FAFSA parent contribution question - Can only one parent complete the form if filing jointly?

Yes, only one parent needs to complete the parent contribution section for joint tax filers. When your daughter invited both of you, she created the option for either parent to complete it, but you don't both need to do it separately. Your husband can enter all the tax information from your joint return. Just make sure he inputs the correct AGI and other figures from your 2023 tax return that you filed jointly. Regarding the New Jersey deadline - I haven't heard of any extensions beyond June 15 for the NJ state-specific grants and scholarships. Their state deadlines are pretty firm, unlike the federal FAFSA which has more flexibility. I'd recommend completing it ASAP to be safe.

BE CAREFUL with this!!! I let my spouse do the parent contribution alone last year and they entered our income wrong. We had to go through verification and almost lost my son's financial aid package!!! Make sure whoever fills it out has the EXACT numbers from your tax forms. Every dollar matters in the SAI calculation.

To add some clarity here - the FAFSA doesn't care which parent completes the form when you file jointly, but both parents' income and assets will be counted either way. The 2024-2025 FAFSA is using a new calculation called the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the old EFC, and it looks at household income differently than before. One important thing to note: if your daughter invited both of you through StudentAid.gov, only ONE of you should accept the invitation and complete the parent section. If you both try to complete separate sections, it will cause problems in the system and potentially delay processing.

Having trouble with the contributor invitation system too! I've been trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid for THREE DAYS with constant busy signals and disconnections. Then I found Claimyr.com and was connected to an actual FAFSA agent in about 10 minutes. They explained that joint tax filers only need one parent to complete the form. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ that shows how it works. Seriously saved me hours of frustration!

nj didnt extend the deadline this year i called last week and they said june 15 is firm so hurryyyyyy

One thing to remember is that even though only one parent completes the form when filing jointly, BOTH parents' assets are considered in the SAI calculation. So any checking/savings accounts, investments, or real estate in either person's name needs to be reported accurately. The FAFSA doesn't just look at your tax return - it also asks about current assets that might not show up on taxes.

This whole new FAFSA system is SUCH A DISASTER!! My son's college keeps telling us they're missing information from his FAFSA but when we log in it shows complete!!! I've tried calling 18 times and can't get through to anyone. The whole contributor system is so confusing and the colleges don't even know what's going on. We might lose his financial aid package because of all these technical problems.

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year! Yes, only one parent needs to complete the contributor section when you file jointly - I had my husband handle it while I was traveling for work. The key things to double-check: make sure whoever fills it out has your 2023 joint tax return handy, knows where to find your AGI (line 11 on Form 1040), and has access to current bank account balances for both parents. Also, don't forget about any 529 plans or other education savings accounts - those need to be reported too even if they're in the student's name. Good luck with the NJ deadline - you've still got time if you tackle it this weekend!