Important things to know about the 2025-26 FAFSA®
Senior Associate, JPMorgan Chase
The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) — which allows students pursuing higher education to access federal financial aid and other forms of financial aid — was significantly overhauled from previous iterations of the applications. These changes were the result of the FAFSA® Simplification Act, which was enacted to streamline and improve the process of applying for federal financial aid.
The 2025-26 FAFSA®, set to be released in late 2024, won’t have significant changes from the 2024-25 application, but if you’re a student or parent who intends to file or contribute to the form, it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with what to expect, including when the application will be available.
Keep reading for more information.
When does the 2025-26 FAFSA® open?
The 2025-26 FAFSA® opened with a beta release on October 1, 2024. The beta release is available for a limited number of students by invitation only till December 1, 2024 to enable the U.S. Department of Education to test the application for errors.
Once this beta release period is over, the 2025-26 FAFSA® is set to open to all students and parents on December 1, 2024. You can get the most recent updates about the FAFSA® release timeline on the Federal Student Aid (FSA) website.
When’s the 2025-26 FAFSA® deadline?
While it has yet to be formally announced by the U.S. Department of Education, the federal deadline for the FAFSA® for the 2025-26 school year will likely be June 30, 2026.
Keep in mind that there are varying state and even college-specific deadlines that differ from the federal deadline regarding the FAFSA®. Because of that, be sure to double-check any deadlines you might want to adhere to in order to help ensure that you complete the form at the right time to receive the maximum amount of financial aid you’re eligible for.
What are the changes and important things to know about the 2025-26 FAFSA® form?
There are a couple of changes to the 2025-26 FAFSA® to be aware of, along with some things that may be important when it comes to filing the application. Those include:
The application is opening with a beta release
The U.S. Department of Education’s decision of conducting a beta release on the 2025-26 FAFSA® means that a limited number of students will have access to the 2025-26 FAFSA® before it’s released to the general public. This release will allow the U.S. Department of Education to conduct testing and help resolve any errors that could potentially impact student and their families when it comes to the FAFSA®.
Individuals who are victims of IRS tax-related identity theft have a different process to follow
Previously, students who were victims of IRS tax-related identity theft were asked to obtain a Tax Return DataBase View (TRDBV) transcript from the IRS for verification purposes.
Due to the long processing times for TRDBV transcript requests, individuals who are victims of IRS tax-related identity theft will now be required to provide a copy of their signed 2023 income tax return and applicable schedules when they file the 2025-26 FAFSA®. Individuals will also need to provide an IRS 4674C letter (a letter from the IRS acknowledging the identity theft) or a statement signed and dated by the tax filer stating that they are a victim of IRS tax-related identity theft and that the IRS is aware of this situation.
The tax year to file the 2025-26 FAFSA®
There haven’t been any changes when it comes to the tax year needed to file the FAFSA® with this iteration of the application. For the 2025-26 FAFSA®, applicants will use their tax information from 2023.
Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA®, due to the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act (FUTURE Act), the FAFSA® is authorized to conduct a direct data exchange (FA-DDX) between the Department of Education and the IRS. Users are required to provide consent for tax information to be accessed through a secure method, including any required spousal or parental information.
How to prepare to file the 2025-26 FAFSA® in advance
In order to be ready to complete your FAFSA® form once it’s released, here are a few ways you may want to prepare:
- Determine your dependency status and who your contributor(s) will be on your FAFSA® if you’re a dependent
- Gather any documents you or your contributor(s) may need to complete your FAFSA®
- Create an FSA ID and have your contributor create their own FSA ID if you’re a dependent student. You will need an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA® and it may be helpful to do this in advance
Final thoughts
If you intend to file or be a contributor to the 2025-26 FAFSA® you may want to stay on top of any deadlines related to it including federal, state, and potentially college specific deadlines so you can help ensure that you receive the federal financial aid you may be eligible for.
