FAFSA submission errors keep happening - stuck in endless resubmission loop!

oh yea this happened 2 me too last week!! the error codes r so frustrating bc they don't tell u anything useful. i ended up trying from a different browser (firefox instead of chrome) and it finally went thru

I'm dealing with the exact same thing!!! Error code city over here. One time it told me my kid's SSN was incorrect (it wasn't). The whole system is garbage.

I'd recommend trying these steps in order: 1. Clear your browser cache and cookies 2. Try a different browser (as someone mentioned) 3. Try submitting during off-peak hours (early morning or late night) 4. Check if you're using any special characters in text fields that might be causing issues 5. Make sure any income figures match exactly with tax documentation ERROR-5302 specifically relates to a mismatch between reported income and what the IRS data retrieval tool is pulling. Double check you're using the correct tax year (2023 taxes for 2025-26 FAFSA). Also, if you amended your taxes, that can cause this error.

I had the EXACT same issue and it was so frustrating!!! After wasting days trying to get through on the phone I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual FAFSA agent in less than 20 minutes. They have this video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained that my ERROR-5302 was happening because my spouse and I filed our taxes jointly but I entered some numbers incorrectly on the parent contribution section. They walked me through exactly what to fix and my application was accepted on the next try.

The amended tax return is definitely the source of your ERROR-5302 problem. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) only sees your original return, not amendments. This creates a mismatch that triggers validation errors. Your options are: 1. Contact Federal Student Aid directly (which you've been trying to do) 2. Submit without using the DRT, manually entering all information from your amended return (Form 1040-X) 3. Submit with the original figures, then immediately contact your school's financial aid office to explain the amendment Option 2 may get your application through but will likely flag you for verification later. Option 3 is sometimes faster but requires follow-up. Either way, document everything with screenshots of the errors. If you need to reach FSA by phone (which is often faster than waiting for verification), try calling right when they open (8am Eastern) or try the FSA technical support line (1-800-433-3243) instead of the main number.

i read somewhere that if you get error 5302 its bc the system thinks ur trying to commit fraud or something?? my cousin got flagged for verification last year and they made him submit like 20 different documents it was a whole thing

Has anyone noticed how the new FAFSA is supposed to be "simplified" but somehow it's WAY MORE COMPLICATED??? My daughter is applying for the 2025-26 year and the old version was way easier to submit correctly. This SAI calculation thing is so confusing compared to the old EFC system.

UPDATE: I tried submitting through Firefox as suggested and manually entered our tax information instead of using the DRT. After a brief heart attack when it seemed to freeze during processing, it FINALLY went through! The confirmation page shows it's been successfully submitted. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help! I'm going to contact my son's schools today to let them know about the amended return situation. Fingers crossed there won't be verification issues, but at least the application is in before the priority deadline.