If you're a parent preparing to help your child file the FAFSA® for 2026-2027, you may feel a little overwhelmed, and that's completely normal.
The good news? The FAFSA is much simpler than it used to be. With a few documents and about 30 minutes, you can help your student take a big step toward getting financial aid for college.
Here's everything parents really need to know before getting started.
What FAFSA Actually Needs from Parents
You don't have to dig through years of files or gather piles of paperwork. FAFSA only needs a few key details from you:
- Your 2024 tax information – The FAFSA uses income data from two years prior, so you'll need your 2024 federal tax return. You can securely link it using the IRS Data Exchange built into the FAFSA form.
- Your FSA ID – This is your online login and signature for FAFSA. Create one (or update yours) at studentaid.gov/fsa-id.
- Household details – Be ready to report how many people live in your household and how many are currently in college.
That's it — no complicated forms, just the basics.
Who Counts as a Parent on the FAFSA?
This question often confuses many families. Here's how to know which parent's information to include:
- Biological or adoptive parents count, regardless of whether they are married to each other.
- Stepparents count if they are married to or living with the parent who provided the most financial support to the child.
- Grandparents, foster parents, or legal guardians do not count as parents on the FAFSA (unless they've adopted the student).
Quick Tip: If both parents are living together, you'll include information for both, even if they aren't married.
For Divorced or Separated Parents
If you're divorced or separated, FAFSA uses the income of the parent who provided the most financial support in the last 12 months, not necessarily the one with whom the student is claimed on taxes.
If that parent has remarried, then FAFSA must also include the spouse's income.
It's not about who has custody or who paid tuition; it's simply about who provided more financial support.
Common FAFSA Mistakes Parents Make
These minor errors can delay financial aid processing — but they're easy to avoid:
- Entering the wrong parents' information
- Mixing up the students' and parents' FSA IDs
- Forgetting to sign the FAFSA before submitting
Fix it fast: Double-check who's logged in before entering information, and make sure both you and your student sign electronically using your FSA IDs.
The Bottom Line
Filing the FAFSA doesn't have to be stressful. Once you do it the first time, it's even easier every year after.
Helping your student file early gives them the best chance at grants, scholarships, and work-study programs — all of which can lower the cost of college.
Cash the Corgi says, "Parents, if you can plan a family trip, you can file FAFSA. You've got this!"
Helpful Tools from Edvisors.com
- ✅ FAFSA Checklist for Parents – Step-by-step list of what to gather before you start.
- 💳 Financial Aid Gap Calculator – See how much aid your student might still need.
- 🎓 Scholarship Search Tool – Find scholarships to help cover the rest.
