What’s New on the 2024–25 FAFSA Form?
The 2024–25 FAFSA form brings several important updates that students and families need to know. Here’s a breakdown of the most relevant changes to help you get started.
1. Contributors Are a New Requirement
Spouses or stepparents may now need to participate in your FAFSA as a contributor—a new term introduced for this year’s form. Contributors provide necessary financial information that helps determine your eligibility for federal student aid.
2. IRS Data Transfer
Your federal tax information can now be automatically transferred from the IRS into your FAFSA form. This data will be used to calculate your financial aid eligibility and shared with schools and state higher education agencies to prepare aid offers.
3. Consent and Approval Are Required
For the IRS data transfer to work, you and your contributors must provide consent and approval directly on the FAFSA form. Without it, you will not be eligible for federal student aid. Consent and approval are required even if a contributor doesn’t have a Social Security number, didn’t file taxes, or filed taxes outside the U.S.
4. Individual Student Aid Accounts
Everyone listed on the FAFSA—including contributors—needs their own Student Aid account username and password to access and complete their sections. Contributors without a Social Security number can still create an account and fill out their portion. Remember, only U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens can qualify for federal student aid.
5. Track Contributor Progress
Once your FAFSA is started, you can now monitor its status—including the progress of your contributors—through your Student Aid account.
6. Send Your FAFSA to More Schools
The new form allows you to send your information to up to twenty colleges, career schools, or trade schools, helping you explore more options for financial aid.
For more information about the FAFSA process, visit StudentAid.gov. WCCAN is also here to assist and is becoming FAFSA certified to help guide you through the process.
