Do Both Parents Need to Fill Out FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the gateway to various forms of financial assistance for higher education, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. Its primary purpose is to collect financial and demographic information to determine a student’s eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid. Accurate and complete information, particularly regarding parental finances, plays a central role in this determination for many applicants.

Determining Student Dependency Status

A student’s dependency status is a foundational element in the FAFSA process, as it dictates whether parental financial information is required. The U.S. Department of Education classifies students as either “dependent” or “independent” based on specific criteria. An independent student is generally not required to provide parental financial details on their FAFSA.

A student is considered independent if they meet at least one of several criteria. This includes being 24 years old by December 31 of the award year for which they are applying, being married, or pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree. Individuals serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, or who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, are also classified as independent.

Other criteria for independent status involve having legal dependents, other than a spouse, for whom the student provides more than half of their financial support. Students who were orphans, wards of the court, or in foster care at any time after turning 13 are also considered independent. Furthermore, a student who is an emancipated minor or in a legal guardianship can be deemed independent. Finally, students who are determined to be homeless or at risk of homelessness by an authorized entity, such as a high school homeless liaison or a director of a homeless shelter, are also considered independent.

Identifying the Required Parent(s) for FAFSA

For students designated as dependent, the FAFSA requires the financial information of their parent(s). The specific parent or parents whose information must be reported depends on their marital status and living arrangements. If a student’s biological or adoptive parents are married to each other and live together, the financial information for both parents must be reported on the FAFSA.

When a student’s biological or adoptive parents are divorced or separated, the FAFSA requires information from the parent with whom the student lived more during the 12 months preceding the FAFSA application date. If the student lived equally with both parents, or did not live with either, the FAFSA requires information from the parent who provided more financial support to the student during that 12-month period.

A common situation arises when a divorced or separated custodial parent has remarried. In such cases, the FAFSA requires financial information from both the custodial parent and their new spouse, the stepparent. The stepparent’s income and assets must be included even if they have no legal obligation to support the student, as their financial resources are considered available to the household. The non-custodial parent’s information is not required in this specific scenario.

For students with a single parent who has never been married or whose spouse is deceased, only the financial information of that one parent is required on the FAFSA. If both of a student’s parents are deceased, the student may be considered independent for FAFSA purposes.

Entering Parental Information on the FAFSA

Once the required parent(s) have been identified, the next step involves accurately entering their financial information into the FAFSA form. The primary and most efficient method for this is the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) tool. This tool allows applicants to securely transfer their federal tax information directly from the IRS to the FAFSA, reducing errors and simplifying the process.

The IRS DDX tool operates by linking the FAFSA application with the parents’ federal tax records, generally from two years prior to the academic year for which aid is sought. For instance, for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, parents would typically use their 2023 tax information.

Should the IRS DDX tool not be an option, or if parents choose not to use it, financial information must be entered manually. This process requires parents to refer to their official tax documents, such as federal income tax returns (e.g., Form 1040), W-2 forms, and any applicable schedules.

Both the student and at least one parent must create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID to electronically sign the FAFSA. The FSA ID serves as a legal signature and acts as a username and password for accessing various federal student aid websites, including the FAFSA. It is important for parents to create their own FSA ID, separate from the student’s, to complete the electronic signature requirement.

Incomplete or incorrect data can lead to processing delays, requests for additional documentation, or even a recalculation of aid eligibility. Ensuring all fields are filled correctly and consistently with tax records helps facilitate a smooth and timely financial aid determination.

After FAFSA Submission

Following the successful submission of the FAFSA, the Department of Education processes the application and generates a Student Aid Report (SAR). This report summarizes the information provided on the FAFSA and provides an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is a factor in determining federal student aid eligibility. The SAR also flags any potential errors or requires corrections that need to be addressed.

Some FAFSA applications are selected for a process known as verification. This selection can be random or triggered by inconsistencies in the submitted information. If an application is chosen for verification, the financial aid office at the student’s college will request additional documentation to confirm the accuracy of the data reported on the FAFSA.

Common documents requested during the verification process include federal tax transcripts, W-2 forms, and specific verification worksheets provided by the college. Parents and students must submit these documents promptly to avoid delays in receiving financial aid. The college’s financial aid office will provide specific instructions on what documents are needed and how to submit them.

After the FAFSA has been processed and any verification requirements are met, colleges to which the student has applied will begin to send financial aid offers. These offers detail the types and amounts of aid the student is eligible to receive, which may include grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal loans. The timing of these offers can vary by institution, typically arriving in the spring months.