UPDATE: I actually managed to get this resolved! I tried calling FSA directly but couldn't get through, so I used Claimyr as suggested above. Once I got through to an agent, they explained there was a mismatch between my FAFSA account name and my tax return (apparently I had included my middle initial in one but not the other). They unlocked something on their end and I was able to successfully use the DRT after that. My application is finally complete! Thanks everyone for your help!

This is exactly why I always recommend having your tax documents ready as a backup! I went through something similar last year - the IRS DRT kept timing out during peak application season. What saved me was having all my W-2s and 1040 forms organized beforehand. Even though manual entry takes longer, at least you're not at the mercy of system glitches. For anyone still dealing with this issue, don't wait too long before switching to manual entry, especially with school deadlines approaching. Better to have an accurately completed FAFSA than to miss your priority deadline waiting for the DRT to work!

So glad you figured it out! This exact thing happened to my friend last year and she ended up redoing the entire parent section because she couldn't find it. The FAFSA interface really needs better user flow - it's not intuitive at all that parent contributions live under the student's account. Your post will definitely help other parents who run into this same issue!

This is such a valuable thread! I'm going through the FAFSA process for the first time with my daughter and had no idea how the parent contributor system worked. I was about to make the same mistake of trying to start my own application instead of waiting for her invitation. The FAFSA really should make this clearer in their instructions - it's so confusing that parent information is part of the student's application rather than a separate parent application. Thanks everyone for explaining the process!

That's great news that two schools are being accommodating! Just wanted to add for anyone else in this situation - make sure to keep documentation of all your communications with the schools about deadline extensions. I learned this the hard way when one school's financial aid office didn't have a record of the verbal extension they gave me over the phone. Having emails saved me from missing out on a scholarship. Also, some schools have separate priority deadlines for need-based aid vs merit scholarships, so double-check those dates too since they might be different from the general FAFSA deadline.

As someone who just went through this maze with my own kid, I can't stress enough how important it is to be proactive with school communications! Each financial aid office really does handle these situations differently. A few tips from our experience: When you call schools, ask to speak specifically with a financial aid counselor (not just the front desk) and get their direct email/extension. Some schools have online portals where you can submit documentation about your situation too. Also, don't forget to check if any of your daughter's schools have their own institutional aid forms that don't require FAFSA completion - these can sometimes bridge the gap for scholarships while you're waiting. The CSS Profile schools especially might have separate processes. Good luck with everything! The new FAFSA system definitely has a learning curve but it sounds like you're handling it well by being proactive with the schools.

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO CONFUSE US!!! I swear they make these questions vague on purpose to trip parents up so they can deny aid. Why can't they just ASK CLEARLY what they want to know?????

I went through this same confusion last year with our rental property in Arizona! Just to add to what everyone else has said - make sure you have documentation ready in case you get selected for verification. I kept our most recent mortgage statement, property tax records, and a recent property value estimate from our real estate agent. The key thing I learned is to be consistent - if you use Zillow for the market value estimate, make a note of that and the date you checked it. The financial aid office at my daughter's school said they just want to see that you made a reasonable effort to determine fair market value. And yes, definitely report the net worth (equity) not the full property value!

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to log into studentaid.gov today to make sure my FSA ID is still working properly, and then make sure I'm ready when my daughter sends the invitation. Fingers crossed the system works smoothly this time!

Just wanted to add one more tip that helped us - make sure you have all your tax documents and bank statements ready BEFORE you start the parent section. The new FAFSA system has shorter timeout periods, so if you have to go hunting for documents while you're logged in, you might get kicked out and have to start over. Also, if you're divorced or separated, double-check which parent should be completing the form - it's the parent who provides more than 50% of the student's support, not necessarily the custodial parent. This caught a lot of families off guard last year!