FAFSA deadline today - husband needs account for corrections but we file taxes jointly

Yes, your husband absolutely needs his own FSA ID even though you file taxes jointly. Each person (student, parent, spouse) who needs to sign the FAFSA must have their own FSA ID. It's a security measure implemented a few years ago. Your husband can create one in about 10 minutes at studentaid.gov - he'll need his SSN, email address, and phone number. Once he creates it, you can immediately make the corrections.

went thru this last month!! super annoying but yes both need separate accounts even with joint taxes. good luck!!

I had this EXACT problem. The whole system is RIDICULOUS. We file jointly too, but my wife had to create her own stupid account just to sign the form. Then after she created it, the system made us wait 3 days before we could use it! Something about "processing" her information. By then we had missed our school's priority deadline and lost out on $4,500 in grants. The whole system is designed to FAIL students.

Have you tried calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center? Sometimes they can override things or give you an extension if you explain the situation. Though getting through to them can be a nightmare...

Your husband definitely needs his own FSA ID to make corrections. This is a common issue that trips up a lot of families. The good news is that while the published deadline is today, many schools have a grace period of 3-5 business days for FAFSA corrections. I would recommend: 1. Have your husband create his FSA ID immediately 2. Make the corrections as soon as the ID is verified 3. Email your financial aid office with documentation that you're actively working on the corrections 4. Take screenshots of any error messages or confirmation pages Most financial aid offices understand that the FAFSA system has technical issues and will work with you if you show good faith effort to meet the deadline.

The same thing happened to me last year and my husband had to make an FSA ID, but there's a trick to get it working faster! When he creates the account, make sure he uses a different email than yours (obviously) but also make sure he has access to his phone for the verification code. And the MOST important part is to make sure the name, birthdate, and SSN are EXACTLY as they appear on his Social Security card - not even a middle initial difference or the system rejects it. Good luck!!

Wait I thought FAFSA for 2025-2026 doesn't even open until december??? what deadline is today??

UPDATE: My husband finally got his FSA ID created and verified instantly! We were able to make all the corrections and submit them before the deadline. Just got the confirmation email that our corrected FAFSA was processed successfully. THANK YOU everyone for your help and quick responses! For anyone facing this issue in the future - yes, spouses need separate FSA IDs even with joint taxes, but the process can be completed quickly if all their personal information matches their records.