Tax return information is included on the FAFSA form to help the government gauge your financial situation and determine your need for financial aid. We’ve covered some situations in which you might not have a tax return and how that affects your FAFSA.
Can I fill out a FAFSA without a tax return?
Yes, you can fill out a FAFSA without a tax return under certain circumstances, like if you are not required to file taxes.
It’s important to note that before tax year 2025, you had to manually upload your tax return from the previous year. However, the IRS is now working with the Department of Education to use an IRS Data Retrieval tool so that your relevant tax information is pulled directly from the IRS into your FAFSA application. If you had to file Form 1040X for an amended return, you may need to reach out to your college financial aid advisor to make sure the correct information is pulled in.
Since the IRS will be providing information directly, they will no longer accept Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization, or Form 4506-C, IVES Request for Transcript of Tax Return for FAFSA-related income verification.
It’s important to determine your dependency status for financial aid purposes. If you’re considered an independent student, you will provide your financial information (and your spouse’s if you’re married). If you’re a dependent student, you must provide parental information along with your personal information. Keep your dependency status in mind when considering whether the following circumstances apply to you.
How to fill out a FAFSA without a tax return
You can fill out FAFSA without a tax return if you are not required to file and you have a W-2, Form 1099, or a recent pay stub. Not everyone is required to file a tax return. If you or your parents don’t meet the requirements, you won’t need to file just so you can complete your FAFSA application. Depending on the time of year when you’re applying, it’s also possible that you or your parent(s) won’t have filed your taxes yet. Here’s a look at how to handle situations where you don’t have a return when you’re filling out your FAFSA.
You or your parents are not required to file a tax return
If your or your parents’ income is below the minimum amount required to file taxes, select “Will not file” when completing your FAFSA form. However, you will still have to provide financial documentation for the tax year in question, such as a Form W-2, 1099, or a pay stub.
This has become less common since the government began allowing older tax returns to be used. For instance, your 2024 tax information is required for the 2026-2027 academic year. And the earliest you could submit your FAFSA form for that school year was October 1, 2025. So, you (or your parents) most likely filed 2024 taxes by then unless you filed an extension or simply didn’t file on time.
You or your parents haven’t filed yet
If you complete your FAFSA before filing for the tax year in question, you can select “Will file” on your FAFSA and use your last pay stub and tax return from the previous year to provide estimates for questions about your income (if it’s similar). Once you file, you must update your FAFSA from “Will file” to “Already completed” and enter your exact amounts.
You or your parents filed a foreign tax return
You can select “Foreign tax return” for the type of return filed and use the information from that return to complete your FAFSA form.
You or your parents didn’t file but were supposed to
If you or your parents did not file your taxes and had an unauthorized failure to file, you are not eligible for the full range of financial aid via FAFSA. If you wish to apply for FAFSA, you may go back and file a tax return for the current year to be eligible to complete the FAFSA.
What tax information does the FAFSA require?
FAFSA uses tax-related information to help determine your eligibility for federal financial aid. If you are a dependent student, this likely refers to your parents’ tax return information. If you are independent, you’ll only need to provide your own tax return information (and your spouse’s, if applicable).
Note: The FAFSA typically requires tax information from the prior-prior year (e.g., for the 2024-2025 FAFSA, you would provide 2022 tax information).
Here’s a summary of the key tax information that FAFSA requires:
Important:
- Make sure that the tax data you provide is accurate. If there’s an error, it could delay processing or lead to the loss of aid.
- The FAFSA allows you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to automatically transfer your tax data directly from the IRS. This makes the process faster and more accurate, and can help avoid errors or verification issues later.
Earned income
If you or your parents worked, you may be asked to report the income earned from employment, which is found on W-2 forms. For students, you may need to provide information about income from part-time jobs, internships, or other sources.
Tax filing status
You (or your parent) will be asked about tax filing status. This is used to determine your tax rate and the income thresholds that apply to your family. The available filing statuses are:
- Single
- Married Filing Jointlly
- Married Filing Separately
- Head of Household
- Qualifying Surviving Spouse
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Your AGI is your total income minus certain deductions (such as retirement contributions and student loan interest). This figure is on Line 11 of IRS Form 1040.
Untaxed income
You may be asked to report any untaxed income such as:
- Child support received or paid
- Certain types of Social Security benefits
- Other sources of untaxed income
Federal income tax paid
You will be asked about the amount of federal income tax paid, which can also be found on your IRS Form 1040 (specifically Line 22).
Schedule 1, 2, and 3 (if applicable)
If you or your parents filed additional forms like Schedule 1 (Additional Income and Adjustments), Schedule 2 (Additional Taxes), or Schedule 3 (Credits), the FAFSA may ask for relevant information from these schedules, such as:
- Business income
- Student loan interest deduction
- Education credits
Non-filers (if applicable)
If you or your parents did not file taxes, you’ll need to report this on the FAFSA and may be required to provide alternative documentation, such as:
- A Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS
- W-2 forms or pay stubs
Other tax information
- Investments: Information about investment income or assets, including savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or businesses owned.
- Business and Farm Assets: If you or your parents own a business or a farm, you’ll need to report the value of these assets (unless the business is considered a family farm with fewer than 100 full-time employees).
What tax return do you need for the upcoming FAFSA?
The FAFSA requires tax information from the prior-prior year. For example, for the 2026-2027 FAFSA, you would provide 2024 tax information.
Find more information about how FAFSA and financial aid affect your taxes.
