s) choose not to provide consent on the FAFSA, the Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated. Therefore, the student will NOT be eligible to receive financial aid through the FAFSA.

Federal Tax Information - Tax data provided directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with a contributor's consent and approval.

Federal Tax Information (FTI) replaces the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) option on the previous FAFSA forms. When a contributor agrees to provide consent on the FAFSA form, their FTI will automatically be transferred over into the application based on the tax year the FAFSA is built on.

EXAMPLE: 2024-2025 financial aid application - 2022 tax information

Based on the 2022 Tax Filing Thresholds provided by the IRS, if the contributors on the FAFSA form did not file taxes, then the student will automatically receive a Student Aid Index (SAI) equal to "–1,500" (Negative 1,500).

Each contributor will still need to provide consent on the FAFSA, so the IRS can confirm to Federal Student Aid (FSA) that they did not file taxes for that year.

YES. If after the contributor provides consent on the FAFSA form and the IRS cannot locate their FTI, the application will allow them to self-report their income.

In situations like these, the student's financial aid application will most likely be selected for Verification since the tax information is not transferred straight from the IRS. Additional documentation will be asked from the student by the school they will be attending.