Chapter	2
Filling	Out	the	FAFSA	Form
This	chapter	describes	the	2025-26	FAFSA	form.	While	the	chapter	follows	the	organization	of	the	paper	(PDF)	FAFSA	form
and	the	ISIR,	the	guidance	applies	equally	to	the	online	FAFSA.	To	see	how	FAFSA	data	are	used	to	calculate	the	Student
Aid	Index	(SAI),	refer	to	Chapter	3.
The	easiest,	fastest,	and	most	accurate	way	to	complete	a	FAFSA	form	is	using	the	online	application	and	providing
consent	and	approval	for	the	access,	disclosure,	and	use	of	federal	tax	information	(FTI).	The	online	FAFSA	form	provides
robust	instructions	for	completing	the	form.	It	also	provides	a	clear	path	for	the	student	and	each	contributor,	allowing
them	to	skip	(or	never	see)	questions	that	are	unnecessary,	irrelevant,	or	already	known	based	on	information	previously
provided	or	imported.	However,	some	applicants	will	be	unable	or	unwilling	to	complete	the	FAFSA	form	online	and	have
the	option	to	complete	a	paper	version	of	the	form.
FUTURE	Act	Direct	Data	Exchange	(FA-DDX)
The	FUTURE	Act	amended	Section	6103	of	the	Internal	Revenue	Code	(IRC)	to	allow	the	Internal	Revenue	Service	(IRS)	to
disclose	certain	FTI	to	FSA.	The	IRS	and	FSA	worked	together	to	develop	the	FUTURE	Act	Direct	Data	Exchange	(FA-DDX)
which	established	a	secure	connection	between	both	agencies	through	an	application	programming	interface	that
processes	requests	in	near-real	time.	The	FA-DDX	replaced	the	IRS	Data	Retrieval	Tool	(IRS-DRT)	to	import	certain	FTI	into
an	applicant9s	FAFSA	form.
Consent	and	Approval
The	student	and	each	contributor	to	the	FAFSA	form	must	provide	consent	and	approval	to	the	access,	disclosure,	and	use
of	FTI	in	evaluating	the	applicant9s	eligibility	for	Title	IV	aid.	Consent	and	approval	are	required	regardless	of	the
application	method	(online	or	paper).
To	provide	consent	and	approval,	FAFSA	contributors	(including	parent(s)	or	spouse)	must	agree	to:
1.	 The	Department9s	use	and	disclosure	of	their	information	(e.g.,	name	and	Social	Security	number)	to	match	with	the
IRS;
Definitions
FAFSA	Privacy	Act	Consent	3	Formal	consent	provided	by	an	applicant	and	any	applicable	contributor(s)	for	a
given	FAFSA	cycle	(e.g.,	December	2024	to	September	2026	for	the	2025-26	FAFSA	form)	that	meets	the
statutory	requirements	of	collecting	and	using	an	individual9s	personally-identifiable	information	(PII)	under	the
Privacy	Act,	as	amended	(5	U.S.C.	§	552a).	PII	provided	on	the	FAFSA	form	(e.g.,	name,	date	of	birth,	Social
Security	number)	with	consent	of	the	individual,	will	be	provided	to	the	IRS	to	conduct	a	match	for	the
Department	to	receive	FTI	for	purposes	of	determining	an	applicant9s	federal	financial	aid	eligibility	and	permit
further	redisclosure	of	FTI	by	the	Department.
FAFSA	FTI	Approval	3	Formal	approval	granted	by	an	applicant	and	any	applicable	contributors	for	a	given
FAFSA	cycle	(e.g.,	December	2024	to	September	2026	for	the	2025-26	FAFSA	form)	to	retrieve	and	use	FTI	to
determine	an	applicant9s	federal	financial	aid	eligibility	as	well	as	permit	the	redisclosure	of	FTI	by	the
Department	to	an	eligible	institution;	state	higher	education	agency;	or	a	designated	scholarship	organization	for
the	application,	award,	and	administration	of	student	aid	programs.	An	applicant	and	contributor	(if	applicable)
must	provide	approval	once	each	year.	If	FAFSA	FTI	approval	is	not	provided,	the	student	will	not	be	eligible	for
any	
Title	IV	aid	until	the	approval	is	provided	by	each	contributor.