Which tax year W-2s do I use for FAFSA 2025-2026 application?

Yes, you're correct! For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, you'll use your 2023 tax information, including W-2s. This is part of the "prior-prior year" approach that FAFSA uses, meaning you report information from two tax years before the start of the academic year. So for 2025-2026 applications, 2023 is the correct tax year to reference.

The whole system is ridiculous!! They tell us to use 2-year-old financial info like our situations never change! My 2023 income was WAY higher than it is now after I got laid off, but FAFSA doesn't care. They'll just calculate my daughter's aid based on money we DON'T HAVE ANYMORE. Complete joke of a system.

yep its 2023 for next year but dont forget they need ur asset info (bank accounts, investments etc) from RIGHT NOW not from 2023 that trips up alot of ppl

Just to add some clarity here - the new FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC). While you still use 2023 tax info, the formula for calculating aid eligibility has changed significantly. Make sure both you and your daughter have FSA IDs set up before starting the application. Also, gather your 2023 W-2s, tax return, current bank statements, and investment records before sitting down to complete it. The process should be smoother this year than last year's disastrous rollout.

I had such a nightmare trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid when I was confused about which tax year to use. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for 3+ hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Totally worth it for getting my specific questions answered about how to report some unusual income on my tax return. The agent confirmed that for 2025-2026, we use 2023 tax info, and walked me through exactly which forms I needed.

I remember when I filled out FAFSA for my son last year I used the wrong tax year and had to redo everything. Such a pain!!! Make sure you double-check all the numbers from your W-2 because even small mistakes can cause big delays. I think I spent like 5 hours on the phone trying to fix my error.

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'll definitely be using my 2023 tax info and current asset values. And I'll make sure my daughter and I both have our FSA IDs ready to go. Really appreciate all the advice!

btw if ur kid has any income from work make sure they report that too even if they didnt file taxes. my nephew almost lost his pell grant cuz he forgot to include his summer job money

Just want to add that if you're divorced or separated, make sure you know which parent's tax info to use! The FAFSA uses the parent who provided more financial support during the 12 months before the application date, not necessarily the custodial parent. This catches a lot of families off guard. Also, if that parent has remarried, you'll need to include the stepparent's tax info too. It's worth checking the Federal Student Aid website for the specific rules about divorced parents before you start filling everything out.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can confirm the 2023 tax year is correct for 2025-2026 FAFSA! One thing I wish I'd known earlier is to have your tax transcript ready as a backup - you can get it free from the IRS website. Sometimes the automatic data retrieval doesn't work perfectly and having the transcript saved me from having to manually enter everything. Also, if you have multiple kids in college at the same time, make sure to indicate that on each application since it can significantly impact your aid calculations. Good luck with your daughter's first year!

One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your Social Security cards handy for both you and your daughter when filling out the FAFSA. I made the mistake of relying on memory for my daughter's SSN and got one digit wrong, which caused a huge delay in processing. Also, if you're married and file jointly, you'll need both spouses' information even if only one parent is the biological parent. The whole process is much smoother when you gather all your documents first - 2023 tax return, W-2s, current bank statements, investment account statements, and any records of untaxed income. Taking the time to organize everything upfront will save you from having to stop mid-application to hunt for paperwork!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in a college financial aid office - you're absolutely right that it's 2023 tax info for the 2025-2026 FAFSA! One thing I always tell families is to submit your FAFSA as early as possible after October 1st, even if you haven't been accepted to schools yet. You can add schools later, but getting your application in early helps ensure you don't miss any state aid deadlines. Also, don't stress too much about making small errors - most can be corrected online after submission. The key is just getting that initial application submitted with the correct tax year (2023) and current asset information. Your daughter is lucky to have such a thoughtful parent helping with this process!