The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education online systems. You'll use your FSA ID to electronically sign your FAFSA form. If you're required to provide your parent(s) information, your parent(s) must also create an FSA ID. Your FSA ID will be used for the lifetime of your federal student loans, please keep a secured record of your username and password.
Create an FSA ID Forget your FSA ID?Dependent students must provide parent information, along with their own information, on the FAFSA application. If you are unsure of your status please review the dependency information link provided below.
How does FAFSA determine dependency status?When completing the FAFSA form, you will be asked your marital status as of today—(the day you are completing your FAFSA). If the student or parent is married now but wasn't during the tax period (therefore didn't file taxes as married), the spouse's income will need to be added to the FAFSA form.
Likewise, if the student or parent filed taxes as married but is no longer married when filling out the FAFSA, the spouse's income will need to be subtracted.
The key to remember here is that the FAFSA is asking for as of the day you are submitting the FAFSA, are you married, yes or no.
Marital status informationWhen completing the FAFSA form, you must use federal tax information from your tax returns. You can do this by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or by referring to a copy of your tax return. You will be provided the option to use the data retrieval tool on the tax portion of the FAFSA form. We highly recommend that you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically transfer your tax information. This will provide accurate information and allow for faster processing.
Prepare to transfer tax informationBefore you get started be sure to have all the necessary information in order to accurately complete the FAFSA form.
Start your FAFSA form
