If you're completing a 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), you'll generally need information from your 2025 federal income tax return, along with personal and financial information for yourself and any required contributors.
The FAFSA now uses a direct transfer of federal tax information from the IRS when consent is provided during the application process. In most cases, this reduces the amount of tax information you'll need to enter manually.
What Tax Information Will I Need?
When completing the 2026-27 FAFSA, you should have access to:
- Your 2025 federal income tax return (if filed)
- Records of any untaxed income, if applicable
- Information about cash, savings, investments, and certain assets, when required
- Social Security numbers or individual taxpayer information for all required contributors
The FAFSA relies primarily on tax information from the 2025 tax year for the 2026-27 award year.
If You Filed Your 2025 Return Using Our Program
You can access a copy of your 2025 return by:
- Logging in to your account.
- Scrolling to Prior Year Returns.
- Selecting Access Return for tax year 2025.
- Choosing View Return or Print Return.
If you don't see the option to view or print your return, you may have:
- Filed using a different account, or
- Started but did not electronically file the return through that account.
If You Filed With Another Tax Provider
If you used another tax preparation service or filed a paper return, you can obtain a copy of your tax information from the IRS by requesting a tax transcript.
You can:
- Access your tax transcript online through the IRS Get Transcript service, or
- Call 800-908-9946 to request a transcript by mail.
Keep in mind that the IRS requires identity verification before providing transcript access.
If You Filed an Amended Return
If you filed Form 1040-X to amend your 2025 tax return, follow the FAFSA instructions regarding amended return reporting and use the most accurate income information available from your amended return and related tax records.
Who Is Eligible to Complete the FAFSA?
To qualify for federal student aid, you generally must:
- Demonstrate financial need for certain federal aid programs.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
- Have a valid Social Security number (except for certain eligible students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau).
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in school.
- Provide consent for the transfer of federal tax information, if required.
- Certify that you aren't in default on a federal student loan and don't owe a refund on a federal student grant.
- Use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
- Meet any additional federal student aid requirements.
When Is the FAFSA Due?
The FAFSA is available through the U.S. Department of Education each award year. Federal deadlines, state deadlines, and school deadlines may differ.
Because FAFSA deadlines can change from year to year, check StudentAid.gov and your school's financial aid office for the most current filing and correction deadlines for the 2026-27 award year.
Important Note
Our tax preparation software does not support completing or submitting the FAFSA. The FAFSA must be completed through the U.S. Department of Education's official student aid website.
Additional Resources
For more information about federal student aid, FAFSA requirements, and application deadlines, visit StudentAid.gov.
If you need tax return information for your FAFSA application, you may also obtain an IRS tax transcript through the IRS Get Transcript service.
Key Takeaway
For the 2026-27 FAFSA, most applicants will need information from their 2025 tax return. Having a copy of your return, tax records, and contributor information ready before you start can make the application process faster and help avoid delays in receiving financial aid.