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A FAFSA contributor refers to those who are required to provide information on the FAFSA application. Each contributor will need to provide their consent to retrieve their Federal Tax Information (FTI) and disclose their FTI on the FAFSA. 

Since FTI includes filing status, consent is still required even if the contributor did not file a U.S. federal tax return (or any tax return). (If consent is declined by a contributor, the student’s FAFSA application will not be processed, and the student will be ineligible for financial aid).

The contributor’s email address will be required to invite them to complete their section of the FAFSA. The invited contributor will receive an email with a code and direct link to the student’s FAFSA. The invited contributor can access the student’s FAFSA by clicking the link or copying/pasting the code into the studentaid.gov website.

Contributors will need to provide personal and financial information on their section of the FAFSA such as demographic and asset information. 

Note: Students experiencing unusual circumstances are encouraged to reach out to their Financial Aid Counselor regarding their unusual circumstance. The Financial Aid Counselor will provide guidance to the student on how to proceed with completing the FAFSA. Unusual circumstances exist when a student is unaccompanied and homeless or at risk of homelessness, unable to contact a parent, or when contact with the parent is detrimental to the student’s health. Examples include human trafficking, legally granted refugee or asylum status, parental abandonment or estrangement, and parental incarceration.

Contributors are those required to provide consent and approval for obtaining Federal Tax Information (FTI) needed to complete a student’s FAFSA. 

In addition to the student, if applicable, a contributor may include:

• Student’s spouse (if the student is independent and filed separate federal tax returns)
• Biological or adopted parent(s) (if the student is dependent)
• Parent’s spouse (stepparent)

Unless they have legally adopted you, contributors are NOT:

• Grandparents
• Foster parents
• Widowed stepparents
• Legal guardians
• Siblings
• Aunts or Uncles

Who is a contributing parent?

• Your legal (biological, adoptive, or as determined by the state (parent is listed on birth certificate)) parents
  • married to each other (not separated), both parents are contributors
  • unmarried but living together, both parents are contributors
• Divorced or separated parents (not remarried)
  • The parent of record on the FAFSA (primary parent) is the parent who provided the greater portion of the student’s financial support during the 12 months immediately prior to filing the FAFSA.
  • If neither parent provided support in the 12-month period, the parent of record on the FAFSA is the parent who provided the greater portion of support during the most recent year that the student received financial support from a parent.
  • The parent who pays child support should include the amount of child support paid during the relevant 12-month period when determining which parent provided more than half of the student’s financial support.
  • Keep in mind that the parent of record on the FAFSA is not automatically the parent that the student primarily lived with during the 12-month period prior to filing the FAFSA.
  • If both parents claim an equal amount of support, then the parent of record is the parent with the greater amount of income and assets. If neither parent provided a greater portion of support during the most recent year that the student received support from a parent, the parent of record is the parent with the higher amount of income and assets.
• Death of a parent
  • If either parent has died before the student completes the FAFSA, the surviving parent only is the FAFSA parent of record, unless the parent is remarried. If the surviving parent remarries prior to the student filing the FAFSA, the surviving parent and stepparent are FAFSA contributors.
• Remarried parents
  • If the FAFSA parent of record as determined in 2 or 3 above remarries before the filing of the FAFSA, both the parent of record and that parent’s spouse shall be FAFSA contributors.
  • Start by considering each individual biological/adoptive parent’s financial support without regard to any stepparent’s income and support. After determining which biological/adoptive parent provided the greater portion of the student’s financial support, if the parent FAFSA of record is remarried at the time of FAFSA filing, that parent’s spouse/student’s stepparent is also a FAFSA contributor.
• Single parent who is not divorced or separated
  • If not described in 1 above, the single parent who is not divorced, separated or remarried, shall be the single parent FAFSA contributor.

Note: Base year FAFSA income is 2 years prior to the start of the academic year. For example, the 25-26 FAFSA collects 2023 Federal tax and income information.

Dependent students:

• If parents are married and filed a joint federal tax return, only one parent needs to complete the FAFSA as a contributor.
• If married parents filed separate federal tax returns, both parents need to complete the FAFSA as a contributor.

Independent students:

• If an independent student is married and filed a joint federal tax return with a spouse, the student is the only FAFSA contributor.
• If an independent student is married and filed federal tax returns separately or if the student and/or spouse did not file a federal tax return, then both student and spouse are FAFSA contributors.

All FAFSA contributors will need to have an FSA ID (account username and password). The FSA ID allows you and your parents or contributors to identify yourselves electronically so you can electronically sign the FAFSA and access Federal Student Aid websites.

You and your other contributors who have a Social Security Number (SSN) and do not yet have an FSA ID are encouraged to create an FSA ID now. 

How to get an FSA ID for individuals without a Social Security Number (SSN)

Except for student citizens of the Freely Associated States (who don’t always have a SSNs), the student must use a SSN to create their student FSA ID since the student must have an SSN to be eligible for Title IV aid.

Other contributors do not need to have a SSN, however, a FSA ID is required to file the online FAFSA. Individuals who do not have a SSN will be guided through a knowledge-based identity authentication process.

Additional guidance is available online.

Once a contributor creates an account (FSA ID), the contributor will immediately be able to access the student's FAFSA form by logging in with their account username and password (FSA ID).