FAFSA for 2024–2025 uses your 2022 tax return

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2024–2025 school year asks about income and assets from your 2022 tax year. That means the tax return you filed in early 2023 — covering income you earned in 2022.

This is a one-year lag. The school year runs from July 2024 through June 2025, but the financial information FAFSA collects is from two years earlier. The U.S. Department of Education uses prior-year tax data to give schools and students time to process applications before classes start.

You will report 2022 income whether you filed taxes that year or not. If you did not file, you still need to report what you earned. If your income was very low and you were not required to file, you can say so on the form.

Key Takeaways

  • FAFSA for 2024–2025 school year uses income and tax information from your 2022 tax return.
  • You report 2022 income even if you did not file taxes that year, as long as you had earnings to report.
  • If your financial situation changed significantly between 2022 and now, you may be able to request a review after you submit FAFSA.
  • You can link your IRS tax data directly to FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if you filed electronically in 2022.
  • Parent income is also based on 2022 taxes if you are a dependent student.

How to report 2022 income on FAFSA

You have two main ways to report your 2022 tax information. The fastest and most accurate is the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which pulls your 2022 tax return directly from the IRS into your FAFSA form. This works if you filed your 2022 taxes electronically and your IRS account is set up. You will need your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) to log in.

If you cannot use the IRS tool — because you filed on paper, amended your return, or your account is not set up yet — you enter the numbers manually from your 2022 tax return. Have your return in front of you. You will need adjusted gross income (AGI), income tax paid, and other figures depending on your filing status.

If you did not file taxes in 2022 but had income, report what you earned. If you had no income and were not required to file, you can indicate that on the form.

What happens if your income changed since 2022

FAFSA does not automatically account for major changes in your financial situation. If you lost a job, had a significant pay cut, or faced an unexpected hardship between 2022 and now, the aid amount calculated from your 2022 taxes may not reflect your current need.

After you submit FAFSA and receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), you can contact the financial aid office at your school and ask for a professional judgment review. This is a formal request to reconsider your aid based on changed circumstances. Schools have the authority to adjust your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or your aid package if your situation has genuinely shifted.

Document what changed: a job loss letter, recent pay stubs showing lower income, medical bills, or other evidence. Schools vary in how much they will adjust, but it is worth asking, especially if your 2024 or 2025 income is significantly lower than what you reported from 2022.

Parent income for dependent students

If you are a dependent student, FAFSA also asks for your parents' 2022 tax information. The same rules apply: they report income from their 2022 tax return, and they can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if they filed electronically.

If your parents' financial situation has changed substantially — a job loss, retirement, or major expense — they can also request a professional judgment review through your school's financial aid office. Schools consider parental circumstances when deciding whether to adjust your aid package.

Independent students and non-filers

If you are an independent student (usually age 24 or older, married, a parent yourself, or in military service), you report only your own 2022 income, not your parents'. The same prior-year rule applies.

If you were not required to file taxes in 2022 because your income was below the filing threshold, you still complete FAFSA. You report your actual income for that year, even if it was zero. Schools need this information to determine your aid, and reporting accurately protects your funding.

Timeline: when to have your 2022 taxes ready

FAFSA opens October 1 each year. For the 2024–2025 school year, it opened October 1, 2023. You should have your 2022 tax return or tax information available before you start the form. If you have not filed your 2022 taxes yet, file them first, then complete FAFSA. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool works best if your return has been processed, which usually takes a few weeks after you file electronically.

If you are waiting for your 2022 return to be processed or you filed on paper, you can still submit FAFSA with estimated numbers and update it later. Many schools accept FAFSA submissions with estimates and adjust aid once verified tax information arrives.

Verifying your tax information

After you submit FAFSA, your school may ask you to verify the tax information you reported. This is a standard check to make sure the numbers match your actual tax return. You will need to provide a copy of your 2022 tax return — either a transcript from the IRS or a copy of the return you filed.

You can order a free transcript from the IRS at irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-9946. Request a "Tax Return Transcript" for tax year 2022. It arrives by mail in about two weeks or instantly online if you set up an IRS account. Keep a copy for your records and send it to your school when they ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my 2023 tax return instead of 2022?

No. FAFSA for 2024–2025 requires 2022 tax information. The Department of Education sets this timeline to give schools time to process aid before the school year starts. If your 2023 income was very different, contact your school's financial aid office about a professional judgment review after you submit FAFSA.

What if I have not filed my 2022 taxes yet?

File your 2022 return first, then complete FAFSA. If you need to submit FAFSA quickly, you can use estimated numbers and update the form once your return is filed and processed. Your school will ask you to verify the actual numbers later.

Do I need to report my parents' income if I am 24 years old?

Only if they claim you as a dependent on their tax return. If you are independent — meaning no one claims you as a dependent and you meet other independence criteria — you report only your own income. Check your parents' most recent tax return or ask them whether they claimed you.

What if my 2022 taxes were amended after I filed?

Report the numbers from your amended return (Form 1040-X). The IRS Data Retrieval Tool may not work if your amendment is very recent; if so, enter the amended figures manually. Contact your school's financial aid office if you are unsure which numbers to use.

Can I update FAFSA if my income changed between 2022 and now?

You cannot change the 2022 income figures on FAFSA itself — those are locked to that tax year. Instead, submit a professional judgment request to your school's financial aid office with documentation of what changed. Schools can adjust your aid package based on current circumstances.