The tax documents FAFSA requires depend on your filing status and income level

For the 2025-26 FAFSA, you will need to report your 2024 tax information. If you filed a 2024 tax return, you need your completed return and any schedules you filed with it. If you did not file a return but had income, you need documentation of that income — W-2s, 1099s, or a letter from your employer showing what you earned. The FAFSA uses this information to calculate your expected family contribution, which determines how much financial aid you may receive.

The exact documents you bring depends on whether you filed taxes, what kind of income you had, and whether you are a dependent or independent student. If your parents are helping you fill out the FAFSA, they will need their own 2024 tax documents as well.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your complete 2024 tax return (Form 1040 and all schedules) if you filed one, or W-2s and 1099s if you did not file but had income.
  • If you are a dependent student, your parents must provide their 2024 tax documents and report their income on the FAFSA.
  • Self-employed students and parents need Schedule C (or Schedule F for farming) along with the main tax return.
  • If you received untaxed income such as Social Security, workers' compensation, or military housing allowance, you need documentation of those amounts even if you did not file a return.
  • You do not submit tax documents with the FAFSA itself, but you must have them available to answer questions accurately on the form.

What to gather if you filed a 2024 tax return

Locate your complete 2024 Form 1040 and keep it in front of you while filling out the FAFSA. You will need the numbers from lines that report your adjusted gross income (AGI), total income, and taxes paid. If you filed any schedules — Schedule C for self-employment, Schedule D for capital gains, Schedule 1 for other income, or Schedule 2 for additional taxes — gather those as well.

The FAFSA will ask you to enter your AGI directly from your return. Having the return in front of you prevents errors that could delay your aid. If you filed jointly with a spouse, you will need that joint return. If you amended your return with Form 1040-X, bring both the original and the amended version so you know which numbers are current.

Documents you need if you did not file a return

If your income was below the filing requirement for 2024, you still need to show what you earned. Collect all W-2s from employers, all 1099s (1099-NEC for contract work, 1099-INT for interest, 1099-DIV for dividends), and any other income statements you received. If you were self-employed and did not file, write down your gross income and business expenses so you can calculate your net self-employment income for the FAFSA.

If you had no income at all, you do not need tax documents, but you will need to report that on the FAFSA. Some students have untaxed income — for example, money from a trust, a scholarship that covered living expenses, or a parent's support — and those amounts must be reported even without a tax return. Keep any statements or letters that document where that money came from.

Self-employment and business income documents

If you or your parents were self-employed in 2024, you need the full tax return plus Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) or Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming). The FAFSA asks for both gross income and net income from self-employment, and those numbers come from the schedule, not the main return.

If you have not yet filed your 2024 return but you were self-employed, estimate your gross receipts and your business expenses (rent, supplies, equipment, wages paid to others) so you can calculate your net income. The FAFSA will ask for this even if you have not filed yet. Keep receipts, invoices, and bank statements that show your business activity, in case a college later asks you to verify the numbers you reported.

Untaxed income and other special documents

The FAFSA asks about untaxed income separately from your tax return. This includes Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary information for Needy Families (TANF), workers' compensation, military housing allowance or BAH, and veterans' education benefits. You need a statement or letter showing how much you received in 2024. For Social Security, you can get a benefit statement from ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. For military benefits, check your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) or contact your service branch.

If you received a scholarship or grant that paid for room and board (not tuition), that counts as untaxed income on the FAFSA. Bring the letter from the school or organization that awarded it, showing the amount and what it covered. If you received money from a parent or relative as a gift, that is not income and does not need to be reported, but if it was a loan you must repay, it should not be reported as income either.

What dependent students need from their parents

If you are a dependent student, your parents must report their 2024 income on the FAFSA. They need their complete 2024 tax return, all schedules, and any documentation of untaxed income they received. If your parents are divorced or separated, only the parent you live with (or lived with most of the year) reports income on the FAFSA, unless your school has a different policy — check with the financial aid office.

If your parents did not file a return, they need W-2s, 1099s, and any other income documentation. If one parent is self-employed, that parent's Schedule C or F is required. If your parents received child support, that is not reported as their income. If they received alimony, that must be reported.

How to organize documents before you start the FAFSA

Create a folder (physical or digital) with all the documents you will need. Label it clearly with the year — 2024 Tax Documents for FAFSA 2025-26. Include your own tax return and schedules, your parents' return and schedules if you are a dependent, all W-2s and 1099s, and any letters or statements showing untaxed income. If you are missing a document, request it now: employers can provide W-2s, the IRS can provide a transcript, and benefit programs can provide statements.

You do not upload these documents to the FAFSA website itself. Instead, you use the numbers from them to fill in the form accurately. However, colleges may ask to see your actual documents after you submit the FAFSA, so keep them organized and accessible. If you are filing the FAFSA before you have filed your tax return, use your best estimates based on your pay stubs and income records, then update the FAFSA once you file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a tax transcript instead of my actual tax return?

A tax transcript shows the IRS's record of what you filed, but it does not include all the schedules and details you may need. It is better to have your actual return, but if you cannot locate it, you can order a free transcript from irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. Some colleges will accept a transcript, but ask first.

What if my parents are still working on their 2024 taxes?

You can submit the FAFSA with estimates based on your parents' pay stubs, W-2s, and 1099s, then update it once they file. Many colleges allow you to update your FAFSA information after you submit it. Do not delay submitting the FAFSA waiting for your parents' return to be complete.

Do I need to report money I earned from a part-time job if it was not much?

Yes, report all income you earned in 2024, even if it was small. The FAFSA asks for your total income, and underreporting it could affect your aid. If you received a W-2, the amount is already reported to the IRS, so you must report it on the FAFSA as well.

What counts as untaxed income that I have to report?

Social Security, SSI, TANF, workers' compensation, military housing allowance, and veterans' benefits all count. Scholarships used for tuition do not, but scholarships used for room and board do. Gifts from family members do not count. If you are unsure, check the FAFSA instructions or ask your school's financial aid office.