Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

What is Federal Tax Information (FTI)?

Starting with the 2024-25 award year, FAFSA contributors (student and spouse or parent/stepparent, as applicable) must give the U.S. Department of Education (ED) consent to retrieve federal tax information (FTI) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for purposes of determining a student's eligibility for Title IV federal student aid. If the student, spouse, or parent fails to provide consent, the student is not eligible for Title IV aid--no exceptions.

FTI for each tax filer includes the following:

Tax year (e.g., 2022 tax year information for the 2024-25 FAFSA);
Tax filing status;
Adjust Gross Income (AGI);
Number of dependents;
Income earned from work;
Taxes paid;
Educational tax credits;
Untaxed individual retirement arrangement/account (IRA) distributions;
IRA deductions and payments;
Untaxed pension amounts
Tax-exempt interest;
Schedule C net profit/loss;
Indicators for Schedules A, B, D, E, F, and H; and
IRS response code.

Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

FTI is categorized as Controlled Unclassified Information/Specified Tax (CUI//SP-TAX) and may contain sensitive personally identifiable information (PII). Accordingly, all FTI must be handled—at minimum—in accordance with the confidentiality protections of the IRC and subject to Section 6103(l)(13) of the IRC requirements as well as the use restrictions of FTI under Section 483 of HEA as amended by the FAFSA Simplification Act.

Institutions may, with the applicant’s written consent, release FTI to a scholarship granting organization, or to an organization assisting the applicant in applying for and receiving Federal, State, local, or tribal assistance, that is designated by the applicant to assist the applicant in applying for and receiving financial assistance for any component of the applicant's cost of attendance. While institutions may not release FTI for other purposes, even with the applicant’s written consent, they must release a complete ISIR (including FTI) directly to an applicant upon their request. The applicant can then redisclose their own FTI in any way they choose.

No. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Waiver Form allows a student to grant access to their education records to other entities besides themselves, such as a parent, spouse, etc. Education records are defined as records that are directly related to a student (such as academic and personal records relating to scholastic, disciplinary, and fiscal matters) and are maintained by an education agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution.

FTI confidentiality is protected separately in accordance with the confidentiality protections of the IRC and subject to Section 6103(l)(13) of the IRC requirements as well as the use restrictions of FTI under Section 483 of HEA as amended by the FAFSA Simplification Act. A Financial Aid Disclosure Consent Form is required before FTI will be discussed or released to any parties other than the student, including parents or FAFSA contributors.

Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

What is Federal Tax Information (FTI)?

FTI for each tax filer includes the following:

Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

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Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

What is Federal Tax Information (FTI)?

FTI for each tax filer includes the following:

Access and Use of Federal Tax Information (FTI)

Confidentiality Protections

Who has access to FTI?

How can the applicant provide written consent to release FTI to entities assisting in applying for and receiving financial aid?

Do individuals listed on a student’s FERPA Waiver have access to FTI?

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