Do independent students have to report earned income on 2024-2025 FAFSA if not required to file taxes?

Yes, you absolutely need to report your income earned from work on the FAFSA even if you weren't required to file taxes. The FAFSA specifically asks for this information separately from tax return data. You should enter the total amount you earned from all your part-time jobs in 2022 based on your W-2 forms or other income records. Not reporting this income could flag your application for verification and potentially impact your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation.

i was in the same boat last yr. u definitely gotta put in wat u earned even with no tax return. they asked me for my w2s later during verification so make sure u have those handy

To add to what others have said - the FAFSA has specific sections for "income earned from work" that are separate from the tax return questions. When you get to that part of the application, you'll see fields specifically asking for your earnings from work. You should report the total amount from all your W-2 forms from 2022. If you don't have your W-2s anymore, you can get wage transcripts from the IRS website or contact your previous employers. The FAFSA will also ask you to indicate that you "will not file" a tax return, which is perfectly fine if you were under the filing threshold.

WATCH OUT! I did the same thing as you last year (independent, didn't file taxes) and I got selected for verification! The Financial Aid office needed me to get a "Verification of Non-filing Letter" from the IRS to prove I wasn't required to file. It was a HUGE headache that delayed my aid by weeks!!!

For anyone struggling to reach the IRS or Federal Student Aid for verification issues like this, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that really helped me. It basically holds your place in the phone queue and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration when I was trying to get my non-filing verification letter for my FAFSA. You can check it out at claimyr.com or see how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

I want to clarify something important: the 2024-2025 FAFSA is using the 2022 tax year data, but the filing requirements are completely different from your FAFSA eligibility. Here's what you need to do: 1. Report ALL income earned from work in 2022 2. Check the box that indicates you "will not file" a tax return 3. Be prepared to provide non-filing verification if selected (which is common for independent students who didn't file) Your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation WILL include your earned income regardless of whether you filed taxes. The Department of Education will also check with the IRS records to confirm your non-filing status, so be honest about your earnings.

Just adding that when you indicate you didn't file taxes on the FAFSA, you'll automatically be placed in a higher risk category for verification. About 30% of all FAFSA filers get selected for verification, but the percentage is much higher for non-tax filers. Make sure you respond promptly to any verification requests from your school's financial aid office to avoid delays in receiving your aid package.

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I've found all my W-2s from 2022 and will make sure to enter my total income earned accurately on the FAFSA. I'll also be prepared for possible verification and look into getting a non-filing letter from the IRS proactively. This has all been incredibly helpful!

One thing to keep in mind is that even though you didn't file taxes, you should still gather any 1099 forms you might have received in addition to your W-2s. Some gig work (like freelance work, delivery services, etc.) might have issued 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC forms if you earned over $600 from a single source. These also count as income from work that needs to be reported on the FAFSA, even if the total wasn't enough to require filing a tax return.

As a financial aid counselor, I want to emphasize that accuracy is key here. When you report your 2022 income from work on the FAFSA, make sure you're using the gross income amounts (before taxes/deductions) from your W-2s and any 1099 forms. Even though you didn't file a tax return, this income will still factor into your SAI calculation. Also, if you do get selected for verification, don't panic! It's actually pretty routine for independent students who didn't file taxes. Your school's financial aid office will walk you through exactly what documents they need. The process can take a few weeks, so submit your FAFSA as early as possible to account for any potential verification delays.