FAFSA renewal won't let me update tax return or bank info for 2025-2026 - glitch or normal?

This isn't normal and could be due to several things. First, check the application status at the top of your FAFSA form - if it shows 'processed' rather than 'in progress,' you can't make changes without submitting a correction. Second, verify you're in the right academic year - sometimes the system defaults to the wrong year. Third, check if you're accidentally in 'view only' mode rather than edit mode. There should be an 'Edit FAFSA Form' button on your dashboard if your application status is 'processed.

I ran into this exact issue last month. For me, it was because I was trying to access the tax information section before completing some required personal information updates first. The FAFSA system follows a strict sequence and won't let you update financial info until all the previous sections are properly filled out and saved. Go back to the beginning and make sure you've answered ALL questions (even if your info hasn't changed) and clicked 'Save' on each page. That fixed it for me.

same thing happened 2 me last week!! so frustrating!! i had to start all over cuz the system kept freezing when i tried 2 add my tax info. ended up wasting like 3 hours ugh

I think it's a glitch with the updated studentaid.gov site. They've been having lots of technical problems since they changed things for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. My daughter had the same issue and we had to call Federal Student Aid to get it fixed.

TTHEY ALWAYS DO THIS!!!! The FAFSA system is GARBAGE every single year. It's like they deliberately make it hard to apply for financial aid. I've had to fill out FAFSA for 3 kids now and EVERY SINGLE TIME there's some new technical glitch or roadblock. And of course this happens right before the priority deadline when everyone is trying to submit. I bet they're having server issues because their whole system is outdated and can't handle the traffic. 🤬

To add to the helpful suggestions above, there's one more thing to check: If you used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool last time, the system might be waiting for you to attempt that again before allowing manual entry. Look for the 'Link to IRS' button in the financial information section. If you see that option, try using it first, and if it doesn't work (or if you prefer not to use it), there should be an option afterward to enter information manually.

hey did u fix it? i'm having the exact same problem again today and i'm about to throw my laptop out the window lol

For anyone else having this issue, here's a step-by-step fix that worked for me and seems to have helped the original poster: 1. Start at the very beginning of your renewal application 2. Complete EVERY field on EVERY page (even if unchanged from last year) 3. Click 'Save' on each page before proceeding 4. When you reach the financial section, try the IRS Data Retrieval Tool first 5. If the tool doesn't work for your situation, you should then get the option to enter manually 6. Complete the application in a single session if possible Also, clear your browser cache or try a different browser if you're still having troubles. The 2025-2026 FAFSA has a lot of technical updates, so these glitches are unfortunately common.

As someone new to this whole FAFSA process, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a first-time applicant and was getting really worried when I hit similar issues with my financial sections not updating properly. It's reassuring to know this is a common problem with solutions. I'm definitely going to follow the step-by-step guide that Vanessa shared - it sounds like the key is being super methodical and not skipping any steps, even if they seem redundant. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!