The FAFSA
The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal aid. If you are a dependent, you will need your parents’ information and their signature before submitting the FAFSA. If you are independent, you are not required to include parental information. Look over what you will need before starting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The following list has some of the items you will need in order to submit the FAFSA:
1. Your FSA ID
An FSA ID is a username/password used to log in to U.S. Department of Education websites. You will need an FSA ID. In addition, if you are a dependent student on the FAFSA, one of your parents will need their own FSA ID in order to sign the FAFSA.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, if you are a dependent student on the FAFSA, one or both of your parents will need their own FSA ID in order to sign the FAFSA. If your parent does not have a Social Security Number and they are required to contribute their information on the FAFSA, they can use this instruction sheet to help them create an FSA ID. If you are married, your spouse may also be required to create an FSA ID and contribute their information on your FAFSA.
2. Your Social Security Number
You will need your Social Security Number (SSN). If you are a dependent student, you will need your parent’s SSNs as well. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but will qualify as an eligible non-citizen, you will need your Alien Registration number.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, you may need both parents' SSN if you are a dependent student. If you are married, you will need your spouse's SSN. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but will qualify as an eligible non-citizen, you will need your Alien Registration number.
3. Your driver’s license number (if you have one).
4. The appropriate year’s tax records
It is highly recommended that you use the IRS Data Retrieval tool, which pulls information directly from your tax return into your FAFSA. If you do not wish to use the retrieval tool or do not qualify you will need your tax return and any W-2s.
- If you are currently married, you will need your spouse’s tax information.
- If you are deemed “dependent” by FAFSA, you will need your parent’s tax information. Lack of financial support or not being claimed on parents’ taxes does not determine dependency status for financial aid purposes.
For the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool will no longer be available to use. Instead, the FAFSA will require you to consent to have your tax information transferred directly from the IRS using the Direct Data Exchange (DDX).
5. Records of your untaxed income
Interest income, untaxed portions of IRA distributions (except rollovers), etc., are all examples of untaxed income you are required to report on the FAFSA. You will want to reference the appropriate year’s records of this information for you and your parents (if dependent).
6. Records of your assets (money)
Assets include savings and checking account balances, as well as the value of investments such as stocks/bonds/real estate (except the home in which your family lives). You should report the current amounts as of the date you sign the FAFSA.
For the 2024-2025 FAFSA, child support received will also count as an asset.
Next Steps
It typically takes 3-5 business days for BYU to receive the FAFSA. You can review if BYU received it through your My Financial Center. Make sure that you are looking at the appropriate semester.
Review your Financial Aid Checklist to review the process and timeline for federal financial aid.