Can You Get FAFSA If You Didn’t File Taxes?
Unsure about FAFSA without tax returns? Learn if you qualify and how to apply for federal student aid, even as a non-filer.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the primary gateway to various forms of financial assistance for higher education, encompassing federal grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. Not having filed taxes does not automatically disqualify an applicant from receiving federal student aid. While tax returns are frequently utilized to provide financial information, alternative methods are available for individuals who have not filed.
Determining FAFSA Eligibility Without a Tax Return
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) establishes specific income thresholds that determine whether an individual is required to file a federal income tax return. These IRS filing requirements are distinct from the FAFSA’s financial information requirements. Many individuals, including students and parents, may not be legally obligated to file taxes if their gross income falls below these annual thresholds, which vary based on filing status, age, and dependency. For instance, for the 2022 tax year (relevant for the 2024-2025 FAFSA), a single individual under 65 generally did not need to file if their gross income was less than $12,950.
The FAFSA accommodates “non-filers” when tax filing is not required. The FAFSA form includes provisions for applicants to indicate they have not filed a tax return, and still requires the financial information that would have been reported.
The impact of tax filing status on FAFSA eligibility also depends on whether the student is considered dependent or independent. For dependent students, parental financial information, including their tax-filing status, is required. If parents were not required to file taxes, they would indicate this on the FAFSA and provide their income details. For independent students, only their own (and a spouse’s, if applicable) financial information is needed.
The FAFSA form specifically allows for the direct input of income and asset information for non-filers. All contributors, including non-filers, must provide consent and approval to transfer federal tax information directly from the IRS into the FAFSA, even if no return exists. Failure to provide this consent will result in ineligibility for federal student aid. If selected for verification, non-filers may need to provide a Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS or a signed statement confirming their non-filing status.
Information Needed to Complete Your FAFSA
Completing the FAFSA without a filed tax return requires gathering specific financial documentation to manually input the data. The FAFSA requires details concerning gross earned income, including wages, salaries, and tips. This information can be found on W-2 forms, 1099 forms, or year-end pay stubs.
Beyond earned income, the FAFSA also asks for untaxed income sources. Examples include child support received, veterans’ non-education benefits, workers’ compensation, and tax-exempt interest income. Records such as bank statements or benefit statements are necessary to report these amounts.
Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts are also required. Applicants should report the amounts held in these accounts as of the day they complete the FAFSA. The net worth of investments and any businesses or farms must also be provided.
In the absence of a tax return, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) cannot be used. All financial data must be manually entered into the FAFSA form. The FAFSA interface guides users on where to input these details.
Completing and Submitting the FAFSA
Before beginning the FAFSA, the student and any required contributors, such as parents or a spouse, must create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This unique username and password combination serves as a legal electronic signature and is essential for accessing and completing the online form. Each individual must create their own FSA ID, and a Social Security number, email address, and mobile phone number can only be associated with one FSA ID.
Once financial information is gathered and FSA IDs are established, the FAFSA can be completed online at StudentAid.gov. The application involves providing personal and financial details, and inputting data collected from W-2s, 1099s, bank statements, and other records. After reviewing for accuracy, the application is electronically signed using the FSA ID.
Upon submission, applicants receive a confirmation. Within one to three business days, a FAFSA Submission Summary becomes available. This summary provides an overview of the submitted information, including the calculated Student Aid Index (SAI), which schools use to determine aid eligibility. Review this summary for inaccuracies; corrections can be made online by logging back into the FAFSA. The processed FAFSA information is then sent to the colleges listed on the application, allowing them to formulate financial aid offers.